Melvin James Kaminsky, professionally known as Mel Brooks, began his comedic career as a writer for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows in 1950. In 1967 he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers. He then rose to prominence as a director and has made such terrific films as Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, and History of the World, Part I over the years. In 1974, Brooks co-wrote and directed a satirical, postmodernist, Western black comedy called Blazing Saddles, nominated for three Academy Awards. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film, Warner Bros. has released Blazing Saddles on 4K for the first time.
For those who have never seen Blazing Saddles, here is an overview of the plot:
In this satirical take on Westerns, crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little; Once Bitten) becomes the first Black sheriff of Rock Ridge, a frontier town about to be destroyed to make way for a new railroad. Initially, the people of Rock Ridge harbor a racial bias toward their new leader. However, they warm to him after realizing that Bart and his perpetually drunk gunfighter friend (Gene Wilder; Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) are the only defense against a wave of thugs sent to rid the town of its population.
Brooks is a comedy genius and Blazing Saddles is a perfect example of his brilliance. From the scene where Bart holds himself, hostage, to get away from all the angry townspeople to setting up a fake town to trap the bad guys, Brooks uses every cliché to invoke a laugh, many of which could not be used in today's "woke" society. Even the premise of the movie would have civil rights leaders up in arms. However, the culture in this country 50 years ago was such that many people found those jokes funny, and one could say having a Black sheriff triumph in the end offers a positive image for Black men in the United States.
When it comes to transfers of older films, the results can be hit or miss. In this case, the hits are more than the misses as the details are sharp and the colors are deep and true. The daylight scenes have an abundance of natural light, and even those shot at night have plenty of lighting. The 2160p resolution clearly shows some of the fake backgrounds but for a movie from 1974, it looks pretty good overall.
In contrast to the video quality, the new Dolby Atmos audio is excellent. The occasional musical numbers are well orchestrated and there is a depth of sound that could rival the original theatrical audio. The dialogue is somewhat one-dimensional but overall the quality is good.
The 4K comes with the disc and the digital download and except for one extra, all of those in this combo pack have been previously released. They include: Audio Commentary, NEW! Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect, Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild Wild West, Back in the Saddle, and Additional Scenes.
Brooks' career has spanned 70 years and he made some of the most beloved comedies of all time. Blazing Saddles is a perfect example of that as he not only makes fun of those who were oppressed but also the oppressors. No one is off limits when it comes to Brooks' comedy, which is part of what makes it even funnier. Adding the comedic timing of Little with the deadpan delivery of Wilder makes this film a beloved classic.
If you are a Mel Brooks fan or know one, celebrate the 50th anniversary of Blazing Saddles with this 4K release.
Grade: A-
