Harrumph! Blazing Saddles is Coming Back To Theaters For Its 50th Anniversary

Mel Brooks's classic movie Blazing Saddles is coming to a theater near you as part of Fathom's Big Screen Classic series to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Starring Gene Wilder as Jim the Waco Kid, an alcoholic gunslinger. Cleavon Little as Bart, a black railroad worker who becomes a sheriff; Harvey Korman as Hedley Lamarr, a crooked territorial attorney general; Madeline Kahn as Lili Von Shtupp, a German seductress-for-hire that Lamarr tries to use on Bart and Mel Brooks as Governor William J. Le Petomane, the governor of the unnamed state that Rock Ridge, Indian Chief and more extra cameos all over the movie

Released in 1974, it was Mel Brooks's first smash hit theater film. Some people can get away with anything, say anything, do anything. One friend told me, "It's one of those movies that would not be made these days because everyone has such thin skin and is offended by just about anything.

“Blazing Saddles” is like a grabbag of jokes that does everything to keep us laughing. And controversy when actor Alex Karris is knocking a horse cold with a right cross to the jaw? All camera tricks and no animals were harmed in the making of the movie. I can imagine the censors who watched this scene.

The movie is tasteless and hilarious … this classic spoof of the Western genre by director Mel Brooks pokes fun at everyone and everything.

The plot is not simple. A corrupt governor grants a reprieve to an African American convict if the condemned man agrees to serve as sheriff of a small Western town, believing that the new sheriff will only live long enough to serve the needs of the governor and his nefarious railroad-baron backer.

Look for special engagements in theaters on September 15th & 16th as part of Fathom Entertainment.

The Big Classics Series. Order Tickets HERE

Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Madeline Kahn); Best Music, Original Song; and Best Film Editing.

The best part is no one ever has tried to cancel it or ban the movie.

Mel Brooks had some hurdles to make when they first screened the movie. From The Head of Warner Brothers telling him to cut up more than 20 sections of the movie, remove all farts, and you can't punch a horse.

They made jokes at everyone's expense. The movie doesn't promote hate; it focuses on how silly we all look at life sometimes. So take time to laugh along at a time when Hollywood took a chance and made a great classic!

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