Friends of Padre Steve’s World,
Last Thursday, the 7th of February, was the 45th anniversary of an iconic film that even today challenges Americans about the evils of racism and prejudice. Since I was pretty much out of it following my surgery I didn’t write about Blazing Saddles was shocking in its humor which exposed the racism, sexism, and even the anti-gay prejudices that were common in the era. The use of racial invective and slurs by various characters is so shocking now that people who didn’t live during those times cannot understand the real intent of the film.
Mel Brooks used the parody of the classic America Western Film to confront very real prejudices that ran rampant at the time, and still do, though most people are a bit more careful to disguise their public language and camouflage their prejudices without ever really given them up. In fact the language and terms used by Brooks and his co-writer, the late Richard Pryor are off limits in much of film. I remember showing the DVD to our younger enslisted personnel in Iraq and they were shocked. I had to explain how prevalent open racism was back when the film was released, and what Brooks’s intentions were. He used the humor of the film to bring to the surface the prejudices of many people, including many who later became his fans.
What is really hard for me to believe is that this masterpiece is unknown to many people. The fact that I lied about my age to get a ticket to see the movie when it came out, it was rated R and I had not yet turned 14, and that it remains one of my favorite films of all time, and not just mine, the film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and is ranked number 6 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Laughs list.
The fact is that Blazing Saddles probably couldn’t be made today because of hyper-politcially correct era. Anyone who knows me knows that I am exceptionally wary of ever using racial stereotypes or slurs and have enough empathy and concern for the sensibilities of people who have suffered through racial, ethnic, or religious persecution and prejudice not to want to see them used for cheap laughs. That being said, in certain times where racial prejudice is being driven from the top down, where the President of the United States can get elected by eliciting racism, sometimes it is appropriate to stick a finger in their eye through the use of comedy. Brook’s used that to drive home to people who otherwise wouldn’t recognize just how deeply racism and racist tropes are past f our society even today.
I think for me one of the most poingent moments in Blazing Saddles is in a scene where Chinese, African American, and Irish Railroad workers come to help the Balck Sheriff Bart, played by Cleavon Little and the self-described White God Fearing Citizens Of Rock Ridge save the town. All that was asked was that they would be able to live there. The late great actor David Huddleston, who played one of the town council members said:
“All right… we’ll give some land to the niggers and the chinks. But we don’t want the Irish!”
When they all threaten to leave he changes his toon and says:
“Aw, prairie shit… Everybody!”
The thing is that in those days the Irish were still a despised minority, even though they were white. I am about half Irish by my DNA, and I remember how upset my mom got when she heard that line. It offended her, but I think that such comedic barbs are helpful to all of us if they make us more sensitive to others and aware of our own racial, ethnic, religious, or social prejudices.
Besides the camp fire fart scene my friends, that is the continuing value of Blazing Saddles.
Have a great night,
Peace
Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 
I saw Blazing Saddles in the theatre with my older sister & I remember thinking that if my parents knew what the film was about, they would have never let either of us attend the film. It’s always been one of my favorites. My son, currently a film major, also loves it.
About the Irish … my Scottish great-grandfather came to this land with the last name of McDavid. He changed it to MacDavid so that nobody would think he was Irish & to increase his ability to land a good job (which he did). Our Scots relatives are McDavid to this day.
Fascinating huh? It is amazing what a brilliant film it was, and how revolutionary it was. It got people to see their own prejudices through the lens of comedy and the parody of the great American Western.
The film is brilliant in so many ways as you described. It uses sublime comedy to both subtly instill social introspection and shockingly head-slap viewers to see their own faults and prejudices. But, Mel Brooks was always brilliant; and, he’s still kicking at age 92.
I can’t wait for whatever he does next. May he live forever