I was perusing the AFI list of top 100 comedies of all time and noticed that Blazing Saddles is listed at #6 and Young Frankenstein at #13 (with The Producers at number 11, a testament to Mel Brooks at the height of his powers). I am not too concerned with the list itself, just curious as to others opinions on the two Mel Brooks films released the same year.
In my humble opinion I think Young Frankenstein gets the slight edge over Blazing Saddles. I just think YF is better in all aspects, the comedy in both is comparable. However, I think the acting in YF is superior, of the highest caliber. Gene Wilder gives a baravura comedic performance. For style and tone I think YF edges out BS. Ijust think YF is a more skilled total piece of filmmaking. I love BS, but I think YF is possibly the best comedy ever made.
In general I’m not a Mel Brooks fan, but I love Young Frankenstein. I hated Blazing Saddles when it first came out. I recently watched it for the first time since then to see if I liked it any better, and I did, but I still didn’t think it was anywhere near as good as YF.
Otto, I’m surprised. Marty Feldman as Igor was worth the price of admission alone!
Put me down as a vote for YF. It was hilarious without resorting to the beans around the campfire bit. Blazing Saddles was very very funny but I deduct points for potty humor.
**Young Frankenstein ** was an affectionate, painstakingly crafted spoof that labored to evoke the feel of its inspirational material as closely as possible, and succeeded marvelously… **Blazing Saddles ** took the moribund Western genre and gleefully ripped it to shreds with blatant anachronisms and outrageously cartoonish non-sequiturs… Gene Wilder in a role as frenzied as his hair… Cleavon Little as the coolest sheriff in the universe… Igor? Ygor? Heddy? Hedley? Mongo?! Santa Maria!
That’s a hell of a tough call. Young Frankenstein had Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, and Peter Boyle, while Blazing Saddles had Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman, and Slim Pickens.
“Werewolf?!” “There.” “What?” “There wolf. There castle.”
“Mongo only pawn in game of life.”
Jeez, there’s no way to decide. Both are brilliant and hilarious. I have seen Blazing Saddles many more times than Young Frankenstein, so if both were on TV at the same time or something I’d watch the latter, but I love both of them.
“Where’re you going, cowboy?”
“Nowhere special.”
“Nowhere special. I’ve always wanted to go there.”
