I think the Black Market song in particular seems like Madelyn Kahn's performance in Saddles. Anyone agree?
shareThe Madeline Kahn character was definitely modeled on Marlene Dietrich, but not necessarily on Dietrich's role in this movie. She had many roles as a cabaret singer beginning in 1930 with The Blue Angel.
I had read somewhere that when Ms. Kahn was audtitioning for Blazing Saddles, she was very nervous. That Mel Brookes really like her for the part, and to encourage her told her to do her best Marlene Dietrich imitation while reading the lines of Lily Von Schtupp.
Thanks all. I knew Lily was based on Marlene, but I was wondering about this movie in particular. I suppose the above poster is right, that it's a combination of various roles going back to Blue Angel.
shareAnd there's also her role in Hitchcock's "Stage Fright" in which she sings about being "the laziest girl in town".
shareI think throughout her career, she performed those Lily Von Schtupp-type songs in her films. One that comes to mind is Destry Rides Again.
To me, that performance most closely resembles what Mel Brooks was poking fun at with the Von Schtupp character in Blazing Saddles.
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No, it's definitely based on "Destry Rides Again".
shareI've seen all the above movies except, oddly enough, 'Destry Rides Again' and 'The Blue Angel' (although now I must); I just saw 'Witness for the Prosecution' last night - she sings in that, too (with an accordion!). It seems directors and writers really wanted to have Ms. Dietrich sing in their films...maybe because 'The Blue Angel' had such a huge impact on them...
"How do you feel?"
"Like the Kling-Klang King of the Rim-Ram Room!"