Not a whole lot of people under 40 even know who Laurel and Hardy are. I'm 60 and I had no idea who Randolph Scott was until I finally read or saw it somewhere.
Gene just tossed that "Ya know, morons" in on his own. Cleavons laugh is real. That director was Dom Deluise. Richard Pryor was supposed to play the sheriff but the studio refused due to his drug use. But Mel hired him anyways as a script writer / editor or something. Richard wrote all the white lines and Mel the black. Pryor is the one who insisted they used the N word so much. Mel asked him about it and he insisted it worked. Least thats wheat Ive read.
Mel Brooks wrote this with Richard Pryor. Mel Brooks later said that many of the jokes that people assumed were written by Pryor were actually written by him and vice versa Pryor was supposed to have the role of Sherriff, but the studio felt he was too much trouble. You'd think that Cleavon Little would have shot to fame after this performance, but it never really happened for him. There is a video on RUclips where he discusses his work on Blazing Saddles and the reasons why he feels he was never offered starring roles later on
That always surprised me as well. Little was so charismatic and wonderful in this role. Was always a shock he ended up doing mostly tv and bit parts. He was still stellar in everything (Broadway and Dear John are especially amazing), but I expected him to do more for the silver screen after seeing this.
@@stevenmonte7397 Pryor wrote Mongo's "Mongo only pan in game of life" line & most of the Mongo bits (but, when they were writing in LA, Pryor phoned... he was in Detroit doing cocaine with a random woman so...)
If you haven't done "Young Frankenstein" yet I'd definitely recommend it. In a weird way it's sort of a companion piece to Blazing saddles. It is to the old monster movies what Blazing saddles is to Westerns. Both movies were released in the same year. It's my personal favorite Mel Brooks movie.
I feel like this movie deserves an annotated version. A lot of the references are important for popular culture and film history, like Cecil B. Demille, Randolf Scott, and Jessie Owens. So I think it would be fun to watch an annotated version because it shows how smart these jokes actually were. Especially for film buffs and people who love popular culture.
saw it at age 18, was already a tv/movie nut, did not know a thing about the movie. So got the Gabby Hayes jokes, knew of Alex Karras from football, even got the Randolph Scott jokes and Marlene Dietrich take off. A Laurel and Hardy handshake... For 1974, the times were weird, Vietnam and Nixon and Watergate... Still funniest movie I've ever scene
That initial Lily von Shtupp "it's twue, it's twue!" scene originally had one more line at the end. After she says "it's twue!" , there was going to be a brief pause, and then you'd hear Bart say "I hate to disappoint you, ma'am, but you're actually sucking on my arm."
The brilliance of Mel Brooks is in his ability to take the extremely taboo, put it right in your face, and make you see how stupid and childish it is while making you laugh at people who do it. Also, Cleavon Little only has some 60 credits (including television) because we lost him way to soon at the age of 53 to cancer. And on a more personal note: I've watched this movie hundreds of time since I first saw it in the theater (yes, I am older than dirt 👴🏻) so @ 18:30 I started to laugh when you started to take a drink. Boy did I see that coming 🤣🤣🤣.
@@RichFrye The only TV series he did that I'm aware of (aside from one-off guest appearances) would be "The New Temperatures Rising Show" (1972-1974) and "Bagdad Cafe" (1990-1991). There was a comedy called "That's My Mama" (1974-1975) that starred Clifton Davis as a barber in Washington D.C.. Clifton and Cleavon are both outstanding actors and do have very similar appearances, so I could understand the confusion if that's the show you're thinking of.
One of my favourite throwaway lines in the movie is the actor in the studio commissary, dressed as Hitler, saying "They lose me after the bunker scene."
2 other classics of Mel Brooks from back in the day that are great, Young Frankinstien and History of the World Part 1. and that one is so relievent now a days because a few weeks ago they announced after 40 years they are finally making History of the World Part 2 that will be done on Hulu in mulitple episodes instead of 1 movie. each episode will feature a different point in history with various comic sketches.
Fun fact: The scene where Bart is staring into the camera while Jim tries to cheer him up after the "up yours n*****", Gene was improving a lot of it, and when he called the townsfolk morons, Cleavon just couldn't help cracking up. His reaction was real! 😂
when this was on TV one Satuday morning (A&E of all channels!), they kept all the swears in, but of course muted the farting scene but: instead of "up yours, n___", the old lady says "Outta my way, n___" which made NO sense to me... they changed the line because "up yours" wasn't allowed, but the n-word is?! & i know there is a longer TV edit, so maybe that it was i was watching, i don't remember
Great reaction! You MUST go down a Gene Wilder rabbit hole. Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Woman In Red, Silver Streak.....
Cleavon Little starred in several TV shows including "Temperatures Rising" an films until his death in 1992. There were references to the western film genre that you may have missed, such as the townspeople 's reverence for Randolph Scott. Scott was the symbol for good in every western film he was in. The other jokes were made about the western film "Destry Rides Again " starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich (the character Lily Von Shtupp was based on Dietrich 's character).
The actor who played mongo was on a show from the 80's called Webster where he play the former football player who along with his wife where made God parents by 1 of his former teammates who was black and him and his wife became Webster's foster parents after Webster's parents died . He also played in the NFL with the Detroit lions and was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame 2 years ago post death
Alex Karras was also terrific in a film called Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews and James Garner, one of my favorite movie musicals post-Classic Hollywood era.
One of the funniest western comedy films ever made! Though the jokes in this movie would never work today, it's still very fun. Mel Brooks said in an interview 11 years after Blazing Saddles, he actually regrets making the film, saying that most people were offended by the jokes, while others found it hilarious.
Wouldnt say it was that divisive, not like they portray the racist characters as heroes. The "have you ever seen such cruelty" scene with the old lady is ironic comedy in itself
Another funny western spoof that is doomed to languish in the shadow of Blazing Saddles is Rustler's Rhapsody, with Tom Beringer. Funny movie in its own right.
Steph has seen the film already, 1000% guaranteed. Also, the person saying "Get your pies for the great pie fight!" is not the director from earlier, two different actors. The director is played by Dom Deluise, a well known comedic actor.
A couple things. First, Mel Brooks went to Richard Pryor and asked about the use of n--. Pryor said to use it as much as possible, cause that's what it was like back then. Second, Lyle--Taggart's assistant--was so shook at having to say n-- that he almost had a breakdown. The Black cast members gathered him in a group embrace and told him that they KNEW he didn't mean it. Because they ALL were play acting. That moment of love and understanding is one of the most touching movie moments.
15:54-"Methodists?" Well, at least the man's an Equal Opportunity Employer...Even let the Arabs hire on for the raid!! Harvey Korman played this evil bad-guy role for years on the T.V series, "The Carol Burnett Show", and was just as funny on those skits. Clevon Little preferred stage acting to movies, died young at 54, his last role was the sarcastic butler to Lauren Hutton's vampire in the comedy "Once Bitten" 1987.. She's after a young Jim Carey for her next vampire-boyfreind, a pretty good movie.
Definitely check out the other Mel Brooks masterpiece from 1974 - Young Frankenstein. Gene Wilder’s performance is Oscar-worthy. As for Cleavon Little, I only know of the Chevy Chase film Fletch Lives, which is also great.
Yes, Steph said something that most reactors who have been watching this have not pointed out, besides the message of racism is silly, Lily represents how a woman can do the bare minimum and most men are easily amused and infatuated by them, she literally falls asleep on stage, it's hilarious.
That was Madeline Khan doing an absolutely brilliant parody of roles Marlene Dietrich played in a couple of old westerns; the world weary dance hall girl.
@@Lugnut64052 You're the first person I've ever read that picked up on the Marlene Dietrich parody going on in that scene. The movie they're referencing is Destry Rides Again - a very good movie in it's own right.
Jaby, you two now need to react to "Young Frankenstein" if you both haven't seen it yet. If you thought Gene Wilder was great in this, he's amazing in "Young Frankenstein".
This is my favourite reaction video you have made so far. Glad you enjoyed it. I used to watch this film a lot in the late 80’s and 90’s. I’m glad that younger generation can also enjoy this movie!
One of the most obscure references is to Dr. Leonard Gillespie, a wheelchair-bound character played by Lionel Barrymore (It's a Wonderful Life) in the popular Dr. Kildare series of films from the 1930s and 40s. (Dr. Gillespie would later get his own film series in the mid-1940s). The joke in BS is that the executioner is preparing to hang a man in a wheelchair and Hedley comments, "Yes, the Dr. Gillespie killings." Hedley clearly is implying that Dr. Gillespie here has committed some kind of capital crime prompting his hanging, wheelchair and all.
The great Dom DeLuise was the director "Watch me Fa**ots!". the chef was a different guy handing out pies. "Well that's the end of this suit!" "Where are the white women at?"
"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.!" One of the best lines in cinema history. 😁😁
Mel Brooks set the standard. There are some modern TV shows I watch reviewers an fans complain about being either too political or forcing a message and most of the young people don't realize it's been done since films were being made. Brooks had great writers. Richard Pryor had a part in the creative part of this movie. The world has changed but good creators are still doing what Brooks started.
I agree it does go back to the very start of movie making - Charlie Chaplin was doing political comedy in the silent movie days (The Great Dictator for one), and he probably wasn't the first.
Same when my dad and I watched it. I've only ever shown the campfire scene to my niece and nephew (WAY too young for this movie!!) and they cracked up right at the first burp. The fart that followed had them rolling with laughter! Literally. (They actually roll with laughter if something is funny enough.)
Mel Brooks co wrote with Richard Pryor on Blazing Saddles. John Wayne turned down the Taggert role specifically written for him to play. He felt there were expectations for him as an actor and he couldn't do the role. He did say he said it was the funniest script he's ever read. The director's commentary available on the DVD was very informative in the macking if and funny in it's own. The producers didn't know Mel had " final cut" in his contract and were very dismayed even at the time about the movie. 😂 No backsies.
I had a week where I watched a reaction to Blazing Saddles and caught an episode of The Waltons where Cleavon Little came to Walton Mountain as a worker and training for a boxing title to build a church. A few months later in the holiday season, I caught the movie fhat served as the inspiration of the Waltons tv show. Cleavon Little led a congregation and tried to help John Boy to find his dad in a winter storm.
This was one of my mom's favorite films, and she made me love it too. It makes fun of racism so well. Mel Brooks was/is the best parody/comedic director/writer/actor for the past 100 years.
I read that Mel Brooks originally wanted this movie set in modern times of the 70s, but the studio said no. So he turned it into a western. He then destroyed the 4th wall bringing it into modern day anyway. Also when asked in an interview if he could Mahe this movie today, he replied "we couldn't make it back then, but we did anyway. "
I love the contrast in this particular reaction. The guy is laughing his ass off and the lady is clearly just absorbing the deeper themes in shocked disbelief. This movie has something for everyone.
Mel Bookes created something that would blow your mind for thrity sears this movie continues to get the same reaction from people that show how much they treasure this movie.
29:08 -- Actually, that accent was improvised and Gene Wilder really did spit out his drink.. Just like earlier, Gene improvised "Morons" and made Cleavon laugh...
Mel Brooks has never made a bad movie! Mel Brooks films are to movies as Weird Al songs are to hit songs! Mel Brooks admits that they couldn't make this film in 1974! The Morons line was improvised and the laugh was genuine! Gene Wilder has been in so many great movies, Stir Crazy is such a great movie with Richard Pryor! High Anxiety is my favorite Mel Brooks movie!
1. Mel Brooks played the Governor, the Indian Chief and one of the thug roundup. 2. Mel Brooks doesn't just break the 4th wall he shatters, steps on and grinds it into the ground. 3. The preacher/Liam Dunn also plays in Young "Frankenstein" as Mr. Hilltop. Madeline Kahn also had a smallish role in it. 4. Imagine how much fun this was to make.🤣🤣🤣🤣 5. The line, "You know morons" was ad lib by Wilder. Little's reaction was real. 6. The guy that was supposed to play Jim showed up the first day drunk so he was let go. Wilder agreed to do this movie for Mel Brooks only if Mel would direct Young Frankenstein for him. 7. Richard Pryor was supposed to play Bart but he was going through his addictions at the time and they thought it wouldn't be a good idea. However, he did some of the writing. 8. Jim still has his popcorn from the theater. Movie suggestion "Young Frankenstein" with Gene Wilder
Slim Pickens is a traditional western films actor. Mel Brooks cast the film with many western film actors. Singer Frankie Laine, who sings for many western films was unaware what type of film this was.
Cleavon Little was one of Richard Pryor's best friends and he was more of a stage actor . He and Richard did a movie about the 1st black race car driver to win 1 of the Major races
Robin Hood Men in Tights was Mel's second attempt at Robin Hood. When Things Were Rotten was his first (It is not his best work but worth a watch if you like Mel Brooks).
I don't know if you caught it, but the gag about all the Johnson families at the town meeting was to introduce Howard Johnson during the string of "xxxx Johnson is right, ...". Then during the scan through the town we see the "Howard Johnson's Ice Cream - 1 Flavor", which is a joke on the "Howard Johnson's 28 Original Flavors" restaurant chain. They are all closed now, so you may not have known of them.
The two other Mel Brooks movies with Gene Wilder are The Producers (1967) and Young Frankenstein. Two other Mel Brooks movie with Madeline Kahn and Harvey Korman is High Anxiety and History of the World part 1.
The only other movie I've seen Cleavon Little in was a movie called "vanishing point" where he plays a blind radio personality in a California desert town in the mid-70s.
They did it right with this. The white guy didn’t come in and save the day for Bart, he was Barts Tonto, Robin or Scrappy Doo. He even beat The Kid at chess. Every plan came from Barts brain. The Kid was his sidekick. I remember being a kid (10ish) in the early 80’s, my dad made sure I watched this movie. Even as a kid I understood the point. I think it should be shown in every middle school, no censorship.
The Lili Von Shtupp character was based on the German Hollywood actress & singer Marlene Dietrich. She was most popular during the `30`s & `40`s & appeared in some westerns, in a similar role.
If someone hasn't already mentioned it, Lily Von Schtup (s slang word for having sex) is a parody of Marlene Dietrich. Find her singing " See what the boys in the back room will have."
The Producers is terrific too, the 1968 version with Gene Wilder and the 2005 musical is pretty funny too. It's not quite as good, but it's funner IMHO.
Great and intelligent reaction vid - I was 13 when this came out and it was in the theater for several months. Probably saw it 10 times with friends - if we had nothing to do it was always “let’s go see Blazing Saddles again!”.
I see so many younger viewers are lost when it comes to the identities of the performers here. Dom Deluise is the director of the musical "You're doing the French Mistake" bit - truly a magnificent performer and comedian; the immortal Madeline Kahn was Lily von Schtupp; Slim Pickens (Dr Strangelove, etc) as Taggert the underboss; Harvey Korman (Carol Burnett Show) as Hedley LeMarr (because the real actress Heddy LaMarr sued Mel Brooks for using her name); Richard Pryor is noted to have written the black jokes and lacing the "N" word throughout; Mongo was played by the pro footballer Alex Karras and is particularly noted to play the Father in the TV show Webster; Mel Brooks as the governor and the Indian Chief.
"Why does he have popcorn?" They were watching the end of the movie in the theater. When they move back to the ending. He wanted to still eat his popcorn.
Steph's reaction to this clearly shows what afraid of saying something controversial get nowadays. Me and my friends watched this and we didn't cringe at the movie they cringe at Steph's reaction. Believe it or not black people loved this movie and majority of us got the meaning of this. I had to stop the reaction because we were so uncomfortable watching her be so 😣 uncomfortable
totally agree with you. this is a classic movie that is hilarious. Could it be made in todays world? maybe not. But as it stands it's one of the funniest movies ever. Some people have to realize that it's ok to laugh at things that we find uncomfortable. If the humor is done well, we can laugh at about most anything. And this movie is done extremely well.
I have been trying to tell every person or couple or group that do reviews or reacts to videos on RUclips... 1 You're in 2024 watching a 1974 movie. Not only did people in the wild west speak like that...they STILL spoke that way in 1974 when the movie was being made! 2 it was made BEFORE the HUMOUR POLICE came along and started TELLING us what we can and can't laugh at anymore. and 3 LAUGHTER is your body's NATURAL RESPONSE! If something is funny...YOU WILL LAUGH! If I'm watching your video while you're watching Blazing Saddles and you don't LOL until you pee your pants, then you have NO BUSINESS REVIEWING IT! Mel Brooks was in the entertainment industry at a time when black celebrities still had to walk in through the back door. People like Mel, along with Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Frank Sinatra, and many other top rated celebrities, had to watch someone like Sammy Davis Jr. be treated like a dog because of the colour of their skin. Several times they, (the "RAT PACK") refuseded to perform if their friend SDJ wasn't allowed to enter the venue through the same door that they used. Mel also made one called TO BE OR NOT TO BE where he poked fun at nazis, and HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1, to poke fun at everybody. Lol.
@@ObiJuanageI think it could be made today. It would have to be pre-empted by an enormous ad campaign, explaining what satire is....and would still face major backlash, but anything is possible.
Lots of suggestions Young Frankenstein, which is great and you should watch it, but I want to toss another recommendation for another great Gene Wilder film, See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Fantastic comedy.
If you like Gene Wilder. I would recommend The Producers from 1968. One of Wilder's first films and a comedy tour de force. Mel Brooks won an Oscar for best original screenplay for it.
Back in the mid 80's, I was invited to a female friends engagement party, I knew only a couple of other friends who were going... it wasn't until I walked in, I realized that I was the only Black guy there so I cracked the line "Where the White women at..?" It did help ease a bit of the initial tension...! 😁😁
To be clear, I never had a problem with the "what up brah" but now the look jaby gives the camera when he says it is so "I dare you to say something" and it's hilarious
6:59 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were a comedy duo from way back when. 12:34 Hedy Lamarr was a famous actress in the 30's and 40's. She was also an inventor.
Unfortunately, Cleavon Little died young. At this point we've lost most of the actors in this movie. Cleavon Little. Gene Wilder. Madeline Kahn. Harvey Korman. Alex Karras. Slim Pickens. John Hillerman. Mel Brooks is still with us, I'm happy to say, as is Burton Gilliam (the actor who played Lyle - wanted them to sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Camptown Racetrack"). Burton Gilliam is 84 years old now, and Mel Brooks is 96. None of the actors were comfortable with the racist things they had to say, but they knew it was meant to make a point so they did it. Burton Gilliam apologized to Cleavon Little for it, and Cleavon told him it was okay; he knew it was just a role. If he'd thought Burton meant it, however, they would have had a problem.
Watch Gene Wilder at his best in "The Producers" (1967). Written and directed by Mel Brooks and also starring the great Zero Mostel. Decades later, Mel Brooks adapted he script to a smash Broadway musical.
Mel also re uses A Lot of the actors so you see a lot of familiar faces, and is one of few directors who acts in his films and adds to them. Maddilyn Kann ( totally spelled wrong) is epic, you got honework Jaby! Steph!! Teach him! With Achara.
Holy crap I cant wait to see your reaction!!!! I saw this as an early teen and many times since. Im about to laugh hard with and at yall!!!!! Love you guys!!!
Every Blazing Saddles reaction I watch, the ‘Laurel and Hearty (Hardy) hand shake’ joke goes over their heads.
breaks my heart every time. It's the best joke in the movie
That's purely an Age thing!
Another one that people miss most of the time is the reference to Randolf Scott.
Not a whole lot of people under 40 even know who Laurel and Hardy are. I'm 60 and I had no idea who Randolph Scott was until I finally read or saw it somewhere.
They also miss Wild Wild World of Sports
Gene just tossed that "Ya know, morons" in on his own. Cleavons laugh is real.
That director was Dom Deluise.
Richard Pryor was supposed to play the sheriff but the studio refused due to his drug use. But Mel hired him anyways as a script writer / editor or something. Richard wrote all the white lines and Mel the black. Pryor is the one who insisted they used the N word so much. Mel asked him about it and he insisted it worked. Least thats wheat Ive read.
Dom Deluise plays Buddy Bizarre, a take off on legendary film director and musical choreographer Busby Berkeley.
Mel Brooks wrote this with Richard Pryor. Mel Brooks later said that many of the jokes that people assumed were written by Pryor were actually written by him and vice versa
Pryor was supposed to have the role of Sherriff, but the studio felt he was too much trouble. You'd think that Cleavon Little would have shot to fame after this performance, but it never really happened for him. There is a video on RUclips where he discusses his work on Blazing Saddles and the reasons why he feels he was never offered starring roles later on
That always surprised me as well. Little was so charismatic and wonderful in this role. Was always a shock he ended up doing mostly tv and bit parts. He was still stellar in everything (Broadway and Dear John are especially amazing), but I expected him to do more for the silver screen after seeing this.
@@RicoRaynn I remember that he had a pretty fun role in "Fletch Lives", for whatever that's worth.
When he was cast in *Blazing Saddles,* Cleavon Little had already played a starring role on Broadway, in the musical *Purlie.*
The two I always assumed was Pryor was "excuse me while I whip this out?" "They said you was hung!!! ...They were right!"
@@stevenmonte7397 Pryor wrote Mongo's "Mongo only pan in game of life" line & most of the Mongo bits
(but, when they were writing in LA,
Pryor phoned... he was in Detroit doing cocaine with a random woman so...)
You should watch “Young Frankenstein” Gene Wilder is superb in it.
"Blucher !!!"
“Put the Candle Back!” “Abby Normal.”
===> Too Late
What hump?@@badplay156
What Knockers !!! Ooo thank you!
If you haven't done "Young Frankenstein" yet I'd definitely recommend it. In a weird way it's sort of a companion piece to Blazing saddles. It is to the old monster movies what Blazing saddles is to Westerns. Both movies were released in the same year. It's my personal favorite Mel Brooks movie.
The Lily von Shtupp character is Mel Brook's homage to Marlene Dietrich's role in the Jimmy Stewart movie "Destry Rides Again" (1939)
Just the enthusiasm with which he says, "Hey, where the white women at?" I've seen this movie over ten times and I die laughing at that every time. 🤣
That is a good line.
My personal favourite is, "Baby, you are sooooo talented. And they are sooooo DUMB."
This movie is so iconic because it's self aware that it's a movie. The scene at the end when Jim is holding the popcorn he was eating in the theater.
I feel like this movie deserves an annotated version. A lot of the references are important for popular culture and film history, like Cecil B. Demille, Randolf Scott, and Jessie Owens. So I think it would be fun to watch an annotated version because it shows how smart these jokes actually were. Especially for film buffs and people who love popular culture.
Yes, those references younger people probably wont get
saw it at age 18, was already a tv/movie nut, did not know a thing about the movie. So got the Gabby Hayes jokes, knew of Alex Karras from football, even got the Randolph Scott jokes and Marlene Dietrich take off. A Laurel and Hardy handshake... For 1974, the times were weird, Vietnam and Nixon and Watergate... Still funniest movie I've ever scene
That initial Lily von Shtupp "it's twue, it's twue!" scene originally had one more line at the end. After she says "it's twue!" , there was going to be a brief pause, and then you'd hear Bart say "I hate to disappoint you, ma'am, but you're actually sucking on my arm."
not arm... "That's my elbow!"
Do not remember that one
@@CaptainFrost32 REally? Hmm...somehow I thought it was always arm.
I think I remember that
The line was never filmed. Didn't get pass the censors.
You can tell "it's an older movie" because it's FUNNY!
& because it's a movie
they don't make those anymore
Serpico was on TV like a month ago
& it was great
You've NEVER seen Blazzin' Saddles? I've loved this movie since I was a little kid. Mel Brooks is comedy royalty.
Two greatest cinematic endings ever are blazing saddles and Monty python and the holy grail
Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor (One of the writers on Blazing Saddles) is a great action/mystery film with comedy thrown in.
Dont forget Stir Crazy with Pryor and Wilder. that is a classic.
The horses were trained to do the stunts and the fart scene were people off screen were doing the sounds - a funny movie.👍
The brilliance of Mel Brooks is in his ability to take the extremely taboo, put it right in your face, and make you see how stupid and childish it is while making you laugh at people who do it.
Also, Cleavon Little only has some 60 credits (including television) because we lost him way to soon at the age of 53 to cancer.
And on a more personal note: I've watched this movie hundreds of time since I first saw it in the theater (yes, I am older than dirt 👴🏻) so @ 18:30 I started to laugh when you started to take a drink. Boy did I see that coming 🤣🤣🤣.
didn't he have a short lived sitcom where he was a barber? that show was a typical late seventies network crapfest but I always liked him
@@RichFrye The only TV series he did that I'm aware of (aside from one-off guest appearances) would be "The New Temperatures Rising Show" (1972-1974) and "Bagdad Cafe" (1990-1991).
There was a comedy called "That's My Mama" (1974-1975) that starred Clifton Davis as a barber in Washington D.C.. Clifton and Cleavon are both outstanding actors and do have very similar appearances, so I could understand the confusion if that's the show you're thinking of.
One of my favourite throwaway lines in the movie is the actor in the studio commissary, dressed as Hitler, saying "They lose me after the bunker scene."
there was a comedy writer on a podcast saying that he ran into the Hitler actor,
& he was so excited that he recognized him & met him
2 other classics of Mel Brooks from back in the day that are great, Young Frankinstien and History of the World Part 1. and that one is so relievent now a days because a few weeks ago they announced after 40 years they are finally making History of the World Part 2 that will be done on Hulu in mulitple episodes instead of 1 movie. each episode will feature a different point in history with various comic sketches.
The preview looks like Mel Brooks' version of "Drunk History"
Fun fact: The scene where Bart is staring into the camera while Jim tries to cheer him up after the "up yours n*****", Gene was improving a lot of it, and when he called the townsfolk morons, Cleavon just couldn't help cracking up. His reaction was real! 😂
Who the hell is Trevon?
@@USCFlash Sorry, autocorrect, meant Cleavon Little, guy that played Bart
when this was on TV one Satuday morning (A&E of all channels!), they kept all the swears in, but of course muted the farting scene
but: instead of "up yours, n___", the old lady says "Outta my way, n___"
which made NO sense to me... they changed the line because "up yours" wasn't allowed, but the n-word is?!
& i know there is a longer TV edit, so maybe that it was i was watching,
i don't remember
Great reaction! You MUST go down a Gene Wilder rabbit hole. Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Woman In Red, Silver Streak.....
Cleavon Little starred in several TV shows including "Temperatures Rising" an films until his death in 1992.
There were references to the western film genre that you may have missed, such as the townspeople 's reverence for Randolph Scott. Scott was the symbol for good in every western film he was in. The other jokes were made about the western film "Destry Rides Again " starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich (the character Lily Von Shtupp was based on Dietrich 's character).
The actor who played mongo was on a show from the 80's called Webster where he play the former football player who along with his wife where made God parents by 1 of his former teammates who was black and him and his wife became Webster's foster parents after Webster's parents died . He also played in the NFL with the Detroit lions and was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame 2 years ago post death
Alex Karras was also terrific in a film called Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews and James Garner, one of my favorite movie musicals post-Classic Hollywood era.
Alex Karras. His line about being a pawn in the game of life is hilarious because he was quite intelligent and articulate.
Can't believe someone convinced Jaby to watch this movie. Let me get my popcorn 😁🍿🍿
One of the funniest western comedy films ever made! Though the jokes in this movie would never work today, it's still very fun. Mel Brooks said in an interview 11 years after Blazing Saddles, he actually regrets making the film, saying that most people were offended by the jokes, while others found it hilarious.
Wouldnt say it was that divisive, not like they portray the racist characters as heroes. The "have you ever seen such cruelty" scene with the old lady is ironic comedy in itself
People always say that but I don't think that true. Anyone who would be offended by it is exactly who it is mocking.
This and “Support Your Local Sheriff” are my two faves
Another funny western spoof that is doomed to languish in the shadow of Blazing Saddles is Rustler's Rhapsody, with Tom Beringer. Funny movie in its own right.
Mel Brooks did not say he regretted making Blazing Saddles.
Steph has seen the film already, 1000% guaranteed. Also, the person saying "Get your pies for the great pie fight!" is not the director from earlier, two different actors. The director is played by Dom Deluise, a well known comedic actor.
The gag with the toll booth was so effective Disney reused it in Kenobi.
Steph 100% NOT feeling it while Jabby Joker laughs at the beginning was such a delight 🤣
A couple things. First, Mel Brooks went to Richard Pryor and asked about the use of n--. Pryor said to use it as much as possible, cause that's what it was like back then. Second, Lyle--Taggart's assistant--was so shook at having to say n-- that he almost had a breakdown. The Black cast members gathered him in a group embrace and told him that they KNEW he didn't mean it. Because they ALL were play acting. That moment of love and understanding is one of the most touching movie moments.
I'm so glad that someone got the Cecil B DeMille joke. A lot of reactors don't understand that one.
LOL...this is always a fun one to see folks react to for the first time...I hope CinePals really enjoys the humor in this. 🤞💯✌
For Gene Wilder, I'd recommend "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" and "Young Frankenstein", the latter of which was done with Mel Brooks.
15:54-"Methodists?" Well, at least the man's an Equal Opportunity Employer...Even let the Arabs hire on for the raid!! Harvey Korman played this evil bad-guy role for years on the T.V series, "The Carol Burnett Show", and was just as funny on those skits. Clevon Little preferred stage acting to movies, died young at 54, his last role was the sarcastic butler to Lauren Hutton's vampire in the comedy "Once Bitten" 1987.. She's after a young Jim Carey for her next vampire-boyfreind, a pretty good movie.
Definitely check out the other Mel Brooks masterpiece from 1974 - Young Frankenstein.
Gene Wilder’s performance is Oscar-worthy.
As for Cleavon Little, I only know of the Chevy Chase film Fletch Lives, which is also great.
Yes, Steph said something that most reactors who have been watching this have not pointed out, besides the message of racism is silly, Lily represents how a woman can do the bare minimum and most men are easily amused and infatuated by them, she literally falls asleep on stage, it's hilarious.
That was Madeline Khan doing an absolutely brilliant parody of roles Marlene Dietrich played in a couple of old westerns; the world weary dance hall girl.
@@Lugnut64052 You're the first person I've ever read that picked up on the Marlene Dietrich parody going on in that scene. The movie they're referencing is Destry Rides Again - a very good movie in it's own right.
It's also a parody of Marlene Dietrich's "Laziest Woman in Town"
ruclips.net/video/Sr0xRNo6Xaw/видео.html
I'm impressed you both really got the point, seen many miss the message completely.
Madeline Kahn doing a send up of Marlene Dietrich, perfection.
The greatest comedy ever. Period
Jaby, you two now need to react to "Young Frankenstein" if you both haven't seen it yet. If you thought Gene Wilder was great in this, he's amazing in "Young Frankenstein".
This is my favourite reaction video you have made so far. Glad you enjoyed it. I used to watch this film a lot in the late 80’s and 90’s. I’m glad that younger generation can also enjoy this movie!
One of the most obscure references is to Dr. Leonard Gillespie, a wheelchair-bound character played by Lionel Barrymore (It's a Wonderful Life) in the popular Dr. Kildare series of films from the 1930s and 40s. (Dr. Gillespie would later get his own film series in the mid-1940s). The joke in BS is that the executioner is preparing to hang a man in a wheelchair and Hedley comments, "Yes, the Dr. Gillespie killings." Hedley clearly is implying that Dr. Gillespie here has committed some kind of capital crime prompting his hanging, wheelchair and all.
The great Dom DeLuise was the director "Watch me Fa**ots!". the chef was a different guy handing out pies. "Well that's the end of this suit!" "Where are the white women at?"
Most people don't realize Mongo is played by former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras--- a four time All-Pro.
"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.!" One of the best lines in cinema history. 😁😁
I work at a grain elevator and find myself thinking this line at least twice a month.
And an improv by Wilder.
@@jordanpeterson5140 🤣
I like how the Waco Kid still had the movie theater popcorn at the end.
Love his movie! Long live Mel Brooks.
Super fun reaction to a great movie! I think Clue (1985) would be a laugh riot for this pair.
Mel Brooks set the standard. There are some modern TV shows I watch reviewers an fans complain about being either too political or forcing a message and most of the young people don't realize it's been done since films were being made. Brooks had great writers. Richard Pryor had a part in the creative part of this movie. The world has changed but good creators are still doing what Brooks started.
I agree it does go back to the very start of movie making - Charlie Chaplin was doing political comedy in the silent movie days (The Great Dictator for one), and he probably wasn't the first.
The scene when Jim was trying cheer up Bart was unscripted and that laugh was genuine when Jim called them morons
Cleavon Little was in an episode of All in the Family with Sanford and Son's Demond Wilson called Edith Writes a Song! Hilarious!
I remember my stepdad showing this movie to me when I was little and our favorite part was all the guys farting around the campfire lol
Oddly enough, Blazing Saddles counts as the first time audible fart humor was used in film.
Same when my dad and I watched it.
I've only ever shown the campfire scene to my niece and nephew (WAY too young for this movie!!) and they cracked up right at the first burp. The fart that followed had them rolling with laughter! Literally. (They actually roll with laughter if something is funny enough.)
Mel Brooks co wrote with Richard Pryor on Blazing Saddles. John Wayne turned down the Taggert role specifically written for him to play. He felt there were expectations for him as an actor and he couldn't do the role. He did say he said it was the funniest script he's ever read. The director's commentary available on the DVD was very informative in the macking if and funny in it's own. The producers didn't know Mel had " final cut" in his contract and were very dismayed even at the time about the movie. 😂 No backsies.
Mongo Santa Maria was a Cuban jazz drummer. Mel Brooks was a drummer and he threw in Mongo's name as a tribute.
Cleavon Little has a part in the movie Once Bitten starring Jim Carry.
25:02. He has the popcorn from the movie theater he was watching this scene in. 🤯
I had a week where I watched a reaction to Blazing Saddles and caught an episode of The Waltons where Cleavon Little came to Walton Mountain as a worker and training for a boxing title to build a church.
A few months later in the holiday season, I caught the movie fhat served as the inspiration of the Waltons tv show. Cleavon Little led a congregation and tried to help John Boy to find his dad in a winter storm.
This was one of my mom's favorite films, and she made me love it too. It makes fun of racism so well. Mel Brooks was/is the best parody/comedic director/writer/actor for the past 100 years.
I read that Mel Brooks originally wanted this movie set in modern times of the 70s, but the studio said no. So he turned it into a western. He then destroyed the 4th wall bringing it into modern day anyway.
Also when asked in an interview if he could Mahe this movie today, he replied "we couldn't make it back then, but we did anyway. "
I love the contrast in this particular reaction. The guy is laughing his ass off and the lady is clearly just absorbing the deeper themes in shocked disbelief. This movie has something for everyone.
Mel Bookes created something that would blow your mind for thrity sears this movie continues to get the same reaction from people that show how much they treasure this movie.
The character Lyle (The cowboy with the red shirt / black vest) was the Colt Peacemaker salesman in Back to the Future III...
The kids today should watch this to see what racism really is all about. It will undo all of that CRT stuff they're being spoon-fed.
29:08 -- Actually, that accent was improvised and Gene Wilder really did spit out his drink.. Just like earlier, Gene improvised "Morons" and made Cleavon laugh...
Mel Brooks has never made a bad movie!
Mel Brooks films are to movies as Weird Al songs are to hit songs!
Mel Brooks admits that they couldn't make this film in 1974!
The Morons line was improvised and the laugh was genuine!
Gene Wilder has been in so many great movies, Stir Crazy is such a great movie with Richard Pryor!
High Anxiety is my favorite Mel Brooks movie!
The director who got Punched is played by dom deluise. He's not the pie fight chef
I watch Young Frankenstein every time October comes around... love that movie.
1. Mel Brooks played the Governor, the Indian Chief and one of the thug roundup.
2. Mel Brooks doesn't just break the 4th wall he shatters, steps on and grinds it into the ground.
3. The preacher/Liam Dunn also plays in Young "Frankenstein" as Mr. Hilltop. Madeline Kahn also had a smallish role in it.
4. Imagine how much fun this was to make.🤣🤣🤣🤣
5. The line, "You know morons" was ad lib by Wilder. Little's reaction was real.
6. The guy that was supposed to play Jim showed up the first day drunk so he was let go.
Wilder agreed to do this movie for Mel Brooks only if Mel would direct Young Frankenstein for him.
7. Richard Pryor was supposed to play Bart but he was going through his addictions at the time and they thought it wouldn't be a good idea. However, he did some of the writing.
8. Jim still has his popcorn from the theater.
Movie suggestion "Young Frankenstein" with Gene Wilder
Clevon Little played a Blind DJ in "VANISHING POINT" (ONE OF MY FAVORITE CAR MOVIES)
Slim Pickens is a traditional western films actor. Mel Brooks cast the film with many western film actors. Singer Frankie Laine, who sings for many western films was unaware what type of film this was.
Cleavon Little was one of Richard Pryor's best friends and he was more of a stage actor . He and Richard did a movie about the 1st black race car driver to win 1 of the Major races
Yes, and it was a shame that racer Wendell Scott didn't even get a cameo role in "Greased Lightning" (1977).
Robin Hood Men in Tights was Mel's second attempt at Robin Hood. When Things Were Rotten was his first (It is not his best work but worth a watch if you like Mel Brooks).
I don't know if you caught it, but the gag about all the Johnson families at the town meeting was to introduce Howard Johnson during the string of "xxxx Johnson is right, ...". Then during the scan through the town we see the "Howard Johnson's Ice Cream - 1 Flavor", which is a joke on the "Howard Johnson's 28 Original Flavors" restaurant chain. They are all closed now, so you may not have known of them.
The two other Mel Brooks movies with Gene Wilder are The Producers (1967) and Young Frankenstein. Two other Mel Brooks movie with Madeline Kahn and Harvey Korman is High Anxiety and History of the World part 1.
legend: "you know...morons" was an unexpected ad-lib so the reaction was real.
The only other movie I've seen Cleavon Little in was a movie called "vanishing point" where he plays a blind radio personality in a California desert town in the mid-70s.
They did it right with this. The white guy didn’t come in and save the day for Bart, he was Barts Tonto, Robin or Scrappy Doo. He even beat The Kid at chess. Every plan came from Barts brain. The Kid was his sidekick. I remember being a kid (10ish) in the early 80’s, my dad made sure I watched this movie. Even as a kid I understood the point. I think it should be shown in every middle school, no censorship.
The Lili Von Shtupp character was based on the German Hollywood actress & singer Marlene Dietrich. She was most popular during the `30`s & `40`s & appeared in some westerns, in a similar role.
If someone hasn't already mentioned it, Lily Von Schtup (s slang word for having sex) is a parody of Marlene Dietrich. Find her singing " See what the boys in the back room will have."
The Producers is terrific too, the 1968 version with Gene Wilder and the 2005 musical is pretty funny too. It's not quite as good, but it's funner IMHO.
Great and intelligent reaction vid - I was 13 when this came out and it was in the theater for several months. Probably saw it 10 times with friends - if we had nothing to do it was always “let’s go see Blazing Saddles again!”.
I see so many younger viewers are lost when it comes to the identities of the performers here. Dom Deluise is the director of the musical "You're doing the French Mistake" bit - truly a magnificent performer and comedian; the immortal Madeline Kahn was Lily von Schtupp; Slim Pickens (Dr Strangelove, etc) as Taggert the underboss; Harvey Korman (Carol Burnett Show) as Hedley LeMarr (because the real actress Heddy LaMarr sued Mel Brooks for using her name); Richard Pryor is noted to have written the black jokes and lacing the "N" word throughout; Mongo was played by the pro footballer Alex Karras and is particularly noted to play the Father in the TV show Webster; Mel Brooks as the governor and the Indian Chief.
8:21 9:16 9:34 9:45 10:04 10:19
"Why does he have popcorn?"
They were watching the end of the movie in the theater. When they move back to the ending. He wanted to still eat his popcorn.
I always appreciated the "They lose me after the bunker" Hitler joke.
Steph's reaction to this clearly shows what afraid of saying something controversial get nowadays. Me and my friends watched this and we didn't cringe at the movie they cringe at Steph's reaction. Believe it or not black people loved this movie and majority of us got the meaning of this. I had to stop the reaction because we were so uncomfortable watching her be so 😣 uncomfortable
Yea, she must be fun to be around....yawn
totally agree with you. this is a classic movie that is hilarious. Could it be made in todays world? maybe not. But as it stands it's one of the funniest movies ever. Some people have to realize that it's ok to laugh at things that we find uncomfortable. If the humor is done well, we can laugh at about most anything. And this movie is done extremely well.
I have been trying to tell every person or couple or group that do reviews or reacts to videos on RUclips...
1 You're in 2024 watching a 1974 movie. Not only did people in the wild west speak like that...they STILL spoke that way in 1974 when the movie was being made!
2 it was made BEFORE the HUMOUR POLICE came along and started TELLING us what we can and can't laugh at anymore.
and 3 LAUGHTER is your body's NATURAL RESPONSE! If something is funny...YOU WILL LAUGH! If I'm watching your video while you're watching Blazing Saddles and you don't LOL until you pee your pants, then you have NO BUSINESS REVIEWING IT!
Mel Brooks was in the entertainment industry at a time when black celebrities still had to walk in through the back door. People like Mel, along with Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Frank Sinatra, and many other top rated celebrities, had to watch someone like Sammy Davis Jr. be treated like a dog because of the colour of their skin. Several times they, (the "RAT PACK") refuseded to perform if their friend SDJ wasn't allowed to enter the venue through the same door that they used.
Mel also made one called TO BE OR NOT TO BE where he poked fun at nazis, and HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1, to poke fun at everybody. Lol.
@@ObiJuanageI think it could be made today. It would have to be pre-empted by an enormous ad campaign, explaining what satire is....and would still face major backlash, but anything is possible.
Lots of suggestions Young Frankenstein, which is great and you should watch it, but I want to toss another recommendation for another great Gene Wilder film, See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Fantastic comedy.
If you like Gene Wilder. I would recommend The Producers from 1968. One of Wilder's first films and a comedy tour de force. Mel Brooks won an Oscar for best original screenplay for it.
Back in the mid 80's, I was invited to a female friends engagement party, I knew only a couple of other friends who were going... it wasn't until I walked in, I realized that I was the only Black guy there so I cracked the line "Where the White women at..?" It did help ease a bit of the initial tension...! 😁😁
-"Joined by Steph SaBRAW"
-"What up BRAW"
Always cracks me up 😂
Please do more of these mel brooke awesome movies. This was awesome.
To be clear, I never had a problem with the "what up brah" but now the look jaby gives the camera when he says it is so "I dare you to say something" and it's hilarious
6:59 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were a comedy duo from way back when. 12:34 Hedy Lamarr was a famous actress in the 30's and 40's. She was also an inventor.
Unfortunately, Cleavon Little died young.
At this point we've lost most of the actors in this movie. Cleavon Little. Gene Wilder. Madeline Kahn. Harvey Korman. Alex Karras. Slim Pickens. John Hillerman.
Mel Brooks is still with us, I'm happy to say, as is Burton Gilliam (the actor who played Lyle - wanted them to sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Camptown Racetrack"). Burton Gilliam is 84 years old now, and Mel Brooks is 96.
None of the actors were comfortable with the racist things they had to say, but they knew it was meant to make a point so they did it. Burton Gilliam apologized to Cleavon Little for it, and Cleavon told him it was okay; he knew it was just a role. If he'd thought Burton meant it, however, they would have had a problem.
Watch Gene Wilder at his best in "The Producers" (1967). Written and directed by Mel Brooks and also starring the great Zero Mostel. Decades later, Mel Brooks adapted he script to a smash Broadway musical.
Gene Wilder is hilarious in Young Frankenstein, my favorite of Mel Brooks' comedies
I love that you left the part in where he was trying to get a student discount for the movie, that part is hilarious.
"Where are the white women at?" is one of the funniest lines in the history of film.
My favorite joke that people don't get now is when Clevon Little rides by Count Basie and his big band in the desert.
Mel also re uses A Lot of the actors so you see a lot of familiar faces, and is one of few directors who acts in his films and adds to them. Maddilyn Kann ( totally spelled wrong) is epic, you got honework Jaby! Steph!! Teach him! With Achara.
Him: Laughs at all the funny shit.
Her: Notices him laughing, pretends to get the joke.
Holy crap I cant wait to see your reaction!!!! I saw this as an early teen and many times since. Im about to laugh hard with and at yall!!!!! Love you guys!!!