I Can’t Say That, Can I?
One of the bad guy’s henchman, Lyle, was portrayed by Burton Gilliam. In one of the script’s lines, Lyle used a racist epithet to refer to Sherrif Bart. Because the word is so delicate, Burton did not feel confident using it. Little, though, realized that it was all for business and gave Gilliam the go. However, Little did say: “if I thought you would say those words to me in any other situation we’d go to fist city, but this is all fun. Don’t worry about it.”
I Can’t Say That, Can I
On The Cutting Floor
Mel Brooks pioneered comedy by pushing the envelope. This made everyone laugh and brought on concern for the studio. They begged Brooks to delete scenes, but only the most obscene one was cut by Mel. It had place when Bart and Lili von Shtupp were in her dressing room together. As she tempts him, she blows out the candle, and asks “Is it true what they say about you people?” and Bart shoots back “I hate to disillusion you, ma’am, but you’re sucking on my arm.”
On The Cutting Floor
