Blazing Saddles Response

Mel Brooks described his film Blazing Saddles as a surrealist epic driven by hatred of the black. The plot
is heartfelt and focused on exposing corruption and bigotry. The satirical nature of the film in regards to
the classical Western is a direct response to the lauded and genuinely American genre. It is interesting to
note that this film is probably so politically incorrect that it couldnt be made today. Blazing Saddles is
an absurd, stitched-together reversal of western stereotypes, a series of great set-ups for punch lines
and sight gags, and a flimsy excuse to explore the premise of a black man installed as sheriff in a
whiter-than-white frontier town. Theres never been anything quite like it, before or since. Blazing
saddles criticizes not only the Western genre but also as well as the role of African Americans
portrayed in these films in comparison to their actual treatment in the historical wild west. Blazing
Saddles demonstrates the racism toward black people that was never found in the majority of
western films.
In its exploration of themes (some clich like dont judge a book by its cover), the setting is arguably
the most significant film technique manipulated in order to create meaning. The cowboy backdrop
juxtaposes highly with the anachronistic writing (such as the subtle nods to pop culture) that makes the
film appealing to modern audiences . This is more apparent at the end of the film which reveals that the
plot is actually a meta Film within a film being shot at warner bros studios. This change in locale fuels
not only humor but also parody. Although many do not consider it a deep film, Blazing saddles
accomplished what it set out to do: to make them laugh and reflect. The witty dialogue, memorable
characters, and interesting score, and provocative mise en scene, make the film easily enjoyable.