Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Can't we take a joke?
You must first understand that "Blazing Saddles" is a comedy. It's not an action movie; nor is it a true western. The racial jokes that are portrayed here are not ment to hurt anyone. And if they do hurt you, you're missing the joke. This Mel Brooks' movie is basically a spoof of all the old westerns that so many people grew up watching. And come on, if a black sheriff had appeared in any of those western classics you'd have said "what the heck?". I have no doubt about that.So when you watch this movie, try to understand where the director and actors are coming from. Cleavon Little (sheriff or Rock Ridge) and Gene Wilder (deputy Jim) star as two guys who attempt so stop a railroad construction from happening. And although the plot is mainly pointless, it works well for the movie. Besides, the storyline itself is not what makes the movie good. It's the spoofs and gags that do that. I particularly loved the part where the men come to a pay-toll in the middle of the desert. I won't spoil the rest for you. In conclusion, you must have a sense of humor to enjoy "Blazing Saddles". And you should also have an understandig for how a typical western film is operated. I gave this movie 3 stars due to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of spoof movies, and there were also some racial components the film could've done without. Again, they're still jokes though. And I do recommend this movie; it's a great start to the career of Mel Brooks and to the livelihood of spoofs.
Rating:  - Excuse me while I whip this out-
Scene for scene, "Blazing Saddles" is the second funniest movie ever made, "Red Dawn" being the first. This (along with "Young Frankenstein") represents the summit of Mel Brooks' genius. Villianous Harvey Korman is Hedy ("That's Hedley!") Lamarr and he wants to run a railroad through Rock Ridge, a town where all the men are named Johnson. He recruits Slim Pickens and his flatulent cowboys to terrorize the place and talks governor Mel Brooks into appointing Cleavon Little sheriff, thinking the racist townspeople would never allow a black man to hold that post. So Alex Karras punches a horse, Gene Wilder shoots pistols out of about a hundred cowboys' hands in a third of a second and Madeline Kahn plays a Marlene Deitrich soundalike who cavorts with anachronistic Wehrmacht infantry during the climactic battle, which is so titanic, it spills right out of the movie onto the movie lot and involves flaming male dancers in tuxes and a commissary food fight. This is totally uninhibited fun and one of the few gag-a-second films where every single gag is funny. Not only that, the performances are brilliant, especially Kahn's, though Little and Wilder make a charming team, and Korman really chews up the scenery. Even underappreciated Dom DeLouise has a hilarious cameo.
Rating: - Mel Brooks' Finest Film! Pure Hilarious Genius!
BLAZING SADDLES has survived throughout these years as one of Mel Brooks best films. Filled with hysterical sight gags and some of the funniest lines ever spoken, it is no surprise that many people argue that BLAZING SADDLES is the best Mel Brooks film. The film revolves around Bart, a black man living in the time of the old west, who smashes his overseer's head in with a shovel, and is saved from being hung because he would be perfect for a plan devised by the sinister Hedley Lamaar. What ensues is one of the wackiest and out of sight films of the 1970's. Cleavon Little stars as Bart, whose fine performance stands out as the best he ever gave to a film. Gene Wilder is brilliant as ever as Bart's friend Jim, or as he was known so many years ago, the Waco Kid. The truly magnificant performances are done by the supporting cast. Harvey Korman is slam-bam fantastic as Hedley Lamaar! Definitely his best performance in a Brooks film. The late, great Madeline Kahn received an Academy Award nomination for her great performance as Lili Von Schtupp, and she is amazing from beginning to end. Slim Pickens shows great comic poise as the dim-witted Taggert. Mel Brooks plays dual roles as the hilarious Governor and later as the Indian Chieftain. Dom Deluise, though only appearing for less than five minutes, gives a wonderful performance as an effeminate director. All in all, Mel Brooks' direction and screenplay co-written by Richard Pryor among others are awesome. I love this movie!
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