Corrupt Attorney General Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman, hysterical) needs to clear out the Old West town of Rock Ridge in order for the railroad to pass through and schemes the best way to achieve this is to name a black prisoner (Cleavon Little), currently awaiting hanging for uppityness, as sheriff. Facing the expected hostility, Sheriff Bart teams up with a drunken sharpshooter (Gene Wilder) and uses his wit to win over the townspeople and battle the evil Lamarr and his treacherous forces.
Blazing Saddles is one of the funniest (and most disorganized) of Mel Brooks' great, early comedies, with a colorful script (which Richard Pryor contributed to) that probably only Brooks could get approved, and the fortunate presence of Little and Wilder whose roles went through a rocky casting history.
*** 1/2 out of ****
