Butler: But your first husband dissappered too, didn't he.
Mrs. White: That was his job. He was an illusionist.
Butler: But he never reappeared.
Mrs. White: He wasn't a very good illusionist.
For many her Acadamy Award nominated role in Blazing Saddles as Lily Von Schtup was the highlight. Here she feedbast Brautwurst to Cleavon Little.
But my very favorite Madeline Kahn was from a small movie that was HORRIBLE in a great, train wreck kind of way.
Madeline Kahn played Kitty O'Kelly in "At Long Last Love". It was a Peter Bogdonivitch experiment. Madeline Kahn, Cybil Shepard, Burt Renoylds and some Spanish Chap played 4 lovers who switched partners to make each other jealous, and then went back to their original lovers - only to realize they loved the pretend partners more.
But the movie plot (such as it was) wasn't the idea. The whole movie was filmed as a musical with songs sung live during the filming. It was a 1930's throwback idea that so didn't work. Cybil Shepard and Burt Renoylds cannot carry a tune in a wheel barrow. But Ms. Kahn. She was the only bright spot in that show.
She not only was funny, stole the show, look prettier than either Cybil Shepard or Burt Renoylds (at the height of his Cosmo fame), she actually could sing and act. She was genuinely touching. Of course, you have to sit through some pretty terrible singing to see her, but if you get a chance, it is so worth it.
So, here's to Madeline Kahn. She died too young of Ovarian Cancer, but she lived a bright and beautiful life. Hat's off.
As a Graduate from Hofstra University.
