“What did you expect?”Welcome, sonny"? "Make yourself at home"? "Marry my daughter"? You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.”
Blazing Saddles begins with a story telling of a stereotypical western movie. A small white conservative town during the old American West serves as the initial backdrop, until an African American (Bart) answers their plea for a sheriff. Through the comedic genius Mel Brookes and Gene Wilder a satire on racism was born. Although there are countless blue, off color, some might even say childish gag jokes in this movie; my experience satire yields a point that has various broader contextualizations. What I take away from my own experience with satire is that it can be very effective in pointing out the idoicity of certain elements of the human condition (in this case prejudice). As a result, I conclude that Blazing Saddles although a typical Mel Brookes comedy (as if that was a bad thing!) has broader positive social implications.
For those who have never seen this movie I have posted a link of one of the most famous scenes in this film. This scene is the reception that Bart receives when entering the town. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZ9ku_wInw&feature=related. This film is by no means "politically correct" nor does it have the intention of appearing so. The N word is said seventeen times throughout this entire movie, all seventeen of which are said by white town’s people describing the sheriff. As I rewatch this movie for the hundredth time I find my liberal guilt cringing at the blatant use of the N word by the various characters. However this is Brooke’s main intent, the audience is supposed to be shocked by the vulgarity of the townspeople. Exaggeration is a main component of satire.
Brookes brilliantly associates the stupidity of the townspeople with their racist ways, he paints them to be them to be as backwards as they truly are. Additionally Brookes’ characterization of Bart is absolutely brilliant and only adds to drive the point home further. Bart is intelligent, forward thinking and well spoken. Although he obviously knows what is best for the town, the townspeople still continue to treat him like a second class citizen. It takes his collaboration with Jim (a has-been shooting legend played by the great Gene Wilder) to start turning people around. It isn’t until he saves the town from destruction by an evil railroad server that he wins over their hearts.
Much of the criticism centered around this movie has to do with its crude humor and its use of off color language. “Political correctness” is a hot button issue here in America. Is it possible to say something offensive to merely point out that it is offensive? As one critic put it “As a little kid, I loved this movie. All the cartoonish candygram for Mongo schtick and the farting cowboys. As an adult I watched it, found it boring and was offended by all the questionable race humor.” It is my own view that it is perhaps easiest to point out human stupidity by a gross exaggeration of that very offensive behavior. Though I concede that the use of the N word is offensive, I still maintain if used in the right context the shock value generated by its utterance can serve a greater purpose. For example, in the opening scene that was shown above the audience is shocked by the use of the word, but the audience understands Brookes’ intention. The audience receives a greater understanding of the nature of racism in the town. As far as the cartoonish candygram for Mongo schtick and the farting cowboys, I add only that the presence of those factors make a Mel Brookes movie what it is. The mere fact that the audience is able to take away the central theme amongst the “childish” humor merely attests to Brookes undeniable genus.
And just because it is ridiculous here is that famous farting cowboys scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dm9rN6oTs
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