Black Bart
A television series titled Black Bart was produced for CBS based on Andrew Bergman's original story for Blazing Saddles (Black Bart was the movie's original title). It featured Lou Gossett, Jr. as Bart and Steve Landesberg as his drunkard sidekick, a former Confederate officer named "Reb Jordan". The Humour was much more toned down than it's feature film predecessor Other cast members included Millie Slavin and Noble Willingham. Bergman is listed as the sole creator. CBS aired the pilot once on April 4, 1975 as a CBS Special Presentation. The pilot featured guest appearances by Gerrit Graham and Brooke Adams and was written by Michael Elias and Rich Eustis. Elias and Eutis later created and executive produced the ABC sitcom Head of the Class (1986-1991).
Insights
Plot Summary
In the Wild West, the legendary outlaw Black Bart finds his notorious reputation preceding him, often leading to him being mistaken for others. He encounters various colorful characters and finds himself in humorous predicaments as he attempts to live up to his own fearsome legend.
Critical Reception
Black Bart is a minor entry in the Western genre, often regarded as a B-movie. While it has a certain low-budget charm and some decent performances, it generally received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with many finding its plot predictable and its comedic elements uneven.
What Reviewers Say
- The film attempts to blend Western action with comedy, but often falls short.
- Performances are a mixed bag, with some actors overacting and others underutilized.
- The plot relies heavily on mistaken identity and predictable tropes of the genre.
Google audience: Audience reception for Black Bart is largely lukewarm, with many viewers finding it an unremarkable Western that doesn't offer much new to the genre. Some appreciate its lighthearted approach, while others criticize its uninspired storytelling and production values.
Fun Fact
The film was shot in and around Old Tucson Studios, a popular filming location for many Westerns.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources