theladyeve:

Blazing Saddles (1974) 

I asked Madeline to come in and read for the part. I said, “Show me your legs.” She said, “What the hell is this, a 1930’s Broadway musical? Who are you, Warner Baxter in 42nd Street?” I said, “You gotta have the legs, because if you’re gonna play Marlene Dietrich, you’ve gotta straddle a chair.” She said, “You’re not gonna touch them?” And I never did. She had the most gorgeous legs ever. And nobody else could sing “I’m Tired” with that slightly off-key Sprechstimme style.

-Mel Brooks

(Source: trixiedelight, via adefaultsmile)