“Blazing Saddles” is one of the best known comedies in American film history. In fact, it was inducted into the AFI’s list of the 100 Funniest American Movies of All Time. Mel Brooks discussed the film with Entertainment Weekly about the film, the process of writing the film with legendary comedian Richard Pryor and if the film will be coming to Broadway sometime soon.
When talking about how he expected the film to be received, he said he envisioned a lot more outrage than the outpouring of love it received. “I envisioned a race riot,” he said. “I thought everybody would come after me and kill me for what I said about the Chinese, and the blacks and the Jews. I thought if this was shown in Waco, Texas, the whites would storm the screen and cut it to ribbons. Because we were kind of hoisting the black sheriff up on our shoulders and made him a hero. But Texas liked it as much as New York.”
When talking about his writing partnership with Pryor, Brooks said, “I was so lucky to get him, because he’s just funny in every way. He made a profound contribution to the script. He gave me some really beautiful 126th Street, St. Nicholas Ave. [Harlem] lines.”
Will there be a “Blazing Saddles” Broadway show? Possibly. “I’m still seriously thinking about [it],” he said. “I think it’ll work.” He even said he’s already written a couple of songs if the show ever comes to pass.
Read the rest of the article at Entertainment Weekly.
