Which is not to say that this is a movie completely without laughs. And the staking scene has been rightfully cited as one of Brooks' all-time funniest. But it's just not enough. Even a hilarious scene won't pull down the reaction it should if it's preceded by one that drags on without a payoff. The timing is all off.
Scenes wander without direction.
Characters such as Anne Bancroft's gypsy are given funny voices, but nothing funny to say with them. Brooks seems to have printed the first take and left bad enough alone.