Pryor and Blazing Saddles

[LennyBruce]

I don't know how involved Pryor was in writing Blazing Saddles, but that's the funniest film I have ever seen. It would've been better if he played the lead role.

[JTF]

LennyBruce,

I'm not an expert, but from what Brooks said on the DVD Mr. Pryor's major contribution to B.S. was Mongo (my fav character) I happen to be in the minority here in believing that Cleavon Little was outstanding in the role. It was clearly his most visible and remembered role. Remember, Richard Pryor could not perform every acting role from the late 60's until the early 90's! Other people had to eat too!

Funny, everyone seems to think that Mr. P should have starred in Blazing Saddles, but nobody thinks he should have starred in [/i]Hanky Panky[/i] with Wilder instead of Gilda. Look it up...

[Reg_Man_98]

LennyBruce,

From what I've read, Richard was responsible for some of the film's most memorable lines ("'Scuze me while I whip this out," "Where da white women at?," etc.) and scenes (i.e., the infamous bean-eating scene). In fact, I believe that he pretty much wrote the Madeline Kahn/Cleavon Little seduction scene, but one of Richard's funniest ever lines was cut for censorship reasons: In the actual film, after Madeline Kahn unzips Cleavon Little's pants to "observe" his anatomy (in the dark), prompting her to exclaim, "It's twoo! It's twoo!," the scene fades to black. The way that Richard had originally written it, Cleavon was supposed to reply, "'Scuze me, Miss, but you're suckin' on my arm." Hilarious shit.

I know that Richard was responsible for a lot more, but those are the moments that I can vouch for. Imagine...If he had indeed starred in the film, then it would have been his first (and best) onscreen collaboration with Gene Wilder, instead of "Silver Streak," which was released more than two years later. Cleavon Little actually did a wonderful job, but one can only imagine what genius Richard would have brought to the role.

[JTF]

The other thing I remember Brooks saying is that Mr. Pryor was brought in as a writer [/i]because[/i] the studio said no to the possibility of starring.

I just hate pulling the "What if?" game. Love the movie for what it is. I mean, what if Thalmus Rashulala starred? Or D'Urville Martin? Hey, in reality, Wilder wasn't even intended as The Waco Kid. Gig Young was cast, but couldn't do it. One of the first choices was John Wayne, who turned it down. How would the movie have been with Pryor/Wayne?

[WilderNPryor]

It's easy to do the "what if?" thing, but I also think Cleavon Little was perfect for the role. And I think Gene has some of the best timing ever in comedy. My favorite line was when he's giving Cleavon's character that gentle "I told you so" speech when he came back to the jail after a day of trying to win over the town.

"These are people of the land... you know... Morons." And plus, I think he was really cute in the leather jacket, bandana, and that wavy hair. That was my favorite Gene hair period... the early '70s when they would always try to tame it. HEH! Like that was gonna happen.

I also heard that Gene and Richard were supposed to do that movie "Trading Places" but it ended up being Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd instead. That's a kick-ass movie and I would've loved to see another Pryor/Wilder masterpiece (Ouch...we missed "Trading Places" AND "Blazing Saddles"! )... when I stop and think about it: I wouldn't have traded seeing Richard in "The Toy" or Gene and Gilda in "Hanky Panky" for the world. So it all works out. I think actors get the roles they're destined to get.

[JTF]

WilderNPryor,

"I think actors get the roles they're destined to get."

So what does that say about the actors in
[/i]Dodge Ball[/i]?

[bingolong]

JTF,
Yeah or the kid from "Raiders of the Living Dead"!!:lol:

Oh my fault....let me shut up now

[WilderNPryor]

JTF,

I haven't seen that one, but I get your point.
;p

Hm - why does the cast of Gilligan's Island pop into my head?

[JTF]

bingolong,

That's SOOOOOOOOOO wrong, long!

[bingolong]

JTF,
How you gonna put it on me,you're the one that reminded me of that classic......

But I've got to say that destiny plays a major part into alot of it!!!