bornsecular89:

Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, & Burton Gilliam-On the set of Blazing Saddles

_{During the filming of Madeline Kahn’s scenes in Blazing Saddles, the cast and crew kept laughing, so Mel Brooks asked an assistant to go out and buy more than a hundred handkerchiefs. Whenever anyone on set started to laugh he or she would stifle the sound of laughter in a handkerchief.} 

Blazing Saddles is coming to Blu Ray again to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Pre Order here.

_{Lili Von Shtupp: Hello, handsome, is that a ten-gallon hat or are you just enjoying the show?}

_{Blazing Saddles (1974)}

Concealed Weapons

theacademy:

When we saw Sofia Vergara in costume for Machete Kills, we thought of a couple of things: the Austin Powers Fembots and this costume rendering by Vittorio Novarese. Although it doesn’t appear in the film, this design was created for Madeline Kahn’s character, Lili Von Shtupp, in Blazing Saddles (1974).  Kahn received an Academy Award nomination for her hilarious mash-up of a character: part saloon girl, part Marlene Dietrich and completely unforgettable. 

In this early version of a costume for Kahn’s hilarious musical number, “I’m Tired,” Novarese outfits her with an Iron Cross at her neck, an eagle splayed across her hips and a Prussian army helmet with a large spike on top. The ensemble is completed with matching spikes (or gun barrels?) protruding from the bust of her merry widow.

In the end, Blazing Saddles backed away from this potent image. Although we don’t know why the costume was changed, in the final film Kahn wears a sheer negligee and a black merry widow sans spikes. The aggressive, military flavor of her original outfit was transferred to a chorus of four male Prussian soldiers bearing bayonets.

Designer Novarese is best known for his work on such historical productions as Cleopatra (1963), Cromwell (1970) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). His work on Blazing Saddles proved that he was also adept at the creation of costumes for comedies—even the most pointed ones.

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trixiedelight:

_{Blazing Saddles (1974)}

_{Madeline Kahn rehearsing on set between takes of Blazing Saddles}

_{Happy fourth of July! Have fun and be safe!}

_{Blazing Saddles (1974)}