The Comedy Classic You Can’t Miss Is Now Streaming on Prime Video

Blazing Saddles, the legendary comedy from Mel Brooks, is now available for streaming on Prime Video, giving audiences a chance to experience one of the most daring and hilarious films of the 1970s. Released in 1974, the movie tackled social issues of the time through the setting of a chaotic and satirical Wild West.

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder deliver unforgettable performances, while Brooks’ unique humor shines throughout the film, skewering societal norms with sharp wit.

Brooks co-wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Alan Uger.

He also appears in supporting roles, including Governor William J. Le Petomane and a Yiddish-speaking Native American chief. The cast is rounded out by stars such as Slim Pickens, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, and Harvey Korman. Even Count Basie makes a cameo with his orchestra. The film is known for its deliberate anachronisms, like a jazz orchestra playing in the middle of the Wild West and characters referencing modern sports.

While today Blazing Saddles is considered a comedy classic and has earned a place in the National Film Registry for its cultural and historical significance, initial reactions were mixed. Vincent Canby of The New York Times noted the film felt like a collection of every joke thought up in the writers’ room, saying, “With his talent he should do much better than that.”

Roger Ebert, however, praised it as a “crazed grab bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing” and gave it four out of four stars. Gene Siskel also highlighted its humor, noting the gags “score belly laughs if your ears aren’t sensitive and if you’re hip to western movie conventions being parodied.”

Critics at the time often described the film as “un-cinematic,” comparing its style to Broadway theater and TV variety shows. Harvey Korman’s performance was cited as being in the vein of high-volume one-liners rather than deep character development. Variety added that, “Few viewers will have time between laughs to complain that pic is essentially a raunchy, protracted version of a television comedy skit.”

For anyone who hasn’t yet experienced Blazing Saddles, Prime Video now offers the perfect opportunity. Its bold humor, memorable performances, and sharp satire remain as fresh and entertaining as they were nearly 50 years ago.

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