Having not seen “Blazing Saddles” in many years, I had to confirm whether or not it was actually the comedic masterpiece it for so long has been hailed as. Regardless of if the film is actually the sixth funniest movie ever made (according to AFI), it is riotously silly, hilarious, clever, controversial and influential.
Mel Brooks’ movie is the pinnacle example for how to do so many things right. It’s sad that he arguably never got it right again with any of his subsequent films. “The Producers,” “Young Frankenstein” and “Saddles” are his masterstrokes, and while the man still holds some cult acclaim today, every other parody film he made post “Saddles” is somewhat overrated.
And unlike the other two favorites, only “Saddles” is good evidence as to why. It’s tempting to not want to think about a film as silly as this, but like the Marx Brothers before him and “The Simpsons” and “South Park” after him, Brooks practically gets away with murder and it’s worth it to wonder how. Continue reading “Blazing Saddles (1974)”