Back in June, HBO Max made headlines for pulling the 1939 epic “Gone with the Wind” from its service for a few weeks until it was able to add “proper context” for the film.
After two weeks off the service, it returned with disclaimers. In this case they were two videos from Turner Classic Movies offering insight into the film’s legacy – one being a five-minute introduction video with University of Chicago professor and film scholar Jacqueline Stewart, the other an hour-long panel discussion about the movie’s complicated legacy.
While the Mel Brooks classic “Blazing Saddles” hasn’t been pulled from the service, the 1974 western comedy has quietly seen itself receive a new disclaimer – in this case another introduction by Jacqueline Stewart who says: “This movie is an overt and audacious spoof on classic Westerns. It’s as provocative today as it was when it premiered back in 1974.”
Stewart goes on to discuss Brooks overall work, gives context for some of the characters, and says the race-centered comedy features racist language and attitudes but says: “Those attitudes are espoused by characters who are explicitly portrayed here as narrow-minded, ignorant bigots. The film’s real and much more enlightened perspective is represented by the two main characters.”
The newly implemented notice is the sole addition, no related panel or other disclaimer has been added at this time.
Source: THR
