In honor of the legendarily awesome Mel Brooks, you better believe we’re going to dedicate this Movie Detail Monday to the greatest comedic filmmaker on the planet.
Nobody has had a bigger influence on funny films than Brooks. “The Producers,” “Young Frankenstein,” “History of the World, Part I,” and “Spaceballs” were all groundbreaking in their own unique ways, featuring some of the sharpest forms of satire to ever be put to celluloid.
However, Brooks’ 1974 classic “Blazing Saddles” stands apart from even those aforementioned gems, absolutely roasting the western genre, incompetent government officials, American racism, and a whole lot more in the process.
One not-so-serious boundary Brooks crossed while making the film is his use of what film scholars describe as “incorporating audible flatulence.” In fact, it’s often claimed that “Blazing Saddles” is the first film to ever feature on-screen farting.
However, that’s not true! The 1959 Japanese film “Good Morning” by Yasujiro Ozu actually features a ton of farting, and it’s oddly essential to the plot.
Therefore, “Blazing Saddles” is more likely to be the first American studio film to incorporate audible flatulence.
Either way, check out the famous “Blazing Saddles” campfire scene along with a fascinating video about the flatulence in “Good Morning” below. Be well and in honor of Mel Brooks have yourself a farty Monday, y’all!
