Blazing Saddles 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 85
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
Blazing Saddles' 4K UHD release delivers impressive visual clarity, a new Dolby Atmos mix, and enduring comedic genius, making it a must-have upgrade.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Atmos
DTS-HD MA
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 93
The 4K UHD Blu Ray of "Blazing Saddles" delivers a stunning and authentic presentation with superb color reproduction aided by HDR10, excellent dynamic contrasts, strong black levels, and intricate detail authenticated in both brighter sequences and expansive vistas, vastly enhancing and revitalizing the classic cinematic experience beyond previous releases.
Audio: 86
Blazing Saddles' 4K UHD Blu-Ray audio shines with a new Dolby Atmos mix that enhances the musical elements with rich stereo warmth while maintaining the film's original mono for authenticity. The Atmos track broadens the soundstage with subtle surround activity, delivering refined dialogue and clean bass, yet respects its restrained origins with limited LFE impact.
Extra: 67
The 4K UHD release of 'Blazing Saddles' includes a mix of beloved legacy features, with the standout new addition being 'Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect,' featuring industry figures discussing the film's comedic legacy. However, technical glitches like incorrect frame rates mar some features, and notable omissions like the Black Bart pilot are felt.
Movie: 91
Blazing Saddles, now remastered in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos sound, remains a timeless comedic masterpiece that deftly satirizes racial stereotypes through audacious humor. Its impeccable cast and irreverent style make it an enduring classic, embodying Mel Brooks' genius in pushing the boundaries of comedy.
Video: 93
The video presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of "Blazing Saddles" impressively revitalizes this classic film, highlighting its impeccable technical remastering. Filmed originally in 35mm Panavision anamorphic widescreen with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this transfer utilizes a 2160p HEVC encode with HDR10 on a BD66 disc. The result is a beautifully filmic and authentically remastered visual experience, meticulously true to its source material. Colors are consistently vivid, from the striking blue skies to the vibrant costumes, thanks to detailed HDR10 calibration. This enhancement brings new life to the richly colored vistas and intricate textures in the fabrics and wood grain, now particularly visible in fabric details and wooden structures.
The improved colors accompanied by the restored red Warner Bros. logo immediately signify the thoughtful updating done for this release. Shadow detail alongside depth is strong across dynamic scenes, such as those that highlight both lighter daytime shots and darker segments, showing enhanced contrast that previous editions lacked. The film maintains a refined balance between reducing excessive grain and preserving the authentic filmic texture. Noteworthy is the absence of any cyan tint, which plagued earlier versions.
This 4K presentation outstrips previous releases with improved resolution and color saturation, evident in detailed close-ups like those capturing actors' expressions and textures within the Old West backdrop. Black levels are deep and stable, evidencing no banding or artifact issues. Although some motion blur is briefly noticeable, especially around the 84:50 mark, this collection of well-executed enhancements overwhelmingly makes for a compelling viewing experience. This UHD release is a remarkable visual advancement over past formats including earlier Blu-ray versions, delivering the quintessential laughter-inducing elements of "Blazing Saddles" in their most polished visual form to date.
Audio: 86
The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "Blazing Saddles" offers an audio experience that balances nostalgia with modern enhancements. Originally dominated by a mono track typical of its era, the film's latest release features a Dolby Atmos mix alongside the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono option, catering to both purists and those seeking an enriched sound experience. While the original theatrical mono version provides authenticity, the newly crafted Atmos mix achieves significant depth, delivering a wider soundstage with precise stereo imaging. Music, especially the score by John Morris, benefits from the enhanced channel separation, vividly engaging height channels to broaden the auditory experience without overwhelming the soundstage.
Improvements are most noticeable in musical numbers where the Atmos mix utilizes a stereo source, offering warmth and richness unmatched by the thinner mono track. Dynamic sound elements provide an immersive experience; yet, they remain respectful of the film's original audio constraints. The mix balances bass delicately, enhancing action sequences such as dynamite explosions and lively musical interludes like Count Basie's performance, with a clean and controlled low-end presence that feels both fresh and faithful to its original intent.
Dialogue throughout remains clear and precise, crucially centered even amidst the more vibrant sonic enhancements of Atmos. Surround channels activate subtly during key scenes, bringing out ambient sounds and minor effects that enhance the setting without detracting from the frontal audio focus. This release honors its cinematic roots while offering a modern auditory lift, ensuring both newcomers and long-time fans find something to appreciate in the reimagined audio presentation.
Extras: 67
The 4K UHD release of "Blazing Saddles" presents a comprehensive collection of extras, primarily sourced from previous releases, and enhanced by a couple of new features. Notably, the extras lack some past content, such as the Black Bart pilot and a Madeline Kahn tribute. The ported featurettes have been criticized for being encoded at incorrect frame rates, leading to a dropped frames effect. However, the disc offers an engaging glimpse into the film's lasting impact through the new feature "Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect," which features insights from notable figures like Ike Barinholtz and Jeff Garlin. Mel Brooks' scene-specific commentary, although familiar to long-time fans, remains a valuable inclusion. Despite some choppy upscaled content, the extras collectively celebrate the film's comedic genius and cultural significance.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Mel Brooks provides insights on the creation of "Blazing Saddles."
- Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect: New retrospective on the film's impact.
- Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild Wild West: Interview with Brooks on the film's making.
- Back in the Saddle: Featurette with cast discussing the film’s production.
- Additional Scenes: Deleted sequences included in previous broadcasts.
- Digital Code: A code for online redemption of the film in 4K.
Movie: 91
Blazing Saddles, Mel Brooks' irreverent comedy classic, succeeds in transcending generations with its unapologetic lampooning of Western tropes. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release, enhanced with a 2160p/HDR10 transfer and Dolby Atmos audio, is a comprehensive offering for both new viewers and longtime fans. The film is renowned for its bold humor, tackling racism and stereotypes head-on in an audacious satirical manner. It combines the absurdity of slapstick with clever social commentary, offering a narrative that incisively critiques racial prejudices while invoking laughter. The casting of Cleavon Little as Bart, the black sheriff of the predominantly racist Rock Ridge, alongside Gene Wilder's memorable performance as the Waco Kid, amplifies the film's comedic and thematic effectiveness.
Brooks' genius lies in his ability to weave political incorrectness into an effective comedic weapon, using Blazing Saddles to ridicule bigotry while providing entertainment that's as engaging today as it was back in 1974. The narrative's brilliance is further amplified by an ensemble cast including Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, and Slim Pickens, each delivering performances that complement Brooks' vision. The film's enduring appeal is mirrored in its theatrical success and cultural impact, underscoring Brooks' position as a titan of comedy directing. Audiences are led through an illustrious script filled with unforgettable gags—from quicksand rescues prioritizing a handcart to an iconic fourth-wall-breaking brawl.
The 50th anniversary edition extends Blazing Saddles' legacy by granting audiences a pristine presentation, allowing the timeless humor to be rediscovered. The film's unrelenting satire exposes societal faults, never shying away from controversy while skillfully using it to provoke thought and laughter. Despite its age, Blazing Saddles remains significant for its raw depiction of societal issues and serves as a reminder of cinema’s power to handle sensitive subjects with humor. While modern sensibilities may challenge its methods, the film's intrinsic value in sparking dialogue about equality endures.
Total: 85
Mel Brooks’ "Blazing Saddles" has received a commendable 4K UHD Blu-ray release by Warner Brothers, aptly celebrating its 50th anniversary. A timeless classic since it first hit theaters in 1974, this film continues to resonate due to its bold and incisive humor that tackles issues of racism and bigotry with unflinching comedic flair. The new release features a much-anticipated visual remaster that significantly enhances clarity, offering a fresh viewing experience without compromising the film’s original charm. The addition of a Dolby Atmos audio track elevates the sound quality, immersing viewers further into the film's witty and robust dialogue.
The disc packaging is robust with its feature set. Although some legacy extras have been carried over, the main highlight remains the audio-visual upgrade. The movie’s impeccable cast, including Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn, are seen and heard as never before. While some might find the absence of a standalone Blu-ray option a minor drawback, this is offset by the overall improvement in quality on the 4K disc. There remains an ongoing discussion regarding encoding frame rates for special features; however, this concern does not detract significantly from the overall value of this release.
Conclusively, "Blazing Saddles" remains a cultural touchstone in comedic cinema, managing to entertain while engaging in significant social commentary—a feat masterfully achieved by Brooks. This 4K release not only celebrates the enduring appeal of the movie but revitalizes it for modern audiences with technical enhancements. Longtime fans and newcomers alike will find both nostalgia and new appreciation in this edition, making it a must-have for any collection. Highly recommended for those who appreciate classic cinema and provocative comedy alike.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
• Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect - Featurette • Scene-specific audio commentary by Mel Brooks • Blaze of Glory:...
Audio: 90
Extras: 60
Movie: 90
I just took the blatant use of racial epithets and crude humor to be shock jock style humor, but looking back at the film as I matured I realize that Brooks was using this type of humor as a way to highlight...
Total: 80
Warner did a great job with this remaster, giving us a much needed boost in visual clarity, and a handy Dolby Atmos track that is well appreciated....
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 80
Blazing Saddles is one of the few Warner Bros. 4K catalog titles that actually has a fairly decent Blu-ray under its belt already, as the 40th Anniversary Edition made use of much better disc encoding...
Audio: 100
While I'm normally all about theatrical authenticity, this is one clear example where certain aspects of the viewing experience are much improved on the new Atmos mix; specifically, the film's occasional...
Extras: 70
The extras are fairly well-rounded; most are sourced from earlier releases including both Blu-rays, although a few minor items are missing like the 1975 Black Bart pilot, a Madeline Kahn tribute, and the...
Movie: 80
We should be thankful that Warner Bros. actually had the good sense to continue its legacy on the UHD format even though they've held off on other "sensitive" catalog titles like Gone With the Wind, which...
Total: 80
Blazing Saddles considerable legacy has survived five full decades of increasingly sensitive social mores; in other words it still plays like gangbusters, which means that fans and first-timers alike should...
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt BrightonRead review here
Video: 90
It’s not a night and day difference, but I did feel the need to whip out my previous Blu-ray (sorry, couldn’t resist) and take a few shots to showcase the new transfer....
Audio: 90
I mean, when you’ve got a bunch of cowboys eating beans and farting around a campfire, I think we can all agree that we’ll want the most clarity there....
Extras: 60
The Blazing Saddles Effect – This new segment features Ike Bariholtz and Jeff Garlin (to name a few) as they rehash the film, its long lasting appeal, the impact of the movie and how un-politically correct...
Movie: 0
Combining the elements of classic Hollywood comedy, western and even…yes, a musical it’s hard to deny that this is one of the funniest movies ever to hit the screen....
Total: 100
As of this writing, Mel Brooks is the really the only major cast member who’s still with us and he’s at the ripe old age of 98....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 100
Never overly aggressive, peak contrast hits a satisfying peak that easily betters the Blu-ray, with an added sizzle to things like lantern lights, or the shine from the Candygram box....
Audio: 80
Blazing Saddles shows the right level of restraint while still audibly using the audio expansion to better the soundstage in a way that’s respectful....
Extras: 60
Blaze of Glory is a half hour chat with Mel Brooks about the feature, its relevance, and purpose (in addition the usual round up of behind-the-scenes stories); that was included on the previous Blu-ray...
Movie: 100
Regardless of whether someone finds Blazing Saddles offensive or not, that’s a baseline to grow a conversation from – yes, the racism is terrible, it should be eradicated, and those who fight against it...
Total: 85
The funniest movie ever made, Blazing Saddles’ riotous takedown of hate, fear, and inequality remains a milestone in how to approach race through comedy....
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 100
HDR also allows for better contrast, revealing the shimmer of the satin curtains on stage in the saloon and the glittering sequins of Lili’s performance costumes....
Audio: 80
When the film debuted on DVD, the film was given a new 5.1 mix in lossy Dolby Digital that wasn’t all that remarkable – it was very front-heavy with weak surrounds and even weaker LFE....
Extras: 70
Blazing Saddles on 4K is a single-disc release which includes the following special features ported from prior releases (and encoded at the wrong frame rate), plus two new ones....
Movie: 90
However, Blazing Saddles, the first film by Brooks to be released that year, was almost shelved by its studio Warner Bros. Executives found it unfunny and even racist, at least until Brooks held a screening...
Total: 90
I just wish Warner, if they are not going to include a Blu-ray (remastered or not) and instead include the special features on the 4K disc, that they would encode the older bonus features at the correct...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 96
Objects within backgrounds have definable structure/texture which makes them appear very lifelike, and, dimensional....
Audio: 84
In general, its use of audio objects mixed to the heights is limited to low-level music score bleed, and, sounds generated by both the front three channels, and, front height speakers, which broadens the...
Extras: 70
Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect Scene-Specific Commentary by Mel Brooks Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wile, Wild West Back in the Saddle Additional Scenes Digital Code...
Movie: 90
In this satirical take on Westerns, crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little) becomes the first black sheriff of Rock Ridge, a frontier town about to be destroyed in order to make way for a new railroad....
Total: 85
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Why So Blu? review by Adam Toroni-ByrneRead review here
Video: 100
Clarity and color stability are first rate with the film looking more solid at home than ever before and overall, the film looks lovingly remastered....
Audio: 80
The dynamics are still very much old school, with music being the primary source of Atmos activity....
Extras: 80
Refreshingly we get a new tributary feature: Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect featuring Jeff Garlin, Ike Barinkholtz and a host of others who love the film talking about their experiences...
Movie: 100
The film makes us laugh because the language and the approach can feel uncomfortable until you really dig into the writing and the performances that are big and bold and made exactly for laughs....
Total: 90
To take the film in in 2024 shows that we have still got a long way to go before we can live together without the judgements on full display in this film for laughs, but at least we have Blazing Saddles...
Director: Mel Brooks
Actors: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens
PlotIn the American West of 1874, a corrupt politician, Hedley Lamarr, hatches a plot to acquire valuable land by appointing a black railroad worker, Bart, as the sheriff of the small frontier town, Rock Ridge. Lamarr believes the racist inhabitants will reject Bart, thereby causing chaos that will drive them away, leaving the land ripe for his taking. Unbeknownst to Lamarr, his plan sets the stage for an unconventional hero to emerge. Bart, initially met with hostility, uses his wits and unconventional methods to win the townspeople's trust.
Joining forces with Jim, the Waco Kid, a washed-up, sharp-shooting gunslinger with a troubled past, Bart concocts a series of clever schemes to thwart Lamarr's henchmen and protect the town. As Bart and Jim's friendship flourishes, they rally the town's residents to stand against Lamarr's diabolical plot, leading to a series of uproarious and unconventional confrontations. Through their efforts, they not only challenge the status quo but also redefine the townspeople's views on race and leadership.
Writers: Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman
Release Date: 07 Feb 1974
Runtime: 93 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English, Yiddish, German