“Blazing Saddles” Released 43 Years Ago Today in Rock History

In 1974, "Blazing Saddles" was released starring Mel Brooks in four different roles, Harvey Korman in three roles, Gene Wilder as the Waco Kid and Cleavon Little as Bart, the kick-ass Black Sheriff of Rock Ridge.

Maybe you've seen it before. Here are some things you may not have known about it:

• The Warner Brothers executives that saw the first screening of the film barely laughed at all. It wasn't until Brooks showed it to "regular folks" who laughed throughout the movie, that WB agreed to release it.
• "Blazing Saddles" was also the first movie to use audible flatulence. Warner Brothers considered the scene offensive and Brooks promised to cut it, but he didn't.
• Gene Wilder pitched the idea of "Young Frankenstein" to Brooks while on set. “What if the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein wanted nothing to do with the family whatsoever? He was ashamed of those wackos."
• The American Film Institute called "Blazing Saddles" the 6th-greatest American comedy.
• Cleavon Little was not warned about the "you know... morons" line. His reaction was real.
• Slim Pickens voluntarily slept outside with a Winchester rifle during most of the shoot to get a feel for his character.

You can read more trivia on the film's IMDB page.