In an interview included in the DVD release of Blazing Saddles, Brooks claimed that Hedy Lamarr threatened to sue, saying the film's running "Hedley Lamarr" joke infringed her right to publicity. This is lampooned when Hedley corrects Governor Le Petomane's pronunciation of his name, and Le Petomane replies with "What the hell are you worried about? This is 1874, you'll be able to sue her!". Brooks says he and the actress settled out of court for a small sum.
What a wonderful story. I know her from the adaptation of John Steinbeck's TORTILLA FLAT. I believe both Spencer Tracy and John Garfield are in that film. Story goes she signed on for the pic believing that being in a film based on a "literary" novel would boost her career. It didn't, and she was not happy about that either.
Not Hedy, it's Hedley.
ReplyDeleteOops, not this time.
Sorry.
Oh darn--Dana beat me to the "Blazing Saddles" reference!
ReplyDeleteBTW, she did sue Mel Brooks and it was settled out of court.
Wow. This is all new to me!
ReplyDeleteAnd a very smart inventor she was.
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to read that book. Thanks for the nudge.
ReplyDeleteYou all beat me to the "That's Hedley!" line.
ReplyDeleteIn an interview included in the DVD release of Blazing Saddles, Brooks claimed that Hedy Lamarr threatened to sue, saying the film's running "Hedley Lamarr" joke infringed her right to publicity. This is lampooned when Hedley corrects Governor Le Petomane's pronunciation of his name, and Le Petomane replies with "What the hell are you worried about? This is 1874, you'll be able to sue her!". Brooks says he and the actress settled out of court for a small sum.
Jeff M.
What a wonderful story. I know her from the adaptation of John Steinbeck's TORTILLA FLAT. I believe both Spencer Tracy and John Garfield are in that film. Story goes she signed on for the pic believing that being in a film based on a "literary" novel would boost her career. It didn't, and she was not happy about that either.
ReplyDelete