BLAZING SADDLES (1974) FIRST TIME WATCHING MOVIE REACTION!

[@escalatingbarbarism5096]

I saw this for the first time on VHS when I was around 8, and it permanently effected my sense of humor to this day. Mel Brooks' masterpiece.

[@jaydisqus3353]

I watched it for the first time around 11. I would walk around singing the theme song, my mother corrected my lyrics when I messed it up. Love that woman...

[@jeanine6328]

Lol, I blame my personality on MASH. I was in love this Alan Aldas character Hawkeye. Primarily because of his one liners. I was sure we’d get married when I grew up. Lol.

[@thescourgeofathousan]

Same!

[@Saiyanjohn415]

🤣😂 me too

[@peterbooth793]

It changed my sense of humor also. I guess it's why so many people call me a pervert.

[@mikemartin8747]

Richard Pryor wrote all the lines for the white actors and Mel Brooks wrote all the lines for the African American actors. It was a genius collaboration.

[@MGower4465]

Not exactly. Pryor worked mostly on the Mongo scenes. There was a lot more of Mongo in the TV version.

[@1976PartyBoy]

'Afro-Americans' ??? MOST of those-'BLACK' actors-NEVER stepped foot off of American soil.te-hee

[@mikemartin8747]

@@1976PartyBoy ????

[@1976PartyBoy]

@@mikemartin8747 -They are NOT, ' AFRO-AMERICANS, or even AFRICAN- AMERICANS. "THEY' are just- 'run-of-the-mill'...AMERICANS. Period

[@1x4]

You can say they're black. You know they are, (skin color), you can't tell if they're from Africa.

[@karensky3456]

My dad took me to see this in the theater when I was 12. It was rated R. My high brow, refined, intellectual father, laughed his ass off through the whole movie. So glad you are old enough to catch some of the more classic nuances.

[@coachmikesfilmroom3111]

First time I saw it was a vhs rental. Then one of our local channel did a new years marathon starting with Blazing Saddles at midnight every year. It became our NY tradition

[@Isleofskye]

Good Reaction,My Friend.. My parents let me see this in London 5 years ago for my birthday. It's not every year that you are 60 years old...

[@Brothaman2k]

Actually got this insight into the 4th wall break at the end of the film from another reactor (one of the reasons I kinda like seeing other people's takes on these movies). Everything Mel Brookes had been lampooning in the movie was done behind the cover of being in another time and place. It's an excellent tool for satire that let's the audience feel separate from the criticism they/society are getting, allowing them to take it in without being quite as "attacked". But when the 4th wall breaks all of those things spill out onto the streets of the real world in, what were, modern times. In other words, he was saying "No, not just way back when. Right now, as you sit and watch this movie, this sh*t is happening." When I heard that, that ending that I'd always taken like you as, "Sure, why not?" absurdity was actually a pretty ballsy social critique.

[@niklasdahlgren7641]

I wish we could get another movie from Mel Brooks but the man is 95 years old and deserves some peace and quiet in his golden years. I wonder when/if we will have to wait a long time before someone steps up to the plate and shoulder the mantle and manage to make movies the way he did them.

[@Serai3]

Saw this in the theater when it came out. I was 13, and my parents were still into going to the movies. I've never seen my dad laugh so hard, and he didn't speak much English. The audience was the same - it was often hard to hear what was going on because everyone was laughing so hard. There's a great one-hour documentary on the making of this film, "Back in the Saddle" (you can see it here on YT), and in it Mel talks about how they had to jack the sound way up on the farting scene because Mel anticipated exactly what happened - the shrieks of laughter drowned out half the scene. Min d you, this was the VERY FIRST TIME anyone had heard farting on screen. None of us could believe it. And so MUCH of it. The entire audience instantly regressed to 8-year-olds. It was one of the most awesome nights of my life.

[@jamesmoore4003]

“Scuse me while I whip this out….AHHH!!” Funniest line in the whole movie 😂

[@reneedennis2011]

I also like History of the World, Part 1.

[@txusmc69]

Idk "where the white women at" is funnier to me lol

[@jamesmoore4003]

@@txusmc69 yeah that’s funny AF too

[@RickReinster]

'they said you was hung' ... 'and they was right!'

[@brucevidito4923]

I saw this in the theater in Bangor Maine. Drove 30 miles from Charleston Air Force Station to go see it in 1974.

[@212x3]

a great movie. They nailed EVERYONE in this movie.

[@beatleschick1000]

I saw this in a movie theater with my brother and parents. I'm thinking I was about 12 because I remember it well, and that is the age where your parents embarrass you. My dad laughed so loud and long at the campfire fart scene, I was SO embarrassed!! The whole theater laughed, but he kept on for lots longer!! Oh the good old days! We lost him this year in August (age 91!!) and I'm glad I have lots of these good memories :-)

[@casualcausalityy]

As a kid the most important joke was the townspeople willing to include the blacks and Chinese but refusing the Irish. It made clear their prejudice wasn't based on race, they'd discriminate against anyone from a different culture.

[@niziggz]

Yesss! Been waiting for this even since I subbed, lol. This is gonna be great. One of my favorite bits of IMDb trivia is this: "When the film was first screened for Warner Brothers executives, almost none of them laughed, and the movie looked to be a disaster that the studio would not release. However, Mel Brooks quickly set up a subsequent screening for the studio's employees. When these regular folks laughed uproariously throughout the movie, Warner Brothers finally agreed to take a chance on releasing it."

[@belvagurr403]

I saw it in Tallahassee, in 1974, and saw it 6 times in one week. I still have all the dialogue memorized.

[@lions1mew]

I saw it in 74 in El Paso, TX, my hometown. I turned 18 in May of that year.

[@williamwilson7631]

Oh man, what a classic. Saw this on VHS as a kid. I have to thank my father for introducing me to both this and Young Frankenstein. I think I saw Young Frankenstein first and he said, "If you thought that was funny, you should see Blazing Saddles." Both of my parents introduced me to some amazing films.

[@ladyshar42]

very similar to my story, VHS when I was kid, introduced to me by Dad. I had this, Young Frankenstein and Monty Python's Holy Grail memorized by the time I was 11.

[@richieb7692]

When we bought our first video recorder, we had two films with it.. Young Frankenstein and Guns of Naverone. Then we bought a three pack of blank videos to tape off the tv.

[@jonellwanger7258]

Very similar story, but in the 90’s, born in 89, thank god my dad did!

[@ameyer1970]

When they are running out of the studio lot, the man in the blue sweater was not an extra, he was an actual tourist who was very puzzled by what was going on. They had to track him down and get him to sign a waiver for the movie.

[@darindonahue5901]

Before his acting career, Alex Karras was a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions 1958-1970

[@Powerranger-le4up]

He’s also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

[@johnortmann3098]

@@Powerranger-le4up He played "Potato Brumbaugh" in the miniseries "Centennial."

[@jayham1970]

I had to sneak in this movie (others too) at friend’s houses. Richard Pryor helped co-write the screenplay with Mel, and I absolutely loved Mel and Richard. Both were just able to create some of the funniest, raunchiest comedy that could be watched, and all of them were funny as hell. I loved Cleavon Little (Sheriff Bart) who was an absolutely fantastic actor, and the world lost him way too soon. (RIP)

[@ricci8497]

I first saw this when I was 9 with my mum and it cracked me up even back then before I got what the film was depicting

[@DBCuzitis]

Wow! It is so refreshing to watch a reactor who ‘gets’ the references to things pre-2000s (pre-y2k 😜). Bravo sir 😁

[@PopcornReactions]

Thanks! 😃

[@ccthomas]

As much as I love to watch young folk discover these classics, it's nice to see someone who knows the actors & understands the context. I think my parents took me to a double feature of this & Airplane! when I was 10. That was a very formative evening.

[@scotthedges7016]

Sarasota High School played this for me and my fellow classmates during my days there back in the '70s . It was uncensored and shown multiple times ! While I did not get all the jokes, etc. , I knew it was funny and addressed stereotypes. Thanks for your reactions and commentary on this great film !

[@PopcornReactions]

thank you !

[@LizardBrainMinerals]

The joke with everyone getting his name wrong: Heddy Lamar was an actress from the golden age of Hollywood (helped develop the technology they eventually gave us Bluetooth.) The joke pays off when he tries to correct her memorial at the theater.

[@TrackMaster844]

She was also the first mainstream (at the time) actress to go topless on film.

[@sabrecatsmiladon7380]

Everybody always feels sorry to the Old Lady getting punched in the stomach....until Bart says hello to her!

[@malagastehlaate230]

I watched this when I was a kid... probably in the 70's ... can't recall how old I was... I own it on DVD now... Love Mel Brooks... Hilarious movie... way funnier now as an adult ... but it was funny then too. Gene Wilder was one of my favorite actors along with Marty Feldman... the two of them together was great in many films. Always enjoy movies with him.

[@trainguy1017]

Mel Brooks is a comedic genius! He also has the talent for assembling the PERFECT casts for his movies.

[@peterbooth793]

Don't know if you like All in the family, but there's an episode called " Edith writes a song " with Clevon Little and Demond Wilson and they break into the Bunker home 🏡. Very funny 😄.

[@Faroutamazingadventures]

This movie, Trading Places, and Rush Hour trilogy and several other movies had some derogative scenes and lines but it wasn’t attended to promote or keep racism alive, and at the end of those movies it promoted coming together. Also taught life’s lessons at the same time. I saw Blazing Saddles on TV not too long ago and it’s definitely a classic and again it wasn’t at all tensionally to promote prejudice.

[@christheone248]

After 40 odd years, its still one of the best scenes in any movie. Where he takes himself hostage! Love it

[@montist1]

I watch this with my parents all the time. My dad cracks up so bad and it makes me so happy. This satire is comic genius

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

I went to see this in the theater when it came out with my black friend Leon. Neither one of us knew what to expect. When that old lady said "Up yours, nigger!" we both fell on the floor in hysterics. We both understood that this movie is not racist in the least but is actually making FUN of the racists, making THEM look stupid. Many have said, and I tend to agree, that this movie probably could not be made today or if it was it would be completely different. There's a deleted/extended scene from when Lily Von Stuup is trying to seduce Bart and she says, "Is it twoo what they say about your people? Oh, it's twoo! It's twoo!" then there's a few seconds of silence and Bart says, "You're sucking on my arm." This was a bit too much for Warner Brothers censors and they had Mel Brooks cut it out. A shame because that would have been hilarious.

[@jonellwanger7258]

Look for the interview where Mel Brooks said he couldn’t make it back then either, but they still did. Just need someone with Money, ands more importantly, BALLS! I would sign up immediately!!

[@sire3669]

This movie came out about a year after I was born and I saw it about 9 years later on VHS, when I was 10. Since then, I've seen it countless times, as it's been one of my favorite movies of all time. In fact, there are many Mel Brooks movies that are among my favorites... High Anxiety... Young Frankenstein... Life Stinks... The History of the World... Mel Brooks is a genius.

[@SIUSaluki04]

Clevon Little was so talented.

[@unseeninja]

Saw this one in the early 90's with my Dad, one of his favourites. I might have been 10 at the oldest. I've loved Mel Brooks ever since.

[@stacycassidy4585]

"Somebody's gotta go back and get a shitload a' dimes!"

[@christopherbaldwin2005]

I was 15 year's old when I saw this with my Grandpa in the theater. I thought the fart scene was hysterical at that age!! Mel is the man. On TV, IN THE 80'S, Richard Pryor had a show that came on at 10 pm. All the good shit had to be after 10:00, by order of the FCC. I'm 63 now and miss my Looney Tunes!!!! God damn it!!!

[@evemiller2637]

I remember collecting soda bottles to earn money to go to the show. They were $0.10 a bottle. Collected seven or eight six packs for $4.80 to go could buy a ticket and buy a soda and snacks. Fortunately for this movie my dad took us to the Drive-in. Fell in love with Mel Brooks. Introduced my sons to him and they have a collection of his movies.

[@whiterabbit75]

You're the first person I've seen react to this movie to recognize Higgens. Well done.

[@williamjones6031]

1. Mel Brooks played the Governor, the Indian Chief and one of the roundup thugs. 2. Mel Brooks doesn't just break the 4th wall he shatters, steps on and grinds it into the ground. 3. The preacher plays in Young Frankenstein as an old man that gets racked by Dr. Frankenstein. Madeline Kahn also had a smallish role in it. 4. Yes, Bart and Jim were smoking wacky tobacky. 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

[@sifumode9460]

Hedy Lamarr was a famous actress and also a very accomplished scientist. They were going to call the character Hedy Lamarr, but she sued Mel Brooks to prevent him using her name. Therefore, it's a running gag in the movie that everyone keeps "accidentally" calling him Hedy Lamarr and he corrects them that "It's HEDLEY".

[@chazzn121]

and she was still pissed about the play on the name.

[@Gutntagged]

gotta love the random popcorn laugh @16:05

[@PopcornReactions]

yeah laughing at random handlebars on a horse

[@martinhafner2201]

Weird trivia : This fictional town of Rock Ridge provided the name for the Rock Ridge extensions (RRIP) to the CD-ROM (ISO9660) format. It adds subdirectories, long file names (255 char) and file attributes, largely meant to be compatible with Unix systems. It is based on the High Sierra format and is a competitor to the more Windows oriented Joliet extensions. It is in line with other early computer standards being named in a whimsical manner (e.g. biff, python, pine, awk, c, unix, linux) according to their creators favorite things.

[@aaronbredon2948]

There was a famous early actress named Hedy Lamarr. The Hedy/Hedley mistakes were referring to that. Fun trivia - during WW2 Hedy Lamarr invented the spread spectrum frequency hopping technology we now use in cell phones and bluetooth. The Laurel and Hardy handshake was referring to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, an early comedy duo. I am totally amazed Mel Brooks managed to get a pot smoking scene into the movie - that was absolutely verboten back then.

[@ResidentPetrolhead]

Man...your reaction to the "work song" early in the movie added years to my life. Great reaction to an all-time great movie. Mel fucking Brooks, man. The king.

[@PopcornReactions]

thank you!

[@thrummer1953]

I first saw this at a Drive-in theater near Provo Utah.

[@jonathanstern5537]

I watched most of the Mel Brooks movies when I was a kid. My parents encouraged me to watch them because it was Mel Brooks.

[@Victor-lr2xr]

I watched this in the College Theater when I was 22. We all loved it.

[@pamelacoleman2719]

One of my favorite films 😂😂😂😂😂😊

[@thekidjuggalo]

The song, I get no kick from champagne is from 1934 and was sung by Cole Porter....

[@matt88876]

they broke so many walls with this movie that they could not do today

[@phogue1]

I hear a lot of commenters say you couldn't make the film now. Mel Brooks did an audience interview a few years ago, and someone brought that up. He replied, "We couldn't make it then!" He simply shot what he wanted, then the studio came back with a lot of cuts, and he just didn't do them. Great video by the way!

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Brooks had the guts to take the risk and to accept the invariable criticism. AFAIK, he never whines about people not getting the joke. He trusted that there was an audience for his brand of humor and he trusted in his (and his coworkers) talents. Because that’s an important factor if you’re going to make controversial and potentially offensive comedy: you’ve got to bring the funny. An offensive joke that isn’t funny isn’t much of a joke. It’s just offensive.

[@dauntlessasmr7910]

In fairness, it's not everyday that a small town gets a new -Ni- Sheriff.

[@mgordon1100]

Well, the movie came out in 1974, and my dad took me to see it. He loved Mel Brooks. I was seven. I guess the language blew right over my head, but I understood natsees and trip K. The parts that really stood out to me were the bugs bunny scene, the toll booth, and breaking out of the set. I always get a kick out of Gene Wilder still holding the popcorn from the theater in his last scene.

[@darkangel_1978]

My parents showed me this movie, when I was a kid in the 80's. Been a fan of Mel Brooks for as long as I can remember.

[@PopcornReactions]

Mel is funny

[@darkangel_1978]

@@PopcornReactions he truly is. A comedic genius, if you ask me.

[@tinastar1972]

The guy in the white hat, who takes his hat off and stands when he says, "Randolph Scott!" is also the other Lebowski in The Big Lebowski.

[@PopcornReactions]

YES !!!!!!!

[@tinastar1972]

@@PopcornReactions To answer your question, I can't even remember how young I was when I saw this for the first time, maybe 10? I watched it with my dad on HBO. My parents didn't really keep me from movies unless they had a lot of sex, but nudity was not a big deal. My dad and stepmom took me to a lot of dusk till dawn drive-ins as a kid. I would sleep during movies I couldn't watch. We saw Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Cave Man, a lot of old movies. One old horror was called Gates of Hell in the U.S. but it's a foreign film, City of the Dead or something like that. The earliest movie I remember seeing at the drive-in was Ode To Billy Joe and I was maybe 4?

[@greggiovanni1825]

Saw it when its came out... parents we happy to get rig of us, and Dad loved Mel Brooks from the 50s.

[@goldenager59]

I do believe, sir, that yours is the first reaction to this movie thus far to play up the reference to the late great Randolph Scott (I haven't yet seen any of his films, but let's be polite.) You have my earnest appreciation. 😊 Also, for whatever it may be worth, you yourself rather remind me of the late great Ernest Borgnine (now HIM I've seen many times). 🙂🙃

[@PopcornReactions]

mchale's navy nice!

[@goldenager59]

@@PopcornReactions Just so! 😀

[@zetapal]

Back in 82 we had this on RCA video disc ... no that's not laser disk ... it was like a phonograph record only with a permanent plastic square sleeve, about the size of an LP. The player worked with a stylus of some type that contacted the rotating disc inside the sleeve. We watched it over and over, it was great.

[@PopcornReactions]

classic

[@johndarcangelo6893]

I've probably seen this movie 20 times but I just noticed that the actor playing Olson Johnson is the wheelchair Lebowski and the old governor in O' Brother Where Art Thou.

[@davidupton8880]

My dad took me to see it in the theater when I was in fourth grade.

[@bufordteejustice1119]

Richard Pryor wrote a line that he was mad that got cut. In the scene where Lily say" it's true..it's true. The sheriff says " madam, you are sucking on my arm."

[@davidchew6319]

Dude you just made me laugh so hard I almost passed out.

[@ja37d-34]

I saw it in the late 80s as a 8-9 year old as my dad watched it. Did not understand all then, but most. And I have loved it since. :)

[@garybrockie6327]

I saw this in the Theater. If you haven’t seen Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein, you are missing out.

[@flashgordon10001]

Saw this on the movie theater when it came out, I was 13 and it was the talk of everyone in junior high school

[@CinesterCharlie]

This and Robin Hood Men in Tights are my favorite Mel Brooks movies. Love it.

[@ernestallison9880]

I saw it at the drive-in about a year after release as a teenager. Laughed my ass off at the time and understood most of the humor was aimed directly at the utter stupidity of racism and the prejudices of people. I didn't realize until much later that Richard Pryor was so involved in the writing. Sadly, almost 50 years later and many people haven't changed much. They just hide it better in public.

[@datamike00]

saw this in a theater in 1975(maybe 76)when I was 18 or 19. Probably one of the first "adult" movies I saw. I can't think of any other comedy that has such "in your face" humor since then. Love how all the reaction youtubers are discovering this after 40 or 50 years. I like how you're pointing out where the different actors are from. bonus point for identifying Randolf Scott

[@MousePotato]

My stepfather got this from a trashcan at the back of a video store in the early 80s who were throwing away a lot of their VHS tapes.

[@lbh002]

I learned to love Mel Brooks comedy styling from his writing for the TV show Get Smart. I saw this when I was about 15 years old in the base theater at March Air Force Base. It was my first Mel Brooks movie and it instantly became my favorite movie; until Young Frankenstein then that became my favorite movie; until History of the World, Part I came out and then THAT was my favorite movie. Mel Brooks is a funny man.

[@IZZY_EDIBLE]

HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 = Mel Brooks' best movie!

[@thehouseofcrisis87]

I saw this as a kid, love Mel Brooks!

[@gordonmcgin1]

First watched in my teens with friends the year it came out Odeon Cinema Ayr, Scotland. Totally shocked by the words when first used but realising it mocked racism and racists as never before driven into hysterical laughter, especially at the beans scene. Blown away by the film. The Sherriff beating everyone into submission and winning the love of the townsfolk.

[@robotto8858]

"Well let's play chess." Best line ever!

[@cshubs]

Hedy Lemar was a gorgeous and smart film goddess. That's why they kept saying Headly's name wrong. She had 6 husbands.

[@peterbooth793]

They didn't just break the fourth wall, they smashed the shit out of it.

[@315Mikey]

I first saw this on network TV in 1982. I recorded it from TV on a Betamax VCR. All the racial slurs were left in the edited-for-television run, but the fart sounds were replaced by various horse noises, Lily's last name was pronounced "von Tsch", "Up yours, n-----" was replaced with "Outta my way, n-----" twice, Bart actually outwitted Mongo three times (twice by explosion & once by oxygen deprivation which caused him to lose consciousness), and the Gov held a press conference (where he also does a hilarious impression of Toulouse Lautrec) in the fake Rock Ridge a few minutes before Lamarr's army arrived. Needless to say, I watched that Beta tape nearly to the point of erasure (also, the VCR broke after Beta ceased to exist) and when I got the VHS tape of the unedited movie from a rental store that was closing, I was surprised to see the Candygram defeat Mongo & no press conference. Look up all the "deleted scenes", because they're also funny as hell!

[@alanfeldstein9761]

I saw it in a movie theater in Kansas City in 1974 with my father and his friends.

[@PopcornReactions]

NICE!

[@richdiana3663]

Your laugh is priceless. 👍👍

[@iKvetch558]

Gene Wilder was in another western movie that was also a comedy...in 1979, he starred in The Frisco Kid with Harrison Ford. Even though the film got mixed reviews, Wilder's performance was largely praised, and it has always been an underrated favorite of mine...though I admit I am Jewish and that makes me kind of biased. Watch the movie, and you will get why. LOL

[@voidmstr]

Gene Wilder used to visit his kids and grandkids in my neighborhood and I once ran into him at the local bagel shop here in Bel Air. I was so happy I got to thank him for his work in The Frisco Kid.

[@captainnerd6452]

My favorite scene was when they were with the Indians and his character is describing God to the chief, when he says something like "He does not make rain!", slaps his leg, you hear thunder and rain, then he says to the chief, "And sometimes, just like that, He changes His mind", rolls over and looks away. I wish some of my fellow Christians understood the true meaning of "omnipotence" that that scene shows.

[@iKvetch558]

@@captainnerd6452 That is one of my favorites too...such a fun and underappreciated film.

[@scribbled2573]

I wasn't allowed to see this movie as a kid, and then I forgot about it. I didn't remember until I asked if I wanted to see it. I was like, "What's Blazing Saddles?" And everyone laughed! The first time I saw this movie, I was 23 and visiting my fiancee's parents.

[@elizabethchiasson1619]

Saw it right on the tv

[@HuntingViolets]

I just finally watched this movie this year because there was a reaction video on it I wanted to watch. I had seen several other Brooks (and Wilder) movies, though.

[@jackal59]

My sister took me to see it when it came out. I was 14-the perfect age to see this the first time.

[@captainnerd6452]

I watched in the theater in '74 when I was in high school, and Young Frankenstein a year later. I think those two movies were the peak of Mel Brooks' efforts.

[@PopcornReactions]

Nice

[@llorona7847]

Shoutout to Hedy Lamarr. Without her, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy Showdown’s reactions today 🥂

[@UnclePengy]

"Why can't nobody get his name right?" His name is a play on famous Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr. So they keep calling him Hedy.

[@robjohnson4592]

I love this movie! Saw it at the drive-in. Couldn't make this movie today. The studio gave Mel a list of things he can't do. He did them all. You're right it is all stupid, but funny as hell! Love your reaction, it was just like mine, laughing!

[@ssokolow]

Mel responded to that with "we couldn't do it back then". Apparently, the executives wanted a lot taken out and he had to lie to them about having followed their directives to get it released. Likewise, I've heard there was a lot of outrage over it back then too though, if I remember correctly, more from white people being offended on behalf of black people than from actual black theatre-goers.

[@Serai3]

"People say you couldn't make this movie today. Well, you couldn't make this movie THEN, but I did it anyway!" -- Mel Brooks People love to throw this idea around, but the fact is that this movie was just as controversial when it came out as it would be today. Remember, racial tensions were high in the early 70's, which is exactly the point of the film. If things had been nicer then, _the movie would have had no point._ It was the very virulence of the racist mindset that gave the film its entire _raison d'etre._

[@captainnerd6452]

@@Serai3 It couldn't be made today because of the professionally offended who would shut it down for the language, which is not allowed anymore under any circumstance, not even to mock racists that use that language.

[@Serai3]

@@captainnerd6452 And that is EXACTLY the same reason you couldn't make it THEN. It's hilarious how people insist that somehow, the past was SO MUCH BETTER than now. You really have no idea of what the climate was when this movie was made, because you wouldn't be saying krap like that if you did.

[@captainnerd6452]

@@Serai3 I was born in '58 and lived in Detroit when it burned in '67, a few blocks from the apartment me and my family lived in. There are powerful people in charge of speech nowadays, the ones who want to and have banned "To Kill a Mockingbird" and heaven help you if you say perfectly good words that happen to sound like the forbidden word, because no one on Earth will defend you.

[@delscoville]

First time I seen it was in the theatre around 1976. Yeah, movies would be in theatres for a few years back then, not a few weeks like today.

[@bocephus124]

Seen it when it came out , 15 years old , everyone was laughing so hard

[@Teaniinja]

I watched this when I was little. It is still hilarious. Mel Brooks is brilliant.

[@alisonarias978]

You asked why the bikers have handle bars on horses?! Cause it’s a Mel Brooks movie and he could, that’s why! 😂🤣 your laugh is contagious btw

[@LordVolkov]

I also started with Spaceballs and Men in Tights, but after delving into Mel's work, I think his best stuff comes before Spaceballs. History of The World Part 1, The Producers, and Blazing Saddles are all top of his game.

[@badplay156]

The Producers is one of my favourite movies. Dick Shawn is amazing in it and what can I say but Gene Wilder is all wet (lol)

[@MrVvulf]

History of the World Part 1 has my favorite scene from any Mel Brooks movie - "I bring you these 15 Commandments . Oy vey. 10. 10 Commandments."

[@alankoemel3168]

This was the first R rated movie that I saw. Saw it as a freshman in college in theaters. Still just as funny almost 50 years later. What a lot of people don’t understand is that it makes fun of racism and other prejudices.

[@ronzphotography3277]

I don’t know what was funnier, this movie, which I have seen numerous times, or this guy’s laugh, which is contagious & started me laughing. 😝

[@d.-_-.b]

I never saw this until about 5 years ago, but I do remember a Paint application for the Commodore 64 computer called "Blazing Paddles" (before joystick controls) and didn't know the reference at the time.

[@damonsims4776]

The movie 🎥 is hilarious, but that SHOWDOWN COMMENTARY makes it even better. 💯👊

[@johnortmann3098]

I saw this in '74 in a theater with a bunch of actual cowboys. We thought it was hiliarious.

[@sire3669]

First time I saw it was on VHS in the early 80's when I was about 10 or 11. So prolly around 83 or 84, and it has remained one of my favorite movies ever since. Nobody can make a comedy like Mel. Some come close. David Zucker, maybe? But still, the ability to be offensive without really being offensive towards just about every ethnicity, religion, culture, or demographic, and forcing people to laugh at their own stereotypes??? That's Mel's domain and his alone, and it's a genius way to poke fun at sensitivities, misconceptions, and prejudicial divisions. Mel is KING and as Mel would say-- "It's good to be the king".