Stars: Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, Estelle Winwood

Director: Mel Brooks

Summary: What do a down-and-out Broadway producer, his anxiety-attack-prone accountant, a go-go dancing Swedish secretary, and a Nazi playwright have in common.

What do a down-and-out Broadway producer, his anxiety-attack-prone accountant, a go-go dancing Swedish secretary, and a Nazi playwright have in common? They're all part of Mel Brooks's wild and wacky first film, THE PRODUCERS. In this hysterical farce, rapacious but lovable producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) hasn't had a hit in years and resorts to fulfilling sexually crazed little old ladies' fantasies for extra cash. But when he meets his new meek, neurotic accountant, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), the two accidentally come up with a plot to oversell shares in a sure-fire flop musical and make off with the profits. The plan sends the new partners-in-crime on a search for the worst play ever: SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER, written by an ex-Nazi (Kenneth Mars) whose only friends are the filthy city pigeons he keeps on his roof.


Inspired, manic performances by all involved, along with Brooks's lively direction--which affectionately alludes to such MGM Golden Age musicals as SINGIN' IN THE RAIN--make THE PRODUCERS both referential and highly original as it moves along swiftly to the ultimate musical climax.

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Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on May 23, 2006 8:05 PM

An early Mel Brooks classic and regarded by many as one of his best . Max Bialystock ( Zero Mostel ) , one - time King of Broadway and Leo Bloom ( Gene Wilder ) , a neurotic accountant plan to produce the biggest theatrical flop of all time - Springtime for Hitler , a gay romp about Adolf and Eva - and still make a fortune . This is hilariously funny and much better than the remake .

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The film-of-the-musical-of-the-film, The Producersunites the hit Broadway pairing of Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, drafts in Uma Thurman, and somewhere along the way loses half the fun that made the original movie and the Broadway show such a success.

Under the watchful eye of creator Mel Brooks, this may be a musical version but it tells the same tale--two men stumble across a great way to make money, by putting on a Broadway flop. So off they go to devise the most offensive, sure-fire failure, only to see their creation--Springtime For Hitler--become the town's hot ticket.

While there's undoubtedly some fun to be had here, and Lane and Broderick are clearly have a great time in their roles, there are a couple of key problems with The Producers. Firstly, and most crucially, is the staid direction. This very much feels like a camera was placed in front of a stage, and it hurts the film a lot. Secondly, the wonderful energy of Mel Brooks' original movie is sadly lacking, and at no time does this no version threaten to be an equal to its predecessor.

And yet there are winning moments, some good laughs, and a gentle couple of hours of entertainment. Yet the key attraction is clearly a chance for the majority who never got to see Lane and Broderick treading the boards in their acclaimed performances before, and for many, that rightly justifies the asking price. You just can't help wishing the film around them was a little better, though.--Simon Brew

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1968
Release Date:	October 25, 2004
Runtime:	84 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	M P 271 D
Keywords:	Special, Comedy, Two, General, Edition, Producers, Discs
Genre:	Comedy