‘I Wanted Authenticity’: Mel Brooks Revealed John Wayne Was Almost Cast In THIS 70s Comedy

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As an ardent fan of Mel Brooks‘ extraordinary work, I find myself utterly captivated by the tales he weaves from his rich tapestry of experiences. The story of Gene Wilder’s casting as the Waco Kid in Blazing Saddles is a testament to the serendipitous nature of showbiz and the indelible mark that fate leaves on our most cherished stories.

At a 50th anniversary screening of Blazing Saddles in Los Angeles, Mel Brooks recounted an interesting tale about how Gene Wilder landed the role of the Waco Kid. According to Brooks, it was Wilder’s exceptional comic skills that made the character a hit. Interestingly, Brooks had initially considered casting John Wayne for a comedy role at an earlier stage in his career.

During a recent Q&A following the 50th anniversary screening of director Brooks’ classic 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles in Los Angeles, the 98-year-old director shared that he tried but ultimately failed to persuade 72-year-old Wayne to play the role of the Waco Kid in his movie.

At an event, as reported by IndieWire, Mel Brooks shared an anecdote regarding his movie “Blazing Saddles”. He felt that presenting the character of The Waco Kid as a genuine old-west actor would add a touch of realism to the film.

Brooks disclosed that his inspiration for the film’s casting came during an unexpected meeting with John Wayne on a Warner Bros. studio lot, in a café. He then engaged Wayne in conversation and proposed a significant part in the movie for him.

Wayne expressed delight, expressing his appreciation for Brooks’ past works and his eagerness to review the screenplay for Blazing Saddles. Brooks was thrilled by Wayne’s positive reaction and his interest in potentially taking on the role.

The next day after assisting Wayne in obtaining a movie screenplay, as per Brooks, Wayne requested another meeting at the same spot. Brooks remembered Wayne’s initial reaction to the script; he found it so amusing that he couldn’t stop laughing and believed the content was inappropriate. Consequently, Wayne turned down the role due to this reason.

Later on, Brooks recruited another Academy Award winner, Gig Young, for the main role in Blazing Saddles. At first, Young accepted the part, but he faced issues with alcohol and left the project soon after filming started. This topic was revisited by the Mercury News in 2016.

Desperate for a final replacement, Brooks sought aid from his friend and partner in The Producers, Gene Wilder. With his assistance, Wilder transformed the role into an iconic comedic act.

In the movie “Blazing Saddles,” there were three Oscar awards at stake, as it portrays the struggles of a black sheriff newly appointed in the frontier town of Ridge Rock. This popular comedy was added to the Film Preservation List by the Librarian of Congress in 2006 – an accolade given to films that have cultural, historical, or artistic importance.

During a recent question-and-answer session, EGOT winner Brooks shared that Ted Ashley, former CEO of Warner Bros., gave him extensive suggestions to change his movie. Brooks found these recommendations unimportant and became annoyed by the criticism. He expressed a desire for a much shorter film, and to express his contempt for the proposed edits, he merely crumpled up and discarded the notes containing the suggested improvements.

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2024-08-07 10:41