Blazing Saddles (1974) is something so outstandingly outlandish and bold and still something that is wholly expected because it’s Mel Brooks. It is one of the most outlandish, hilarious, brilliant comedies of the 20^th century and for it to be released in the ‘70s is a testament to the brilliance of Brooks and how he made movies. While Blazing Saddles can be argued to be more brash than something like Young Frankenstein (1974), its comedy is truly unmatched thanks to the sheer brilliance of the cast, one of whom is arguably one of the greatest actors of the 20^th century and a regular to Brooks features.

Blazing Saddles focuses on the town of Rock Ridge and some tycoons wanting to drive the residents out and run a railroad through it. The residents of Rock Ridge are against it so the tycoons decide to enlist Bart (Cleavon Little) to be the sheriff of the town. This doesn’t go over well with the residents of Rock Ridge, and Bart is slowly running out of options to survive and stop the railroad plot, so he enlists the help of Jim, a.k.a. “The Waco Kid”, (Gene Wilder), who was/is the fastest hand in the West. While there are multiple side stories, including the involvement of Lili von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn), the townspeople build a fake town to trap the bad guys and ensure Rock Ridge doesn’t go the Wild Wild West.

Who makes Blazing Saddles work, aside from Brooks, are the members of the cast. With their comedic timing and knack for improve, they make the most wild and enjoyable 93 minutes on screen that are just packed with laughs, absurdity, and chaos through and through. While this was the only collaboration between Little (Once Bitten) and Brooks, it was the second (of many) for Wilder (Young Frankenstein) and Brooks. Little and Wilder play off each other incredibly well and Madeline Khan is a delight. Truly, a collaborative effort (like most of Brooks’s works) shines bright in this profoundly hilarious satirical look at westerns and the chaos that started cementing the legacy of Mel Brooks.

Overall, for a movie that was released 50 years ago, there is no doubt that this is the best it has ever looked physically at home. This is an incredibly clean and wonderful transfer that keeps the grain intact and embraces the ‘70s aesthetic without glossing over it while trying to make it a pristine restoration. The picture beams and is extraordinary in its 4K home release, breathing new life into the film as this fixes all issues on prior home releases (muted colors on the Blu-ray versus vibrancy with the 4K UHD), bringing forth truly the undeniably best version of the film. Everything is bright, bold, and eccentric, like the movie and its cast.

Moreover, with a 50-year-old movie and most of the creatives and cast no longer with us (thankfully, Mel is still here), features that aren’t legacy are hardly expected, but are also nearly impossible to get involving anyone original. Along with the legacy feathers is a new feature, which is roughly 20 minutes talking about the influence of Mel Brooks on Hollywood. There are some legacy features missing, which may be due to lack of available space on-disc as there is no Blu-ray or second disc included in this 4K edition.

Overall, the 4K home release of Blazing Saddles breathes life into a 50-year-old movie, allowing it to be presented in the best way possible at home. While there is a new special feature, there are some from other releases that are absent, so this is not a complete replacement of older DVD and Blu-ray releases. Whether it’s your first-time watch, or 50th, Blazing Saddles gallops its way into your home on glorious 4K UHD and reminds you to be good.

Blazing Saddles 4K Special Features:

• *NEW* Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect
• Scene-specific commentary by Mel Brooks
• Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild, Wild West
• Back in the Saddle
• Additional Scenes

Available on 4K UHD and digital November 19^th, 2024.

For more information, head to the official Warner Bros. Pictures Blazing Saddles webpage.

Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: 4K UHD, Alan Uger, Alex Karras, Andrew Bergman, Blazing Saddles, Burton Gilliam, Cleavon Little, comedy, Count Basie, Crossbow Productions, David Huddleston, Dom DeLuise, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, home release, home video, Liam Dunn, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, remaster, Richard Pryor, Slim Pickens, Warner Bros. Pictures, western