Posted on 05/09/2014 7:05:49 AM PDT by rktman
There are plenty of lousy film comedies, but there are only two that I outright hate: "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Both were released in 2006 when Hollywood's fury against George W. Bush had reached its peak, and both let the voters who re-elected him in 2004 have it with both barrels.
On its face you would think that Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" chose the exact same targets (rural Red Staters) to humiliate, but he didn't. With his masterpiece (that has just been released as a special 40th anniversary edition Bluray), Brooks managed to craft a hilarious comedy with a social message, and do it without coming off as a cold, mean-spirited Hollywood snob.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
It is by far the best presentation of juvenile humor I've ever seen.
I think it stinks, personally.
“Song of the South is a great movie. As I recall, the most negative characters in it were a couple of bratty little white boys.”
Yes, they were very cruel to the poor white girl.
I think Song of the South is an uneven movie. The songs and animation were fantastic. The live action story was a little too melodramatic.
The only place in town showing BZ was a mini-theater on the edge of the ghetto. My work schedule only allowed me to go on a weekday afternoon.
I sat down in the empty 100 seat a couple of minutes before the movie started. My solitude was disturbed by two young black guys who came in and sat directly behind me. Within two minutes, one of the black guys was muttering, "Them honky Mo-Fos, I ain't watching this sh*t!" The other guy was thoroughly enjoying the show and kept repeating, "Be cool, man, This is funny."
I sat there trying not to laugh - a very tough job while watching BZ. I survived it, but think I may have strained my spleen or something.
Just got around to reading the “review” by John Nolte. He keeps talking about how Blazing Saddles is a satire on bigotry. It’s actually a satire on western movies and the clichés contained in them. Mel Brooks was very big on spoofing the movies - all of them, with the exception of The Producers were satires on movies. Yeah, it throws in black anger, but that was also the times we lived in.
Peckinpaugh wrote the pilot/first episode.
He wrote or directed many of the first and second season episodes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Rifleman_episodes
Black ghetto audiences are hilarious. It seems all my life I’ve sat through movies with black audiences. I’ll never forget when the Titanic finally sank, the black guys were cheering and laughing. Any calamity reduces ghetto audiences to mirth.
Thanks so much for the information. I’m going to Wiki now.
Chuck Conners shot 120 people in the first season, lol!
Thanks again.
I remember watching Titanic and thinking after the first ten minutes, “Just Sink, already.”
On Pioneers of Television last week, many black TV personalities praised Amos and Andy and thought it was very funny (as do I). They referred to the NAACP opposition not their own.
Yeah. I never saw that show til it’s been on Me TV.
Take care.
Hated that movie!
As I recall the guys all cheered when Leo DiCaprio assumed ice water temperature.
Brooks didn't get Hackman to appear in the movie. It was Hackman that basically begged Brooks to let him do something in the film.
Wanted to show his comedy bona fides? He did!
We have an old Jimmy Stewart western on VHS that he's in. Don't know if it's still available or not.
The actor that played the part of the runaway child is my cousin. You are correct. Can’t find the movie anymore but surprisingly they used the “Song of the South” for a ride at their parks. One of the most popular rides too.
***Peckinpaugh wrote the pilot/first episode.***
If I’m not mistaken that was shown first on ZANE GREY WESTERN THEATER with host Dick Powell. I remember seeing it.
I always wanted to be a fly on the wall in the writers room for Your Show of Shows. Second Choice: Pryor and Brooks working together on Blazing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.