About:

Released in 1974, Blazing Saddles is the best-known and perhaps best-loved of all of Mel Brooks' films. A parody of westerns, it takes no prisoners in it's low-brow, vulgar and yet brilliant lampooning of social moores.

The film stars Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Madeline Kahn and, in three roles, Brooks himself.

The movie was re-released on it's twentieth anniversary in 2004. It's currently availible on a special edition DVD.

Fun Facts:
* Richard Pryor was originally scheduled to play Bart, but the studio considered him too controversial at the time. Pryor co-wrote the screenplay for the film.

* Look for Gilda Radner (of Saturday Night Live fame, and the future wife of Gene Wilder) as a townswoman in the church scene at the beginning of the film.

* The picture was nominated for three Oscars -For the score, "The Ballad of Rock Ridge" -composed by Brooks and John Morris- and a Best Supporting Actress nod from Madeline Kahn- during its original release. It won none.

* The outdoor sets used in the film were created for 1973's "Westworld".

* Gig Young was originally scheduled to play the Waco Kid. After he was taken off of the picture, Dan Dailey was considered.

* The coin depicted in the movie's poster art and DVD/box cover art is inscribed: "Hi, I'm Mel. Trust Me."