MovieChat Forums > Blazing Saddles (1974) Discussion > worst line: 'I like rape'

worst line: 'I like rape'

posted 17 years ago by davidmmiller
205 replies | jump to latest

I'm talking about the scene where all the outlaw baddies (and bikers and klansmen) are lining up to get a job on Hedley's gang, and one of them is asked by him to explain why he wrote "rape" twice on his resume, and the outlaw smiles and says "I like rape."

Of all the edits BS has undergone over the years, this line is the one I first noticed to go. In 1986 I watched this for my millionth time on video with my white flatmates in New Zealand (I'm a Yank), and the whole movie was met with a studied silence. When the "I like rape" line was delivered, my female flatmate turned to me and said "That's a joke?"

And as much as I hate to see movies get sliced to ribbons, that line always did make me wince. Call it politcal correctness or whatever, but I don't miss it. Fortunately the rest of the movie is hilarious. Side note: I ushered during this movie in the early '80s. We were showing Woody Allen's "Stardust Memories," and apparently it wasn't a big enough draw, so they added "Blazing Saddles" and made it a double feature--kinda like pairing wine with grits!

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] sillyhat 11 years ago

I think some are missing the point: the guy who says that is a BAD character. We're not supposed to like him.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] kawada_shougo 10 years ago

What a pile of rubbish! It was one of the funniest lines of the movie. The OP must be a humourless and boring loser.

[–] Edohiguma 10 years ago

The flatmate and the OP seem to have missed the point that the rape joke is fired off when the OUTLAWS sign up for murdering, raping and pillaging.

They're the bad guys. Bad guys say bad things. They also do bad things.

[–] lillijag 10 years ago

Since the job requirement was to be the worst of the worst, embellishing a resume with rape twice, then explaining "I like rape" was funny because the employer seemed very pleased with this qualification. Rape itself is despicable. The employer embracing it is the joke.

[–] LemonTastic 10 years ago

I thought that was one of the funniest jokes. Then again I have a warpped sense of humour. I think we these sort of films you can't take them too seriously because they don't take themselves serious

[–] VenomX 9 years ago

Hedy Lamarr said he wanted the worst of the worst (not knowing what he was really asking for) to raid Rock Ridge so no *beep* some rapists would sign up.

Even he was disturbed by what was said ("...charming, sign here" reeks of his hatred but tolerance), that's the context that so many people miss when it comes to these films.

Your day could be worse 

[–] WeirdRaptor 9 years ago

^ THIS. Viewers need to read the body language more in film. They lose a lot of context if they don't pay attention to that.

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." -Gandalf

[–] byor 10 years ago

It is a bit harsh.

[–] rickwahoo 10 years ago

The rape comment is on par with the *beep* comments. The movie lampoons the stupidity of such comments. If you and your female friends laugh at the *beep* jokes, then you laugh at the rape joke. Same thing. Unless, of course, if you're prejudice.