Review of Blazing Saddles (1974) by Cody M — 07 Nov 2012

Hilarious and loving spoof of the classic westerns in which a black railway worker (Cleavon Little) who is roped into becoming the sheriff of a small town as part of a scheme by a corrupt attorney general (Harvey Korman) to get the land cheap to cash in on the railroad that is scheduled to run through the town.

Facing hostility from the townsfolk and danger from a posse of Korman's outlaws, the new sheriff must use all his wits to save the day, and in the most ridiculous fashion possible. The jokes are fast and furious as writer/director/star Mel Brooks mines the story (co-written by Richard Pryor!) for laughs with nothing being sacred, all buoyed by a charming cast and some truly inspired wackiness.