Posted on 05/11/2014 4:46:18 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In an interview with Yahoo News surrounding the 40th anniversary of his comedic masterpiece "Blazing Saddles," co-writer/director Mel Brooks blasted present-day political correctness and says he was "lucky" to have made the film in the days when he still could:
"They can't make that movie today because everybody's so politically correct. You know, the NAACP would stop a great movie that would do such a great service to black people because of the N-word," says Brooks. "You've got to really examine these things and see what's right and what's wrong. Politically correct is absolutely wrong. Because it inhibits the freedom of thought. I'm so lucky that they weren't so strong then and that the people that let things happen on the screen weren't so powerful then. I was very lucky."
In the comment sections and on Twitter, I caught all kinds of entertaining hell (Kos is especially perturbed) for my review of the new 40th Anniversary Bluray of "Blazing Saddles" and for a follow-up piece, both of which stated the obvious: That today's Left has become a bunch of insufferable, joy-killing, censorious, fascist Church Ladies who would never allow "Blazing Saddles" to be made today and that they will someday try to have the film banned.
It looks as though Mr. Brooks agrees with my first point. That's because Mel Brooks is a free-thinking liberal, not a freedom-stifling, controlling, free speech-hating leftist....
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I agree. And the campfire scene must be the funniest scene in the movie.
I also went in there cold (it was the middle of February!) and I'll never forget the non-stop laughter. We had to go see the movie a second time because we missed half the jokes, due to all the noise and laughter in the theater. The only other movie that came close to non-stop laughter like this was "Airplane" that came out about five years later. That's probably another movie that could never be made today.
“the problem I had with Blazing Saddles, was how stupid and inbred the white people were. The racism in Blazing Saddles was just that”
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Yes, the town’s populace was all surnamed “Johnson” and related. Make of it what you will, but it has become a masterpiece of political incorrectness.
One my favorite scenes was the old lady being mugged. And don’t forget the scene with the Cowboy’s eating beans.
Yes it was nasty, gross, sexually explicit, racist, or all the above, but most of all it was funny.
the problem I had with Blazing Saddles, was how stupid and inbred the white people were. The racism in Blazing Saddles was just that.
Candy gram for Mongo!
It certainly broke taboos when it was released. In fact, it did its bit to tear down all taboos in Hollywood comedies. We are still living with the consequences.
The grievance industry has grown. The perpetually offended realized that pansies do not bite and do not bark.
What in the Wide Wide World of Sports is going on here? Y’all dancing around like a bunch of Kansas City F.........
This is undeniable true. Not to upset everyone here but the private Mel Brooks (and wife Anne Bancroft) is not the warm, funny person they think he is. Comedy people rarely are.
A couple years ago, a friend of mine and I talked about the great movies you probably couldn’t get away with making today. Blazing Saddles was at the top of the list.
I also think you’d have a hard time making these films today, at least without radically altering them:
Better Off Dead / Harold and Maude - comedies about a teenager with a death wish? Not likely to get the green light today.
Animal House
16 Candles - not with the Long Duk Dong character, anyway. They’ll probably drop Lamar Latrell from the forthcoming Revenge of the Nerds remake as well.
Harvey - There actually IS a remake of this one in the works, but I suspect it will be very different in nature compared to the original. I just can’t see Hollywood having a central character who is a happy-go-lucky lush (no Thin Man remakes, either, I guess).
Bought a copy of “Cannonball Run” and found all of Jamie Farr’s Arabic scenes had be edited out.
I’m particularly glad that these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. Not only was it AUTHENTIC FRONTIER GIBBERISH, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.
“Fifteen is my limit on schnitzengruben.”
Could Pulp Fiction be made today?
Oddly enough, it was liberals who fought to get rid of the Hayes Code which kept Hollywood in check.
Typical, head-spinning loony liberal turn around.
“Baby, please! I am NOT from Havana!”
Man, I love that movie...
No doubt, although I’m not the biggest fan of BS, there are some really good jokes in it.
“Not to upset everyone here but the private Mel Brooks (and wife Anne Bancroft) is not the warm, funny person they think he is.”
I’ve actually met Mel Brooks in person and had a conversation with him. He, in fact, is a lot like his comedic persona. Whether he is “warm” or “nice” is another question. But, undoubtedly, he’s inherently comedic.
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