Runtime:
93 minutes
Directed
by: Mel Brooks
Starring:
Clevon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Madeline
Kahn
From:
Warner Brothers
I
have seen this classic spoof movie before but the last time I saw it
in full was years ago, and on Wednesday night before I went to see
the Star Trek doubleheader; that is why I went to Cinemark in Orlando
rather than any other place that had the double header; for the past
few Wednesdays they've been showing older movies on the big screen,
like Raging Bull and Alien, the latter of which I saw on the big
screen a few years ago. This upcoming Wednesday, Cleopatra. I've
never seen that before but it's 4 hours long! I doubt I'll be
checking it out. I've heard about the massive problems with that film
and that may be more interesting than the actual film itself.
Anyhow,
you should know the plot to this already, as I hope that most people
have seen this, but in short... a corrupt politician (Korman) gets
the inept governor (Brooks) to appoint the African-American Bart
(Little) to be the sheriff to Rock Ridge in the hope to get all the
citizens to leave as it would be cheaper for him to do it that way.
Turns out, after some hesitation they end up liking him and his pal
The Waco Kid (Wilder).
I've
always enjoyed this movie, even as a kid (yes, I saw it when I was
under 18). Sure, it's absurdist and anachronistic but it's often
hilarious, with many quotable lines and memorable moments. I am sure
that Spike Lee hates the film due to all the times that “the N
word” gets uttered, but hey that's how it was during the time
period and this is a satire so that is OK; you don't always have to
be politically correct; it just depends on what it is, and I imagine
there would be trouble getting a movie like this made today.
Anyhow,
the crowd I saw this with was bigger than expected, so it was nice to
watch a very funny movie with a crowd that laughed at all of the
humorous moments. Good times. Speaking of humorous moments, I wonder
what it would have been like had John Wayne accepted the offer to
cameo in the movie, as was offered to him. He promised to see it but
needless to say this was way out there for a conservative guy like
him. I laugh how a few years ago someone said that Wayne was offered
the Taggert part, played by Pickens. I think someone was confused
there, but it would have been amazing to have heard The Duke utter
racial slurs, been in a scene where many people pass gas due to
eating beans and using phrases like “Kansas City fa****s”.
I
was glad to see that movie in that way. I'll be back tomorrow night.
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