According to the making-of documentaries I've seen on the subject, Brooks says most people assume the same thing, but in fact the only parts that Pryor worked on were the bits with Mongo.EP Millstone wrote: ↑February 1st, 2023, 9:06 pm Richard Pryor was one of the writers of Blazing Saddles. I wouldn't at all be surprised if much of the "awful" racial jokes were provided by Pryor . . . who was never shy about using the "N-word."
I Just Watched...
Re: I Just Watched...
Watching until the end.
Re: I Just Watched...
It is odd coincidence that you should mention two attempts to watch it. I had made two attempts preciously to watch: Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) and felt much the same about it as you find: Blazing Saddles (1974). I was able to watch it in full several days ago because we have moved to a state in which certain herbs are not illegal. I have been using sativa to control inflammation which does not respond to normal medication. The dosage is light and so the change in my perspective was slight but it did allow me to appreciate some of the underlying humour in the movie. That is all that was required for me to appreciate the movie for what it is.laffite wrote: ↑February 1st, 2023, 3:23 pm
Blazing Saddles is the worst movie I have ever seen (or close) I have made two attempts. The last probably 10 years ago. The gags were like some cheap Wannabe SNL succession of skits that fell absolutely flat. I remember holding my hands over my face and yelling, "I don't believe his!" The racial jokes were awful. And this from Mel Brooks!! Truly astonishing!
Everyone else loves it to death so I chalk it up "not getting it." I didn't like The Producers either. OTOH, Young Frankenstein is one of the funniest movies ever for me, and Airplane! was very funny. So I am not completely bereft. As far as I know, my sense of humor is still i-n-t-a-c---t..
Avatar: Vera Vasilyevna Kholodnaya
Re: I Just Watched...
I wonder how much sativa I would need to get through Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. (I almost spelled it Cannibis) I doubt it would be enough even to appreciate the movie for what it is. That might be the unkindest cut of all, to see it for what it is. But I know of course what you mean, it's a palliative, even a forgiveness. Apologies to CWITAJOD fans for using CWITAJOD as a foil to anything the least bit good. That would make a good word. All it needs is a definition. Word buffs ... ?Masha wrote: ↑February 1st, 2023, 9:58 pmIt is odd coincidence that you should mention two attempts to watch it. I had made two attempts preciously to watch: Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) and felt much the same about it as you find: Blazing Saddles (1974). I was able to watch it in full several days ago because we have moved to a state in which certain herbs are not illegal. I have been using sativa to control inflammation which does not respond to normal medication. The dosage is light and so the change in my perspective was slight but it did allow me to appreciate some of the underlying humour in the movie. That is all that was required for me to appreciate the movie for what it is.laffite wrote: ↑February 1st, 2023, 3:23 pm
Blazing Saddles is the worst movie I have ever seen (or close) I have made two attempts. The last probably 10 years ago. The gags were like some cheap Wannabe SNL succession of skits that fell absolutely flat. I remember holding my hands over my face and yelling, "I don't believe his!" The racial jokes were awful. And this from Mel Brooks!! Truly astonishing!
Everyone else loves it to death so I chalk it up "not getting it." I didn't like The Producers either. OTOH, Young Frankenstein is one of the funniest movies ever for me, and Airplane! was very funny. So I am not completely bereft. As far as I know, my sense of humor is still i-n-t-a-c---t..
The year 1974 including a few years before and aft was not good for me. I was living a modestly dissolute life and things like Movies, Culture, Television, and other common distractions were not in my sphere of my immediate awareness. If I had seen Blazing Saddles when it came out or close, I might be singing its praise. This thought is inspired by what someone said here, that it played well at the time but later it was a shock. I can see now I never had a chance.
I hope your inflammation dissipates soon. Interesting to know that there exists a medicinal herb that works better that a pharmaceutical. I have never experienced this. I was prescribed the same or a type of same for something and I don't remember how it went or even what I wanted it for, probably for fun but I had a legitimate reason in there too. I think it was for sleep, haha. It was all the rage to be able use a legal outlet, not some side street dumpy looking store but from a respectable looking edifice operating a legitimate business (which they were) on the Boulevard. I don't doubt that my movie watching was improved. And listening to music was mightily enhanced. I'm not sure my State even has those outlets anymore. Please don't think I am implying any untoward-ness on your part. Perish that thought, I am just getting carried away here.
I DO wish you wellness. We went a whole week there without a meme but you posted one a couple of days ago. That's a good sign. I think you are on the mend.
//
The Shining Hour (1938)
Re: I Just Watched...
I thank you for your kind wishes.laffite wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 2:08 am
I wonder how much sativa I would need to get through Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. (I almost spelled it Cannibus) I doubt it would be enough even to appreciate the movie for what it is. That might be the unkindest cut of all, to see it for what it is. But I know of course what you mean, it's a palliative, even a forgiveness. Apologies to CWITAJOD fans for using CWITAJOD as a foil to anything the least bit good. That would make a good word. All it needs is a definition. Word buffs ... ?
The year 1974 including a few years before and aft was not good for me. I was living a modestly dissolute life and things like Movies, Culture, Television, and other common distractions were not in my sphere of awareness. If I had seen Blazing Saddles when it came out or close, I might be singing its praise. This thought is inspired by what someone said here, that it played well at the time but later it was a shock. I can see now I never had a chance.
I hope your inflammation dissipates soon. Interesting to know that there exists a medicinal herb that works better that a pharmaceutical. I have never experienced this. I was prescribed the same or a type of same for something and I don't remember how it went or even what I wanted it for, probably for fun but I had a legitimate reason in there too. It was all the rage to be able use a legal outlet, not some side street but right there on the Boulevard. I don't doubt that my movie watching was improved. And listening to music was mightily enhanced. But that was long ago, as they say.
I DO wish you wellness. We went a whole week there without a meme but you posted one a couple of days ago. That's a good sign. I think you are on the mend.
//
I agree completely that it was a movie of its time. Coming to it years later means you lose the innate context. It is not possible to truly remember an era as completely as you knew it as you were experiencing it. I feel compelled to say that I am sorry for your loss because I am reasonably confident that you would have found it at least amusing if you had been exposed to it properly.
I mentioned the reason for my using sativa only to prevent people passing moral judgement upon me for using herbs. The situation is that I broke my wrist some years ago and it did not heal properly. The condition is idiopathic and refractory. There are times when I do not have to wear my brace for days or even weeks and there are times when it feels as if the brace is the only thing holding my hand to my body and I must use my prescribed opiates several times each day. The inflammation is due to several tiny bone chips which have become encapsulated making the surrounding tissue angry because they are an intrusion. This comes and goes with some regularity. It is annoying but not so serious as to require painkillers. The empirical evidence is weak but I believe it is helping.
It is sad to say that there are times when the only funny memes that I find can be construed as being political or religious. I wish to avoid any semblance of those in the thread. I thank you for your concern.
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Re: I Just Watched...
Sorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
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I get what you're saying now. Yeah, there are a few sub genres that fit into that mold: "rednexploitation", and "Southern appeal". The former was kicked off by the phenomenal success of Poor White Trash, originally released as Bayou in 1957, but re-edited and re-released under the other title in 1961. It was a massive hit on the grindhouse/drive-in circuit, and produced tons of imitators. The genre arguably peaked with Deliverance, which itself kickstarted the "Hillbilly Horror" sub genre that met success with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, among many others.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 am Sorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
The more "reputable" "Southern appeal" movies were spearheaded by Burt Reynolds in the 70s, and usually featured dumb car chases, crashes and explosions. This trend also coincided with a boom in the country-western music scene, and stuff like Urban Cowboy. The car chases (and explosions) bled over into most mainstream action films over the next 20 years before enough people got tired of it.
But honestly, since you singled out the 1980s, I thought you were referring to the Ernest movies. I'm afraid I haven't seen any of those.
Watching until the end.
Re: I Just Watched...
Terrific post. You ought to write a book on anything movies.LawrenceA wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 1:25 pmI get what you're saying now. Yeah, there are a few sub genres that fit into that mold: "rednexploitation", and "Southern appeal". The former was kicked off by the phenomenal success of Poor White Trash, originally released as Bayou in 1957, but re-edited and re-released under the other title in 1961. It was a massive hit on the grindhouse/drive-in circuit, and produced tons of imitators. The genre arguably peaked with Deliverance, which itself kickstarted the "Hillbilly Horror" sub genre that met success with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, among many others.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 am Sorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
The more "reputable" "Southern appeal" movies were spearheaded by Burt Reynolds in the 70s, and usually featured dumb car chases, crashes and explosions. This trend also coincided with a boom in the country-western music scene, and stuff like Urban Cowboy. The car chases (and explosions) bled over into most mainstream action films over the next 20 years before enough people got tired of it.
But honestly, since you singled out the 1980s, I thought you were referring to the Ernest movies. I'm afraid I haven't seen any of those.
The Shining Hour (1938)
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Re: I Just Watched...
I love "Smokey and the Bandit." I've seen that movie at least two dozen times and never tire of it. I even saw it in the theater last year.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 amSorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
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Re: I Just Watched...
There's also the 1958 Robert Mitchum film, Thunder Road, about a bunch of southern moonshiners evading the revenuers...LawrenceA wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 1:25 pmI get what you're saying now. Yeah, there are a few sub genres that fit into that mold: "rednexploitation", and "Southern appeal". The former was kicked off by the phenomenal success of Poor White Trash, originally released as Bayou in 1957, but re-edited and re-released under the other title in 1961. It was a massive hit on the grindhouse/drive-in circuit, and produced tons of imitators. The genre arguably peaked with Deliverance, which itself kickstarted the "Hillbilly Horror" sub genre that met success with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, among many others.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 am Sorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
The more "reputable" "Southern appeal" movies were spearheaded by Burt Reynolds in the 70s, and usually featured dumb car chases, crashes and explosions. This trend also coincided with a boom in the country-western music scene, and stuff like Urban Cowboy. The car chases (and explosions) bled over into most mainstream action films over the next 20 years before enough people got tired of it.
But honestly, since you singled out the 1980s, I thought you were referring to the Ernest movies. I'm afraid I haven't seen any of those.
Re: I Just Watched...
Yeah, there are older examples, like Lil Abner or Tobacco Road and even silents like Sparrows.
By the way, another name for them that I forgot is "Hicksploitation" or "Hixploitation".
Watching until the end.
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Re: I Just Watched...
I planned to watch SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (for the first time) when it was available on Watch TCM last month, but I missed it.speedracer5 wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 2:40 pmI love "Smokey and the Bandit." I've seen that movie at least two dozen times and never tire of it. I even saw it in the theater last year.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 amSorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
It looks like fun movie even though I'm not a big fan of Burt Reynolds or Jackie Gleason.
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Re: I Just Watched...
What's amusing is when movies set outside the South or the South Midland feature "hicks" speaking with pseudo Southern or Southern Appalachian accents.
As if "hick" was a universal accent!
I know it's just "movie shorthand" but still . . .
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Re: I Just Watched...
Jackie Gleason is what makes the movie! Sally Field and Burt Reynolds have great chemistry and started dating after this film--though ultimately it doesn't sound like it was the best relationship.HoldenIsHere wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 3:21 pmI planned to watch SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (for the first time) when it was available on Watch TCM last month, but I missed it.speedracer5 wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 2:40 pmI love "Smokey and the Bandit." I've seen that movie at least two dozen times and never tire of it. I even saw it in the theater last year.TikiSoo wrote: ↑February 2nd, 2023, 8:11 am
Sorry, not any real genre or category. Just my description of Muscle Car Chase type entertainment popular in the 70's-80's like Smokey & The Bandit '77 and Dukes Of Hazzard.
The heroes all come across as crackers- light on brains, heavy on testosterone. My generalization is completely from outside impressions, having never actually seen any.
It looks like fun movie even though I'm not a big fan of Burt Reynolds or Jackie Gleason.
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Re: I Just Watched...
There are many older examples like the Ma and Pa Kettle series and the film Murder, He Says (1945).
50s T.V. westerns also featured a lot of hillbillies, often with Peter Whitney (who was in Murder, He Says), now older, as the head of the clan. I often find these westerns not-so-funny since the hillbillies are cruel, mean, sexist, etc... typically resulting in the harming of good-folks. At the start of the episode, their actions are played-for-laughs until it is clear what they are doing isn't so funny, and thus the ending are rather dark.