Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles

Movie spotlight

Blazing Saddles

1974
Movie
93 min
English

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the Governor, so Hedley convinces him to send the town the first black sheriff in the west.

Insights

IMDb7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users92%
Director: Mel BrooksGenres: Comedy, Western, Parody

Plot Summary

When the corrupt Hedley Lamarr is appointed as the new sheriff of Rock Ridge, the townspeople are outraged. To quell their protests, Governor William J. Le Petomane appoints Bart, a black man, as the new sheriff, expecting him to be run out of town. However, Bart, with the help of his drunken outlaw friend Jim, unexpectedly earns the respect and loyalty of the townsfolk, much to Hedley's dismay.

Critical Reception

Blazing Saddles is a landmark comedy that satirizes Westerns and racial prejudice with relentless, often outrageous, humor. It was a massive commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made, praised for its anarchic spirit and willingness to push boundaries.

What Reviewers Say

  • A groundbreaking and hilariously subversive satire that expertly skewers Western tropes and racial stereotypes.

  • Features a fearless and often shocking brand of humor that remains remarkably potent.

  • Boasts a stellar cast and Mel Brooks' signature blend of wit and absurdity.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly praise Blazing Saddles for its laugh-out-loud comedy, clever satire, and fearless approach to controversial topics. Many highlight its enduring relevance and quotable lines, while some acknowledge its boundary-pushing humor may not be for everyone.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for one Academy Award (Best Original Song - 'Blazing Saddles').

Fun Fact

The iconic scene where the cast members break the fourth wall and come onto the set of the musical 'Hello, Dolly!' was filmed on the actual set of that movie, which was also directed by Gene Wilder's cousin, Richard Wilder.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

<em>'Blazing Saddles'</em> is fairly funny. The good intentions of this 1974 satire is clear to see, naturally it can come across as a bit on the nose at times but it does lead to some amusement. Cleavon Little & Gene Wilder give good perfo...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I grew up watching the "Friday Western" each week on the television so am a bit steeped in the genre to which this takes an entertaining, and loving, swipe. "Hedley Lamarr" (Harvey Korman) is out to trash his own town so he can buy up the l...

GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

I'm married to a Millennial and that presents difficulties that are unique to her generation. Especially unique since I am Gen-X and there is that whole rejection of labels thing and her generation is obsessed with labels. And the not under...