#the waco kid

[astralbondpro]

Blazing Saddles (1974) // Dir. Mel Brooks

[cafenervosa]

Where ya headed, cowboy? 🍿

[ID in alt text]

[i-less-olivia]

Was rewatching Blazing Saddles the other day. I love the bromance Bart and Jim develop over the course of the movie, their chemistry is so wholesome and unique!

However, I was watching the scene where the loveable mess that is Jim gets introduced to us, when something hit me like a ton of bricks

When Bart asks him if he has a name, he answers as seen above:

“My name is Jim. But most people call me... Jim“

It’s meant as a humorous and absurd line, surely. But look at him more closely while he’s saying it. Especially that little pause. What if there was more underneath it all?

That slight shudder. That thousand yard stare his piercing, watery eyes are expressing.

I’m sure he, at that point, was about to reveal to Bart he was the Waco Kid, but backtracked at the last second because then he’d have to recount his backstory. And, as much as he immediately liked the Sheriff, he still didn’t know anything about him, he was in a vulnerable position and was scared he’d be judged.

Bart however, being the wonderful, kind human being that he is, never belittled him, never judged him, never talked down to him. He showed genuine concern and treated him like an equal from the get go, making sure he was comfortable. He even said Jim was a “guest” and he was a “host”, despite him being a prisoner. Who would do that in the Old West? Not many people

Which is why I think the gunslinger was putting Bart to the test when he finally trusted him enough to share the source of his troubles.

And I’m willing to bet Bart was the first person who didn’t laugh when he recounted how a 6 year old kid shot him in the backside. What does he do instead? Face completely serious, he offers him another drink. Ok, maybe not the wisest choice for someone who’s just gulped down half a bottle in one swig. But it’s more about what it meant for them. I viewed it as him saying: “I see you. That shit would be traumatizing for anyone. I don’t judge you for turning to the drink. In fact, let’s have a last one”.

And it WORKS. If you notice, the Kid starts to drink much less practically immediately. He’s sober in a few days’ time. He has a new friend he knows he can trust. He has hope in the world again. His hand is steady. And he’d follow Bart to hell and back.

[christinered]

You would think people would know better then to shoot Jason by now.

It really only makes him mad.

(Mongo too.)

~Red

[theranilord]

I never saw it until I watched it with my niece, who is as corrupted as I, that I saw the relationship between Bart and Jim differently...

[ostensiblynone]

“WACO KID,” “SQUEALER,” IS SILENCED Shot, by Gang After Giving Police “Tip.”

The Milwaukee leader (Milwaukee, Wis.), March 29, 1921 CHICAGO—The “Waco Kid” millionaire con man has “squealed” his last, Chicago police were notified today. The “Waco Kid” —Willard Powell —for years has been a “stool pigeon” for Chicago police. Whenever he got caught in a tight place he “squawked” on his pals and received immunity for it.

The history of the “Waco Kid” goes back to the days of the Maybray confidence gang here. He had a falling out with “Yellow Kid” Weil and informed the police of their wire tapping game. Fred K. Buckminster, the “Alabama Kid,” and “Little Alf,” members of the gang, were said to have joined the “Waco Kid” in Florida. They are said to have made millions in the past four years fleecing millionaires. They maintained the International Turf Exchange in an office building in Daytona. Again, they got in difficulties with the authorities and again the “Waco Kid” is said to have “squelched.” This led to the arrest of Buckmeister on a charge of fleecing Charles Worden, bank president of Fort Wayne., Ind., out of $100,000. The “Waco Kid,” police were informed today, while sitting in the palatial dining room of the Ponce De Leon at St. Augustine, last night, a gang appeared at the curtained window and riddled his body with bullets. It has just been identified.

[i-less-olivia]

He’s amazing isn’t he? Underrated fandom too

Re-watching Blazing Saddles reminded me how much I love Gene Wilder as Jim AKA The Waco Kid.

I think I might have just had a crush on Gene Wilder as a kid...still low-key do...I need help

[groovy-lady]

[popculturetarot]

The Two of Cups is meaningful relationship, and while most people think of it as being romantic, it’s more about deep friendship and the meaningful relationship that happens after the passion fades but something better is left in its wake.  

[weirderscience]

i love watching documentaries where the conflict is between two groups that are both objectively in the wrong its so fascinating

[chuthulhu-reads]

[ID: A series of panels from Trigun. The first three are near-identical images of Vash with a stern expression. In the first, he's holdign a bag by the strap slung over his shoulder. In the second, he lets go of the bag strap. In the third, there's a blur that seems to be him reaching for his gun, with the bag's strap still over his shoulder, not having had time to fall. These three panels are set into the top-right of a double-page spread of Vash leaning back and shooting rapidly at EG Mine, a weird figure in giant spiky armour. In the bottom-left of the double page are inset three more panels. Panel five depicts a blur that might be Vash swinging his gun. Panel six shows Vash in exactly the same pose as panels one to three, his right arm a blur again, the bag strap still not having had time to slid off of his shoulder. Panel seven shows a leather strap breaking, having been shot through. Panel eight, from the next page, probably showed all of EG Mine's armour falling apart. Panel nine shows Vash, still in the same pose from panels one, two, three and six, grabbing the strap of his bag again. The whole sequence is heavily kinetic but, thanks to the static panels, seems to all take place in under a second. End ID.]

I love these panels for how they express just how fast Vash is (he drops his bag, draws from his hip, fires multiple rounds, reholsters and grabs his bag again before it drops) but also my brain keeps going "I wonder if Nightow ever saw Blazing Saddles"

[empyrean-gaol]

Why do I start shaking like a chihuahua when I talk about random things that make me sad it's so strange like I don't feel any urge to cry I just start trembling

[i-less-olivia]

Continuing the Blazing Saddles streak. I’m hyperfixating right now, so here I am, overthinking and overanalyzing an old comedy movie.

I love the upside-down exchange they have in the prison cell because, behind all the satire, slapstick and absurdity that defines Mel Brooks’ movies, the writers and actors still managed to paint a portrait of two characters who are believable as complex, tangible human beings, with issues, wants and needs.

The first few times I watched this scene I didn’t really take in its full impact, mostly because the serious topics it implies tend to remain shielded by the humour of the dialogue. Of course, the obviously significant racial themes are discussed, but there might also be other potential aspects hidden in the dialogue. The understanding of each other’s true nature, the beginnings of a close friendship, perhaps some past experiences resurfacing?

Let’s start, shall we? Keep in mind, most of this is just me trying to interpret their reactions, so it might be speculation on my part.

“Are we awake?“

Bart has taken his role as Sheriff seriously and is up to the task. He’s cautious, yet professional. If the city itself is a piece of work, who knows what the local prisoner might do.

“We’re not sure... are we... Black?“

Straight to the point, but, even when plastered, Jim is never unkind or disrespectful. Just from this simple exchange, you can perceive he’s different fron the rest of the morons of Rock Ridge. He’s the first (and probably only) white person in the movie who doesn’t use the n-word when talking to or about Bart. He’s not afraid, disgusted, outraged or offended. Just surprised, because he knows what the public opinion regarding people of colour was at the time (even though we later see he definitely doesn’t agree with it), and he never thought he’d see a black man become a Sheriff in such a backward place.

“Yes we are.“

A mere statement of fact. Such a simple line, yet so effective. Poor Bart’s probably used to any kind of reaction by this point, almost universally negative. His response is neutral enough, but his expression is dead serious. For a moment, gone is the goofy guy wearing the Gucci purse who was elated to become the town Sheriff, who took himself hostage and later complimented himself for it, who was singing “The Camp Town Ladies” until 30 seconds ago. He’s testing Jim, perhaps even daring him a little. He’s prepared for the worst. The lack of n-word from the prisoner is promising enough, but Bart knows, and so does Jim in that little pregnant pause, that this is a crucial moment for both of them.

"Then we're awake, but we're very puzzled"

And Jim passes the test. This is also a good time to go back and point out the obvious: while this exchange takes place, they've been bantering, in a prison, with one of them stuck upside down. A delightful first indication of how in sync their personalities and respective natures are. They're both chaotic creatures with a soft center, who found a kindred soul. Bart's wicked sense of humour bounces off Jim's quite naturally and with synergy, and they must notice and enjoy it as well.

"I think I better straighten myself out"

"Do you need any help?"

"... Oh... All I can get"

I'm such a sucker for the respect they show each other from here onward. The Sheriff knows the prisoner's situation is delicate and doesn't ask any questions, just helps straighten Jim out. Jim crowns the exchange with a grateful smile and genuinely thanks him. He also seems vaguely surprised at the notion of someone helping him, but I might be reading too much into it at this point. What's certain is that the slight tension that had been there before has now dissipated.

This moment was crucial for Bart to define the basis of their friendship, similarly to how their heart to heart after the chess match mattered to Jim. Those exchanges made them realize there was someone else who understood them and liked them for who they were, and who they could rely on in a world that could often be cruel.

It helps flesh them out as people and characters in a subtle, but very poignant way.

[pure-mornings]

It's wild how the first role you see an actor portray, no matter how obscure or not-what-they're-known-for, can be what you always see them as.

[catchdacraze]

See you this weekend at the Central Texas Comic Con in Artist Alley visit www.doodiesworld.com for more Doodie Adventures

#comics #comiccon #centraltexascomiccon #wacotexas #artistalley #artist #comicartist #booktour #indiecomics #xmen #scifi #Doodie #alien #ufo #myartwork #publishedartist #cartoon #kidsbooks #publishedauthor

[theonpilled]

watching waco and. I understand why they'd interview and show the testimony of people with different points of view and different opinions but. god its so fucking ANNOYING hearing these people say "well he wasn't bad he was doing God's will" damn okay you'll never be forgiven for the crimes you let this man do WILLINGLT god