Back around 1982, I came across Blazing Saddles on cable. A good deal of the jokes went over my prepubescent head, but the silliness and the zaniness captivated me. And then, Harvey Korman came on the screen. His performance as Hedy (that's Hedley!) Lamarr was just jaw dropping to me. So extravagant, so full, so deliciously fun. During his second scene, I thought to myself "That is what I want to do. I want to do that for the rest of my life." And that planted the seed in my brain to become an actor. He was playing the villain with such elan, verve and lip-smacking joy that I couldn't help but smile every time he came on screen.
So, you can imagine my dismay when I heard the news that he passed away. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. To commemorate Harvey, my neighbor Susan and I split a bottle of wine, some chips and salsa, and broke in her new flatscreen TV with a screening of Blazing Saddles. We laughed so much, said the lines along with the film, and did several toasts to Mr. Korman.
Thank you, Harvey. Thank you very much.
Oh, Harvey. :(
Posted by: jenie | June 05, 2008 at 03:39 PM
he made me feel comfortable as a straight male putting on eye liner. or maybe want to make me put it on in the first place.
Posted by: angryslacker | June 11, 2008 at 12:55 AM
my first comment! yea!
Posted by: angryslacker | June 11, 2008 at 12:59 AM
also a movie i can not not watch! no matter where or when i must stop to watch this piece of film.
go on with your bad selves!
Posted by: angryslacker | June 11, 2008 at 01:05 AM