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For those secluded from classic comedy, this is one of the all time greats (up there with A Day At The Races and Withnail & I), but under recognised due to Mel Brooks’ career, which is patchier than a balding man’s scalp. This was Brooks’ first gig outside television show ... Read review
Down on his luck Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his high-strung ... more
accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) discover that, with the help of a few gullible investors, they can make more money on a flop than on a hit!Armed with the worst show ...
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
Advantages: Another classy Mel Brooks comedy Disadvantages: Not for the easily offended
...can do to not transcribe the entire script as my op, as this really does speak for itself. Well, not completely, hence me writing this. ANYWAY.
For those secluded from classic comedy, this is one of the all time greats (up there with A Day At The Races and Withnail & I), but under recognised due to Mel Brooks’ career, which is patchier than a balding man’s scalp. This was Brooks’ first gig outside television show ... ...with octogenarian women for cash. The self-prostitution seems to be taking its toll on his sanity, however, and the last thing he needs is a visit from timid accountant Leo Bloom (the not-so-great any more Gene Wilder). Especially as Leo catches him in the act with a granny (‘Just say “oops!” and get out!’). Leo is there to do the books, during which he discovers a discrepancy on one of Max’s old shows. He brings up ... more
Just one of many classic lines from this movie (which will mean nothing to those who haven’t seen it) – it’s all I can do to not transcribe the entire script as my op, as this really does speak for itself. Well, not completely, hence me writing this. ANYWAY.
For those secluded from classic comedy, this is one of the all time greats (up there with A Day At The Races and Withnail & I), but under recognised due to Mel Brooks’ career, which is patchier than a balding man’s scalp. This was Brooks’ first gig outside television show scripting, and for a 33 year old film (made in 1968, year fans!) it hasn’t weathered a jot.
***THE PLOT*** Destitute Broadway show producer Max Bialystock (the late, great Zero Mostel) has been reduced to sleeping with octogenarian women for cash. The self-prostitution seems to be taking its toll on his sanity, however, and the last thing he needs is a visit from timid accountant Leo Bloom (the not-so-great any more Gene Wilder). Especially as Leo catches him in the act with a granny (‘Just say “oops!” and get out!’). Leo is there to do the books, during which he discovers a discrepancy on one of Max’s old shows. He brings up an interesting point – you could put a play on Broadway to deliberately flop, and keep the investor’s money. Max ropes in Leo to assist him in finding a 100% flop, so he can reclaim his former glory and cut Leo in on the cash. They find a dream (or nightmare) play, written by Franz Leibkin (Kenneth Mars, using the same accent as he did in Brooks’ Young Frankenstein). It is called Springtime For Hitler (‘Not many people know this, but ze Fuhrer vas an excellent dancer’). Stage one complete. They must then find an awful director, finding ultra-camp Roger Debris played by Christopher Hewett (‘I never realised the Third Reich meant Germany!’). Most important of all, they require a useless Hitler. This part is filled by LSD (Dick Shawn), the biggest hippy in Hippydom, who wears a tin of Campbell’s soup around his neck who is just one of a parade of ludicrous Hitler wannabes. With all the key players in place, the stage is set (ha!) for an unmitigated disaster. But the best laid plans of Jews and men rarely go as planned… ******
Mel Brooks lost it after High Anxiety, in my mind, so everything before is pure gold. If you’ve ever seen Blazing Saddles, you’ll be just as taken with this. There’s unnecessary shouting, Gene Wilder’s laid back approach to punchlines (he carries a far more hysterical character off here to eye-watering hilarity) and some of the best supporting players ever. My #1 favourite is Roger’s “private secretary”, Carmen Gia (Andreas Vontsina), who is an over tanned, curly bearded camp delight (‘White, white, white is the colour of our carpet!’). The musical numbers are a sight for sore ears, with LSD introducing his skills via the song Love Power, and the Springtime For Hitler main theme (‘I was born in Dusseldorf and that is why they call me Rolf!’) being the highlights. The production is also very good for a director’s first foray into feature film, with rousing orchestral soundtrack and comedic 60’s tracks. Thankfully, this never drifts into crappy Carry Style music, no “wa wa waaaa!” noises or “awoooga!” whenever someone bends over here!
Another stand out point is the amount of references to classical literature, a precursor to the self-referencing comedies around at the moment maybe? This makes for a more highbrow effort than the usual bad taste comedies, and only rated a PG for a couple of questionable rape jokes. And the obvious references to shagging grannies. No swearing either, which is refreshing in our sweary-mouthed society, proving that you don’t need to tell people you just f**ked someone’s c*** to be a sh*t of a good writer. Tw*t.
Zero Mostel, who I admittedly have not seen in any other films, seems born into this role. His Hitchcock-alike features bend and stretch into more positions than Geri Halliwell, and look a lot better too. Gene Wilder is neurotic to the nth degree, desperate for his comforting blue blanket, and more nervous than a mouse during a cheese drought. He does, at times, look like he doesn’t know where he is, but that’s the basis of his act in most of his flicks. He is totally upstaged by Mostel, though, and even by the excellent Nazi author playing (‘You will please be unconscious’). The most pant-wetting player is Dick Shawn as LSD. Imagine Hitler played by Jim Morrison on one of his worse days, and you’re about halfway there. ‘I liebe ya baby, I liebe ya!’ he insists to the helium-voiced Eva in the debut of the production, ‘Now liebe me alone.’
There is so much to enjoy here, Max taking Leo out on the “town”, Max seducing old ladies, Franz’s defence of Hitler versus Churchill, the Hitler auditions (‘Will all the dancing Hitlers please wait in the wings!’), and the first glimpse of LSD as he tries to remember his name. And the little toy Max buys himself from the pre-show profits… Also keep an ear out for the chauffeur’s name as the two scoundrels arrive, for a nice in-joke.
I must stop before I quote the entire film verbatim. There is nothing better than a good comedy on a dreary (insert your least favourite weekday here) evening, and as far as comedies go, this is almost flawless. Available on budget video at the moment (around £5.99), this is definitely one for the birthday or xmas list, or just as visual prozac, and running at a thrifty 84 minutes.
Perhaps the best testament to the lasting appeal of this feature is its (so ironic) translation into a *real* musical, starring Nathan Lane – the only man who could claim Zero Mostel’s place as the desperate Bialystock. You’ve never lived until you’ve seen a room full of singing Hitlers, including some in naught but swimming trunks, and even a Mexican Hitler. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?
Advantages: Mel Brook on top form Disadvantages: Availability
...to write anything more because the other two guys have wonderful taste and are more than capable of telling you just how good this film is.
But according to IMBD there’s going to be another film in 2005 called The Producers starring some of today’s rising young stars. This is sacrilege. Can you imagine anyone better than Gene Wilder? Can you imagine a young hunky muscled Adonis playing opposite Richard Prior? They’re playing with history.
But why ... ...remake it? Just re-release the original on DVD with deleted scenes, a nice feature documentary of the making and interview with Mel Brooks and sell it at an inflated cost as a special edition and you can scrape a few extra dollars out of this wonderful flick. So anyway I’ve had my rant and I want you to see this film. So I will conform to the normal confines of a review and try not to bully you all the way to the Video shop.
Perfect performances ...
melonballer 18.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Producers (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: One of the funniest film's i've ever seen! Disadvantages: none
...works, this has to be the most popular, or probably ought to be. The film tells the story of a failing Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, and his accountant Leo Bloom, who set about producing the biggest theatrical flop in history, so that they can raise an excessive amount of cash for the production, and keep the remainder when it closes (on opening night, they hope). Bialystock raises the money from "little old ladies" in exchange for sexual favours ... ...To ensure that the production is a complete disaster, they look for the worst play ever written, which they find in "Springtime for Hitler : A gay romp with Adolph and Eva". They secure performance rights from the author, a Nazi bird-keeper who still wears his tin helmet, and must then seek a director who could turn this disaster of a play into a disaster of a show. The wonderfully camp Roger de Bris (who appears in a ball gown) is chosen and all ...
tbreeze 15.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Producers (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: Hilarious - Mel Brooks at his best Disadvantages: none
...say funny? perhaps hilarious is the word.
The story is of a corrupt theatre impressario (Zero Mostel) and his bent accountant (Gene Wilder) who plan to make a killing on Broadway. Not by putting on a hit, but by overselling shares in a lousy production - a sure-fire-flop, and, when the show folds after the first night, pocketing the loot and making for "Rio-by-the-Sea-o".
But where to get a flop?
They find the worst (cross-dressing) director they ... ...so "Springtime for Hilter" - the musical - is born. Of course, our hapless duo don't realise that the show is bound to be a hit with the American audience, and to they end up in prison doing the same at the prison concert.
The film is full of memorable one-liners. The classic must be Mostel's offering...
"I picked the wrong theatre, the wrong director, the wrong musical.... where the hell did I go right???"
I wholeheartedly recommend the film. ...
JohnG 01.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Producers (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: Zero Mostel Disadvantages: You will be singing some of the songs in the street
Simply the best Mel brooks film ever the rest of his moves pale into insignificance compared to this one.
Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) is a broadway producer, who was once at the top of his trade. Now he makes second rate musicals funded by rich and amoros old ladies. His accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) discovers certain irregularities in Max's accounts, Max instructs him to hide them. From this Leo forms the idea that you can make more money ... ...the backers will never be paid if it flops. The only problem being that if they have a success then they will go straight to Jail as it would be impossible to pay off the backers. Leo is reluctantley persuaided to go along with Max's plan and the search is on for a sure fire flop, which the find in a play entiled "Springtime for Hitler" which was written by and Ex-German Soldier. In order to ensure that it is a flop they enlist the assistance of ...
Champ666 21.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Producers (Special Edition) (DVD)
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Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
MOMENTUM PICTURES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date
25/10/2004
No of Discs
2
Catalogue No
MP 271 D
Barcode
5060049140711
Languages
Main Language
English
Award information
OSCAR
Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen 1969 (Mel Brooks)
DVD Description
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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