Blazing Saddles (1974)
Written: Sep 23 '99 (Updated Nov 12 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: many good gags, jokes
Cons: characters, story, inconsistent
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| BrianKoller's Full Review: |
"Blazing Saddles" is a parody of the Western movie. While it is not a particularly good film, it became the second largest grossing film of 1974 and has enjoyed a strong reputation since that time.
The plot has greedy schemer Harvey Korman trying to become wealthy by grabbing land associated with a new railroad. He must drive off the present owners, who live in the western outpost Rockridge. Part of his schemes involves giving them a black sheriff (Cleavon Little), who soon gets a sidekick (Gene Wilder).
It is hard for a slapstick comedy to be a good
film. The plot isn't much, and the setting exists
mostly to set up gags and jokes. The film's
quality becomes dependent on how good these gags
and jokes are. How funny they are may be
subjective: cowboys farting after eating a plate
full of beans may be hilarious for a sixth
grader, but not so funny for others. On the other
hand, youngsters may miss the humor in
Yiddish-speaking Indians.
Some moments in "Blazing Saddles" are funny. The
theme song (by Mel Brooks) is a riot. Madeline
Kahn's Marlene Dietrich impersonation scores some
points. Dom DeLuise has a great cameo as the
director of a gay chorus line. Howard Johnson
owns an ice cream parlor with a sign saying 'one
flavor'. But most of the humor is more silly than
effective, not enough to overcome the thin plot
and characters.
Kahn got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting
Actress for her performance. Comparing her
Dietrich-like character with the real thing,
Dietrich was a lot more fun in another western
comedy, "Destry Rides Again" from 1939. Another
difference between the two films, besides the
quality of script, cast, plot and characters, is
that "Destry Rides Again" seemed to have a focus,
a direction, while "Blazing Saddles" wanders
amiably but aimlessly. (54/100)
Recommended:
No
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BrianKoller
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Member: Brian Koller
Location: Plano, Texas
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Conservative grades, but kinder and gentler reviews.
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