The Wilder Ride
Summary: A podcast where we discuss and celebrate the films of Gene Wilder, one minute at a time. In season two, we dive into the Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder classic comedy, Blazing Saddles, starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Burton Gilliam and Alex Karras. Season one covered Young Frankenstein.
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We begin today's episode with a fade in to a day in the life of Rock Ridge. We get a kind of montage sequence to go along with the lyrics being sung about the town. We learn the bar, though decorated appropriately, is too big and cattle would not have been allowed and the idea that Anal Johnson kept things nice and clean by spitting into the cups is absurd and hysterical. By the end of the minute, Taggart and his ruffians begin working their number six on the good people of Rock Ridge.
We begin the episode continuing with Taggart complaining about being hit on the head with a shovel. He then pleads for a favor and asks Hedley to hang Bart by his neck until dead. As the episode comes to a close, Taggart assures Hedley Lamarr that when he and his men get through, the people of Rock Ridge will feel like a chicken that's been caught in a tractor's nuts! As the two laugh at the image, we hear the sudden bang of the gallows and Taggart jumps into Hedley's arms.
Today's episode begins with Hedley trying to think of a way to scare off the people of Rock Ridge. Taggart suggests he knows how to rid the town of its residents: they kill the first born male of every household. Hedley considers the idea for a moment but then declares it as too Jewish. Taggart then suggests a number 6. Taggart explains It's when he and his men go riding into town, beating every living thing within an inch of its life, except for the women and the children.
Hedley Lamarr drops an obscure joke with, "The Doctor Gillespie killings." Once he returns inside his office, he mulls over how to get the land while giving Lady Justice a thorough molesting. As he ponders the way to steal the land, Taggart, uncomfortable at his boss's gyrations, accidentally knocks over a stack of law books. Hedley immediately looks for legal precedence. He looks up land snatching only to find he needs to "see snatch."
We open with Taggart reminding Lamarr the railroad has to go through Rock Ridge. As they are discussing the matter a sudden crashing sound scares Taggart. Hedley goes to the window to reveal a gallows below with Boris the Hangman hard at work. Hedley asks him to keep it down and Boris promises to try but he has two men home sick with the flu. Boris lurches to an older man in a wheelchair with a noose around his neck. Boris tells Lamarr that this one is a doozy!
Today we continue with Bart and Charlie pulling themselves the rest of the way out of the quicksand. Taggart, now noticing the two lying on the ground, derides them for lolly-gagging and trying to get a tan. Bart, unable to take it anymore, grasps a shovel. Charlie tries to convince him to not do it! However, there is not stopping Bart who whacks Taggert on the back of the head as he is dictating a telegram to the main office. The minute ends with Taggart, his head in bandages, talking to Hedley Lamarr.
The episode begins with Taggart calling for Lyle to get a rope over here. Lyle complies, tossing his lasso out over the quicksand. Bart and Charlie's expression turns from relief to panic as they realize Lyle is rescuing the handcar. Charlie says they are going to be left to die but Bart tells him not to panic. He's got his foot on the rail. As Charlie manages to get some of the quicksand in his mouth, Bart is slowly pulling them out of the quicksand.
Bart and Charlie move along the track on the handcar, dancing and continuing to sing De Camptown Lady. As they come to a stop, Charlie suddenly gets the feeling that the world is rising around them. As Bart and Charlie slip below the frame, we hear them discuss the nature of water and earth before yelling, "Quicksand!" Taggert comes riding up and in disgust at the sight of the quicksand, throws his hat on the ground. He immediately picks it up, dusts it off and starts to yell for Lyle.
Taggert informs Lyle and company that the surveyors are concerned there is quicksand along the track. Lyle suggests having some horses check it out, only to be beaten over the head by Taggert. They cannot afford to lose horse so they send a couple of the railroad workers. Bart explains that he is not qualified given his grandmother is of Dutch decent. Lyle forces them to get on a handcar and head down the line. As they do, they suddenly break into a rendition of De Camptown Lady.
The minute opens with Lyle suggesting a song the railroad workers can sing, like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. After Bart and his fellow workers feign to not know that song, Lyle suggests a different song. He asks them to sing De Camptown Lady. Once again, Bart and his compatriots act as if they do not know the song. So, Lyle begins to sing it for them. As he continues, he gets more and more into both singing and dancing. Soon, the entire group of railroad overseers are jumping and dancing around.
The Wilder Ride welcomes as its first guest of season two, podcaster Jim O'Kane. Jim brings his expertise in railroads and Western history to the discussion of the opening scene of Blazing Saddles. After squaring off on each side of the tracks the railroad workers, led by Bart, enter into a battle of wits with Lyle and his crew. Lyle tries to taunt them with a request for a "slave" song. Bart restrains some of his fellow workers from becoming physical, choosing instead to sing a different kinds of song.
Alan and Walt wrap up the credits and begin to discuss the camera movement toward the men working on the railroad. We get a good look at the rail line and number of people doing the work. There seems to be a good number of overseers keeping on eye on the work being done. Eventually Lyle shows up and talks about the heat of the day before a Chinese worker passes out. Lyle unceremoniously demands they dock him a day's pay for nappin' on the job.
Alan and Walt continue breaking down the opening title credits of Blazing Saddles. They take time to discuss the career of the film's cinematographer. They also discuss several secondary characters, the opening theme song and the Ballad of Rock Ridge. As the minute continues, they discuss the writers, the story of how Mel Brooks was introduced to the script and how the writing sessions went. Finally, the hosts discuss the films producer and his body of credits.
Hosts Alan Sanders and Walt Murray begin to breakdown the opening credits of Blazing Saddles. The film opens with a the Warner Brothers logo burning away into a prairie vista, followed by the title of the film flying into view. As the credits are shown, Alan and Walt discuss each name and their biographies along with some background stories of the making of Blazing Saddles.
In this episode, hosts Alan Sanders and Walt Murray preview and discuss their upcoming second season of The Wilder Ride. The movie they will break down one minute at a time is the western satire, Blazing Saddles. Alan and Walt knew they did not want to have to put a disclaimer on every episode of the season, so this one serves as both explanation and warning for the season to follow.