TOP "The SHERIFF is Near" Reactions! Blazing Saddles (1974) Movie Reaction *First Time Watching*

[@TheMirandalorian]

Heyyyy! That's me!! Thanks for including me in this!

[@firsttimewatching7861]

Your laugh is contagious, thanks ❣️

[@Conn30Mtenor]

Count Basie, the pride of Southbank, New Jersey.

[@danielcobbins8861]

@@Conn30Mtenor Playing "April in Paris."

[@RobJazzful]

@@Conn30Mtenor Red Bank

[@brotherlydwarf13]

I've watched some of your content because of this compilation.

[@williambryan3346]

“A Laurel and Hardy handshake.” Shanelle Riccio got it. 😁

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

I wonder how many reactors caught that particular joke.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

She is a film student I believe.

[@onepcwhiz6847]

These younguns won't get it. 😂

[@green_acres_7240]

Hardly anyone gets that joke now.

[@bluesreign]

Lots of references in here that no one gets now. "i must have killed more men than Cecil B. DeMille."

[@donp1964]

For younger viewers, the band is the famous Count Basie and his Orchestra. . The “laurel and hearty handshake” is a play on words. Laurel and Hardy were a famous comedy duo nearly 100 years ago.

[@rayfinkle2805]

Thanks I’ve never heard of laurel and hardy.

[@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we]

I'm 49, but I didn't realize that was count basie, I've heard the name. If it would have been supposedly portrayed as Scott Joplin, everyone would have been scratching their heads😂 (guys on the radio here love saying at some point, how musicians are ripping off Scott Joplin 😂)

[@monellegion]

For the "excuse me while I whip this out" bit, after he shows it's just a piece of paper, not only do you hear sighs of relief, but you also hear groans of disappointment.

[@Balstrome1]

BBC is not a modern thing

[@immortaltyger1569]

And one woman on the right below the stage faints.

[@cteal2018]

And some of the reactions don't get the joke?

[@martensjd]

People forget how supremely talented Cleavon Little was.

[@redmustangredmustang]

Sadly colon cancer took him way way too soon.

[@hhmking6852]

😊

[@flight05713]

Cleavon Little should've gotten an Oscar for his performance as Sheriff Bart! Absolutely fall-down funny!

[@tattooedman42]

It was nominated for three Oscars, but they were Supporting Actress, Editing, and Music. I agree with you that Cleavon should have received one.

[@richeaton5752]

I first remember Cleavon with his part in Vanishing Point... RIP Cleavon. Thank You.

[@jimtatro6550]

The greatest comedy of all time

[@tackysum]

The great Richard Pryor wrote most of Sheriff Bart's dialogue in this film and Mel Brooks was concerned that they might be going too far In the liberal use of racial slurs. But Pryor convinced him that they needed to be used to fully illustrate how ridiculous racism is. I saw this when it first opened and everybody (and I mean everybody) was laughing their butts off the entire time. Also it didn't hurt that All In The Family with Archie Bunker was the number one show on TV, so the audience was more receptive to the message.

[@clayc8115]

I think you got that backwards. I thought Richard Pryor wrote the dialogue for the white people and Mel Brooks wrote for Bart...

[@paulg68paulg68]

@@clayc8115 According to Brooks' biography, you're right.

[@andrewcameron1346]

I love watching them try to get their heads around actual satire/comedy. Mel never took any prisoners.

[@samhell2492]

I cannot possibly count how many times I've said "Excuse me while I whip this out" in various scenarios.

[@steventhrasher3608]

Probably better than saying any of the parts of this clip that included the N-word. That would not go over quite as well or be near as funny.

[@msfeistybabe]

But did anyone faint??

[@patriciaroberts308]

So many iconic lines in Mel Brooks movies!!! I was pleasantly shocked when I learned Anne Bancroft was his wife. Too adorable!!! 🌟💕🌟💕

[@ThunderPants13]

"Isn't anybody gonna help that poor man?" 😅😅😅

[@freebirdallen]

That line & the response are so funny!

[@patriciaroberts308]

That was Dom Deloise wife. He was an incredible comedian and funny actor. He was great friends with Burt Reynolds and was in the second Smokey and The Bandit. He was the Elephant's Doctor. She (I can't remember her name) was a comedy actress. Loved her. 🌟💕 I loved Dom too!!! 🌟💕

[@brianvernon249]

@@patriciaroberts308and in this movie too!

[@JohnSchaffler-jl8tf]

There is no more underappreciated scene in all movie history. Good choice.

[@redrum482]

Count Basie Orchestra was the epitome of class and style back in the day, so it's all part the joke with the Gucci saddlebag, badass suede suit, beautiful horse, etc. Bruh be stylin'. lol

[@zenaaubrey2701]

Yep, Count Basie and the band playing "April In Paris"

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Most of them missed "a Laurel & Hardy handshake." His own band? -->That's Count Basie and his Orchestra! Yay - Cinebinge got it; Gucci Saddlebags!

[@richardburdon3241]

for those that didn't catch it, that was Count Basie's orchestra. KInd of a long way from New York

[@senhowler]

"is there going to be a lot of fourth-wall breaking" Fourth-wall suffers nuclear bomb damage in final act.

[@keithalanbaker535]

Nice to see at least one young reactor got the Laurel and Hardy joke 😅😅😅

[@colleenabood8775]

Totally agree

[@josheldridge8546]

Mel Brooks' films are all live-action cartoons. The line for wagering on where your friends figure that out in Blazing Saddles is when Bart walks out after giving Mongo the candygram.

[@rosario508]

“The sheriff is near!!!”

[@disposablehero4911]

You mean 🔔.

[@RushFanatic87]

NO, GOLDANGIT DAGBLAMIT!!!

[@MrBigsock]

No dagblasteddoggonit...the sheriff is a 🔔

[@jediknightgeo]

Blazing Saddles is an absolute classic. Fun fact: it was co-written by Richard Pryor.

[@mcbeezee2120]

I've always wondered, what percentage of today's audience knows who that band leader was. My guess is 0%.

[@jtt6650]

They’re all clueless. Some of them were even confused as to what he was gonna whip out of his pants!🙄

[@marlonthemarvellous]

Different generations though so they can’t be blamed. Count Bassie

[@sheilaholmes8455]

Yep.😢

[@lawrencewestby9229]

Only one got the Laurel and Hardy joke.

[@johnperrigo6474]

I suspect a lot of the humor in this movie, along with the parody, escapes them. For an example, do you watch commercials much? They're good for a chuckle, but mostly lame in my opinion.

[@randeepatillo1982]

I haven't even seen this whole video yet, but if some of these reactors were similarly as confused and uptight as they were during the Airplane! reactions, I can only imagine how they must have been watching Blazing Saddles. I am preparing myself to both laugh at and weep for some of these younger generations.

[@LJA46]

Such a simpler and more tolerable time! We laughed at everything and at everyone's expense!

[@kevindohn6776]

I never realized that was the Count Basie Orchestra playing in the desert, how cool is that?!!!!

[@johnhoblock5872]

A reporter said to Mel Brooks several years ago, "you couldn't make this film now". And Mel responded, "I couldn't make it then".

[@tarrantwolf]

He'd get a more violent reaction from the Ieft than any reaction he got back then if he tried making it today.

[@do3150]

Mel Brooks asked for and got “final cut” which means he could release the movie with anything in it he wanted.The studio guys said “you can’t do that/you can’t do that” but it was in his contract 🫣

[@flux1968]

@@tarrantwolfA movie that depicts racists as idiotic pieces of shit that deserve to be mocked? I think the right would have a bigger problem with that.

[@romine777]

The best line and acting ever: "Do what he say, do what he say".

[@StevenDietrich-k2w]

It's always funny to me how few people seem to catch the "laurel and hearty handshake" line. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were a comedy act in the 1930s-50's. Just like in the movie "Airplane" the jet aircraft makes propellor aircraft noise.

[@danjohnson2986]

The “laurel, and hardy handshake” line goes right over just about everybody’s head. Lol I think only people of a certain age catch that one lmao

[@edkudray2060]

What makes the movie even better is Mel Brooks worked with Richard Pryor on this.🥰. Still is one of the funniest movies out there.

[@spirit1600]

My favorite line of all time..."Excuse me, while I whip this out!"

[@kennydeez..1774]

Shanelle Riccio Is 🔥🔥🔥..She Is The Best . Her Insights and Her Humor, is Unmatched. I'm So Glad Shanelle Riccio Is In This Reactions Video. "SHANELLE RICCIO ROCKS!!!"🔥🔥🔥

[@Pokyhawk]

Thank you for a wonderful compilation. I was 15 when this movie came out and was lucky enough to see it in theaters with my friends (for the record we were 👴🧓🏾👵👴🏾👴only much younger than the emojis 😂). We all laughed so hard we literally had sore muscles the next day. It makes me laugh just as hard seeing all the people that are still discovering this gem of a movie and seeing past the surface of the language and get the actual humor of this scene. Even though my old friends and I have drifted apart over the last five decades, I just relived the day we had such a good time in the balcony of The Chief Theater in 1974. 🤣

[@alastaircarr8518]

Random band? Thats the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Damn I feel old.

[@MatthewMortensen1]

"We heard you was hung." "You heard right."

[@msfeistybabe]

"They said you was hung" "And they was right!"

[@curtismartin2866]

Shout out to my girl Shanelle! However, shame on everyone for not knowing Count Basie.

[@jameschappell4043]

Many people dont realize that most of the script was written by Richard Pryor along with Mel...Mel Brooks Borst Belt background led to the use of all the sight gags and double entendres....This goes back to the time when we could make fun of the things that were wrong with our society instead of getting offended....a strong message....

[@stupotlee]

Proof that 90% of KZbinrs don't understand satire, sarcasm and comedy.

[@rmar67]

No, it’s proof that 90% of Millennials/ Gen- Z don’t understand sarcasm, satire and comedy.

[@warheadsnation]

To get this movie you have to understand the pop culture context of people alive in 1974. Meaning people who grew up with the staggering amount of racial coding and tropes embedded in old cowboy movies. I don't expect young people today to understand gags from my childhood. What's striking is that people do still understand all the gags that lampoon old racist stereotypes. Unfortunately that's what's durable, not our pop culture.

[@Macfeste]

@@warheadsnation My friend, you've just posted the most coherent and reasonable comment I've ever read on KZbin. Thank you.

[@dustywaynemusic6297]

Ok boomer

[@tarrantwolf]

Dude, half the people watching this today think *modern america* is like this. Now. In 2024.

[@colinr1960]

I’ve always been impressed by the way his outfit was colour-coordinated with his horse….😀

[@walterpanovs]

You can see Richard Pryor's writing all over this scene. He co-wrote the script and was supposed to play the sheriff but the studio backed out because of his personal issues. (The great Count Basie Orchestra was in the desert and Mel Brooks played the mush-mouthed guy on the roof, based on a character played by Gabby Hayes in many westerns back in the day.)

[@ericwalker8636]

Gabby was played by Jack Starrett, who was also the sadistic a-hole deputy in First Blood.

[@KevyNova]

That is definitely NOT Mel Brooks as Gabby Johnson.

[@Pokyhawk]

Gabby Johnson was actually played by Jack Starrett (as Claude Ennis Starrett Jr.). Among other things, you can also see him as Deputy Sheriff Galt in "Rambo: First Blood" (Original title "First Blood"). He's the total jerk deputy that falls to his death in the canyon while hunting Rambo after his escape.

[@jessicaleblanc-nh1yl]

This is a classic comedy! Well done on your part...hilarious and intelligent.

[@kenpullig1652]

As the saying goes, if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with b*llsh*t. As one of the older generation who was a teen in the 70s I get more of a kick out of watching the reactions of the reactors. The young of today who are trained to be instinctively afraid of words, while back in our day we "whipped them out", made fun of them, and took the power out of the word. This is Mel Brooks and writers, including Richard Pryor, gift to us, a slap in the face to racist words and attitudes.

[@agoodday4pi]

Yup. Same reason I loved 'All In The Family' as a 70's teen.

[@colinr1960]

Me too. Mel Brooks got a bit worried about the “N” word being used so much but Richard Pryor insisted. Just make all the racists look stupid and the butt of the jokes and it works. This was the way racism - or any bigotry - gets debunked. Make them look like what they are - “They are so Dumb!”

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Very true.

[@disposablehero4911]

The sign rolling up always cracks me up.

[@user-gv4cx7vz8t]

Only one reactor commented on "a laurel and hearty handshake" (Laurel and Hardy) and none seemed to recognize Count Basie and His Orchestra, one of the most iconic bands of the last century. Richard Pryor did the racial dialog and insisted on the taboo word staying in, as authentic language of the time, to satirize prejudice. He convinced Brooks.

[@Spooky1862]

I noticed that too! I’m surprised that no one recognized either Count Basie or the Laurel & Hardy reference!

[@MarcG7424]

Clevon Little holding himself hostage was my dad's favorite scene from this movie I miss you pop😢 Mel Brooks is a genius 😂

[@Til_I_Collapse]

Mine too! He'd walk around saying "He'p me! He'p me!" Sorry for your loss.

[@montyswingwell5945]

This was one of the first movies my parents rented on VHS when renting movies first became a thing, great family night!

[@THEPATRIOT1000]

Best comedy ever

[@Billsbob]

Love how all the black reactors laugh the hardest and the rest gasp and supress smirks

[@avengemybreath3084]

Younger wyts are indoctrinated with guilt and fear since birth.

[@mikeserot1410]

Mel Brookes wanted Richard Pryor to play Bart but the studio said no, but they let him be a writer. So much of the dirty humor was his.

[@mikemoore4033]

“He rode a blazing saddle”. As an ex biker I can sympathise. Best Mel Brooks film, Young Frankenstein a close second.

[@joecarr5412]

Olson Johnson(" Sheriff is Near") & Sheriff Bart were both together in tv movie "The Waltons- A Christmas Homecoming" prior to "Blazzin Saddles" &for those who saw " First Blood'(Rambo) - Gabby Johnson was the Mean Deputy 😊😊

[@UnclePengy]

I would have thought at least Rob Squad would have recognized Count Basie. Points to Shanelle Riccio for getting the "Laurel and Hardy" reference!

[@stoneywankenobi]

Thank Richard Pryor for writing the script for Mel.Mel wanted Richard as Sheriff, Clevon Little got it,and the rest is slap stick history👽👍

[@cessnaace]

I saw Blazing Saddles in a theater when it was first released 50 years ago! Everyone in the audience, black and white, loved it. The point of the movie is how stupid racism is. Surprised that none of the reactors knew who Count Basie and His Orchestra were. They were famous.

[@MAGGOT_VOMIT]

Loved Cleavon Little!! Taken from us way too soon. For those that don't know, the guy that played "Gabby Johnson" whom spotted the Sheriff was the incredible actor Jack Starrett. He also played the a-hole deputy "Art Galt" in First Blood that fell out of the helicopter.

[@vanhattfield8292]

The guy with the spy glass saying that the "Sheriff is n..." is the same guy that played the Sheriff Deputy in "Rambo" that beat Stallone in jail and later fell out of the helicopter trying to shoot him. Also, the guy that played "Mongo" is the same guy that went on to play the Dad in "Webster"...

[@deltabravo2678]

"A laurel and hearty handshake" is a line from the W. C. Fields movie "The Bank Dick"

[@FrogLegs313]

"His band" in the desert is high class too. That is the Count Basie Orchestra

[@philchurch1115]

1974 I was 16 and love this movie and Mel Brooks was making fun of people that are racist. I love the reactions.

[@jasonhare8540]

Cleavon went full bugs Bunny on them 🤣🤣🤣

[@ashurmom2969]

Back when films could be entertaining without cultural crap, this movie rocks! One of my all time favorite movies!!!

[@davidward9737]

This scene just shows you the ignorance of people and stupidity. Like the sheriffs says, they are dumb. Everyone gets joked on in this movie. The sattire is gold

[@KevinShipe-tr2uk]

The Late Richard Pryor co wrote this with Mel Brooks

[@SPEEDPAINTER1]

It's amazing. No one recognized Count Basie. Unreal!

[@motherflange]

''You know, sir, I do admire you, and I sure would like to touch the gun that's gonna kill Billy the Kid.''

[@martinpilc]

Yes, unbelievel. But they have other priorities, nowadays people.

[@SPEEDPAINTER1]

@@martinpilc I think it's tragic that young people dont know much about their own history or important figures in it. Count Basie, for example, was an important figure in music and American Jazz. All of these reactors I've seen on Blazing Saddles uploads have no idea what legend he was.

[@nthomp3349]

the "band" is Count Basie and his Orchestra.

[@chandlermorgan708]

When I got old enough to watch this movie, I asked myself, Is Blazing Saddles (1974) racist? No, not at all. In fact, by satirizing racist attitudes and stereotypes and demonstrating how incredibly stupid they are it is very anti-racist. The smartest and cleverest character in the film is a black man and he is able to use the rest of the characters’ racism and ignorance against them.

[@zzygyy]

It's just Mel Brooks. 😅

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Quite right.

[@jameschappell4043]

@@zzygyy and Richard Pryor

[@ashurmom2969]

My all time favorite quote, “hey where the white women at”, comedy gold!!!

[@johnscott4196]

Everyone was too young to recognize Count Bassie and his orchestra. Very famous back in the day and a big crossover long ago between "negro" music and popular music for everyone.

[@PeterSedesse]

Laural and Hardy where a comedy duo... like Abott and Costillo.

[@OneAutumnLeaf572]

Wonder how many people didn't notice how nicely made the Welcome sign was here vs the Goodbye sign at the end where it looked like it was written with charcoal? 😂

[@toddwebb7521]

The sheriff is near

[@danjohnson2986]

Social comment. This scene and movie show how ignorance and racism go hand in hand. End ignorance and you’ll just about end racism.

[@Wolfinger1935]

Good luck ending ignorance...

[@LesCish]

Clevon Little as sheriff Bart absolutely trolled the hell out of the townspeople. A on-of-a--kind utterly brilliant movie.

[@haroldtravis5602]

I can't believe that no one reacting to this video , realizes that the "band " playing in the desert , is the legendary Count Basie Orchestra .

[@ashurmom2969]

This movie was made to make fun of bigotry, enjoy!!!

[@thundertower]

When Gene wilder call them morons, it was the cherry on the cake😂

[@erikjohnson9112]

The actor who played the sheriff (Cleavon Little) can also be found in Fletch Lives! (which I recommend watching, and best if you watch the original Fletch before that). These movies haven't made the rounds be YT Reactors, so this message is more to anyone here rather than this channel itself.

[@Juan-be8kw]

That band was the Legendary Jazz Artist Count Basie

[@my2centsonit]

Nobody ever gets the Laurel & Hardy Handshake reference to Laurel & Hardy. 😂😂

[@fsilber330]

When we see the sheriff riding through the desert, we hear music playing. Then we see Count Basie and his band playing in the desert because -- where else would the music be coming from?

[@rndmpinkiepie64]

This is possibly the greatest comedy movie ever made

[@birkhatt8969]

None of the reactors got the joke about Count Basie's band i.e. the music the viewer is hearing turns out not to be part of the (non-diegetic) score but is being played by an actual band in the film. Woody Allen had a similar joke a few years earlier in 'Bananas', which, presumably, is where Mel Brooks borrowed it from.

[@zydol1]

You're right.

[@rpack9815]

One of the all-time great comedy films - absolutely hilarious

[@carlbeaver7112]

Now I'm feeling ancient, not a single person knew who Count Basie was.

[@AVGuyhall]

Another great scene showcasing the genius of Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor. I'm always disappointed when most reactors don't catch on to the Famous Count Basie Orchestra (still touring today BTW) playing the music and the Laurel and Hardy handshake. There's a lot of subtle comedy gems that require multiple viewings to pick up on. Thanks for putting these videos together.

[@CharlesParkhill]

I interviewed Little 40 years ago and it was one of best times I ever had

[@MrTech226]

One of the character actors in this movie had a problem of saying that offensive word. Actor's name is Burton Gilliam. Burton played Taggart's right-hand man on train tracks construction. But Cleavon Little aka Sheriff Bart kept Burton at ease saying that offensive word is in the script.

[@ebbhead20]

Also, the original Django movie is from 1966. Franco Nero, and yes he has a chat with the Tarantino Django played by Foxx. As Foxx tells him Django, the D is silent, and Nero goes... Yes, i know 😊

[@softshoes]

Very unfortunate that the younger audience does not get the Laurel and Hardy handshake remark.

[@broken927]

Yeah, that Abbott and Costello reference is funny.

[@jamescrowhorse6689]

This movie could never be made today.

[@paulnola-v2f]

No one seems to know that it is not some "random band" - it's Count Basie, the jazz great!

[@joshuawells835]

One of the greatest movies that would ever have been made today.

[@walterharris4960]

Here's my first question: Has none of these people ever seen a Mel Brooks film before? Second, did you know, Mr. Brooks did whole film without any supervision of the film company. They saw it first time at a screening before its release. At the end, horrified, give Mr. Brooks of list of things he had cut from the film, he agreed to make the changes at once. However once the company guys were gone, Mr. Brooks threw the list and released the film as it was and rest was history.

[@curtismartin2866]

Truthfully, yes! This was the introduction to Mel Brooks for a few of these folks.

[@rebecapickering222]

One of the funniest movies of all time!

[@thesailjunkie]

The late, great Count Basie and his Orchestra.

[@efjefe]

I miss the fun.

[@pocoapoco2]

I'm dissappointed that no one recognized the actual Count Basie Orchestra playing April in Paris in the desert.

[@5667hall]

Just a great movie if you’re looking for laughs. No real story, just comedy gold.

[@donalddonaldson1353]

Count Basie and his Big Band was playing "April In Paris"

[@Randsurfer]

Damn, BJ looks a lot like the Sheriff, handsome dude.