Blazing Saddles at 50: 12 Behind the Scenes Stories of a Comedy-Western Masterpiece

Story by Tim Molloy

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Blazing Saddles, the iconic comedy masterpiece, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a behind-the-scenes look at the writers, stars, and studio battles that brought this legendary Western satire to life.

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Mel Brooks assembled a team of 'untested or on the skids' writers, including the legendary Richard Pryor, to craft the irreverent script, which they initially envisioned as an 'esoteric little picture' for a niche audience.
Pryor's demands, including train fare and a bottle of brandy, as well as his 'blessing' of the controversial N-word, were crucial in shaping the film's boundary-pushing comedy, which sparked debates within the studio.

call sheet

Mel Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Alan Arkin, James Earl Jones, Norman Steinberg, Alan Uger, Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Alex Karras, Madeline Kahn, Warner Bros., Blazing Saddles

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