Rating: Summary: A must see for Mel Brook's fans Review: I regret to say that I never had the opportunity to see the Broadway production of "The Producers". I do remember seeing Brook's film during it's original film release while I was in high school. Many years ago I paid an inflated price at a retail outlet for a VHS copy of the film. However, if I now divide the price by the number of times watched, it's doggone cheap! Truly, this film gets better with repeated viewing. I've not liked all of Mel Brook's films; but, I believe this first one is one of his finest.Mr. Brook's fingerprint is on each of his films. It is easily recognized by any Mel Brooks fan. Zero Mostel as the crooked producer, Gene Wilder, as the (former) scrupulously honest accountant and Kenneth Mars as the WWII German author of "Springtime for Hitler" are wonderful.I recommend that you give it a look.
Rating: Summary: Rolling on the floor Review: You can read other peoples reviews for the plot. I first saw it by accident and thought it was mildly funny, but slow. When the first scene from the final play came on, I almost peed myself. I litterally fell off the couch laughing so hard. I consider that scene one of the Funniest scenes in movie history. You gotta see it just for that scene.
Rating: Summary: utterly hilarious!!! Review: Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder shine in Mel Brooks' production of The Producers. Mostel plays a has-been Broadway producer so washed up and broke he wears a cardboard belt as he romances little old ladies so they invest in his plays. Wilder is his accountant whom he convinces to become a partner. They figure if they get enough investors to invest MORE money than they need and then purposely produce a flop, they keep all the extra without having to pay any profits. The play they choose is SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER. With a title like that, how could they possibly NOT fail???? The writing is dynamic with zingers like "He who hesitates is poor!" There is great physical comedy bordering on the slapstick. Particularly jarring is the musical number where the actors dress up as the Nazi party and start singing and dancing. It is horrifying bad taste being passed off as an actual musical, and the producers are sure that's all they need to be shut down forever, thus making off with all the money. Yeah, we'll see about that! You have to watch this film to see what happens to these two. I can see why it became such a great hit on Broadway!!!
Rating: Summary: Best Mel Brooks ever! Review: This better then Young Frankenstien. A nervous bean counter and a has-beem director so they pick a script that will be a sure flop. This movie has a wonderful cast of zany players, from the crazy director to the Hitler Hippie. If you don't know what i'm talking about maybe you have been living under a rock for 20 years and if that is the case get this movie!!
Rating: Summary: The funniest film of the 20th Century Review: This film has lost none of its charm since it was made over a quarter of a century ago. This remains Mel Brooks' funniest and finest film. It is about two Broadway producers who borrow money heavily in order to finance a Broadway show that will flop. The idea is that if they borrow more than they spend, then they get to keep the rest of the money and make a fortune. The hoped for flop is a musical based on the life of Hitler, called 'Springtime for Hitler.' It all goes hilariously wrong when the musical becomes an unintentional success. The performances are spot-on. Zero Mostel barnstorms his way through every scene and Gene Wilder was never better as the nervous accountant-turned-producer who falls foul of Mostel's greedy ambitions. Kenneth Mars' performance as the deranged ex-Nazi burns itself into your brain and has you in hysterics whenever he is on screen. Brooks keeps the pace frantic but firm, neither letting it drag nor allowing it to go too over the top. The performances are manic but the actors never ham it up for the camera. Even the sheer bad taste of the musical sequence of 'Springtime for Hitler' is handled with skill, and you will never find a funnier scene in cinema. This film is a comic masterpiece. Watching this, you will be laughing along with it scene by scene until the very end, and afterwards you will be humming the theme tune to 'Springtime for Hitler.'
Rating: Summary: 34 years old...and still hilarious ! Review: Many other films that are this old would have been long forgotten and dated antiques that no-one would ever see. 'The Producers' however is special. This is a film that has been shown on TV ad-infinitum and is still funny after all this time. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder play the producers who try to create a flop musical because they reckon it will make them more money.Ya see,Zero has been 'wooing' several geriatric millionairess and getting them to part with their money for a stake in the new musical.However the percentage stake of the old ladies adds up to more than 100% so the producers decide that if they were to make a flop that no-one would see, they could keep all of the investors' money ...Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are hilarious. There are many fine minor characters also who are superlative. The best part is that 'The Producers' has just become a hit Broadway play and should wow audiences for many years to come. If you are reading this and have never seen this film, you are missing out on one of the funniest movies of all time !
Rating: Summary: I liked this one--funny! Review: How could it not be funny, with both Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder in it!?
The story line is about a washed up Broadway producer (Zero Mostel) who is persuaded by an airhead accountant (Gene Wilder) that he can make more money by staging a flop than with a winner, by subscribing more shares to his geriatric little-old-lady angels than the play could pay if it were a smash hit. Unfortunately, their guaranteed "flop," "Springtime for Hitler," well--you have probably guessed it... This one is pure entertainment...
Rating: Summary: Underwhelming and not very funny at all. Review: I was so disappointed in this movie! I must be the only person alive who doesn't think this is a gut-clenching comedy. I've been hearing about it for years, and know that the Broadway version is a big hit. I think I chuckled a few times while watching this, but overall I don't think it is worthy of all of the top ratings it has earned. Yes, the premise is funny. I don't have a problem with off-color humor (I loved "Blazing Saddles") so that wasn't the issue. The concept and general story idea is hilarious. It just wasn't that amusing. Oh well!
Rating: Summary: Mel Brooks', "The Producers" Review: This is arguably the best comedy ever made. Zero Mostel is a comic genius and it is evident from the opening credits. As Zero's alter ego, Max Bialystock, a Broadway producer who has fallen on hard times and in order to live, cons elderly women, in a truly charming and hysterical manner, into supporting him. At the same time, he fulfills some of their fantasies and there is a certain value these women recieve for their investment. It is all clean and quite funny and side-splittingly funny. A young Gene Wilder is priceless as the naive milquetoast, accountant Leo Bloom, who is brought out of his shell by Zero Mostel's charachter. Upon encountering an accounting error, Bloom informs Bialystock that a producer could make more money from a flop than a hit. The two begin a journey of non-stop hilarity in their pursuit of, as Max puts it, "wine, women and song -- and women!" The cast is brilliant. Estelle Winwood as one of Max's investors is absolutely priceless. Lee Meredith is absolutely sensual, yet very funny, as the partners new receptionist. Christopher Hewitt and Andreas Voutsinas, respectively, as director, Roger and his assistant, Carmengia will provide side-splitting laughs. Kenneth Mars' charachter as the author of the play, "Springtime for Hitler; A Gay Romp of Adolph and Eva in Berchtesgaden," Bialystock and Bloom produce on Broadway is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Dick Shawn as flower child, L.S.D. is wonderful. We also see a young William Hickey in a small role as a good-natured inebriate celebrating with Max and Leo. I cannot recommend this film enough to you. There is a reason this is now the hottest play on Broadway -- it's absolutely wonderful; the laughs are non-stop and just when you think the film has reached a comic zenith, you will become pleasantly surprised. On behalf of any fan of this film, I'd like to thank Mel Brooks for sharing his gift.
Rating: Summary: When You've Got It, Baby, Flaunt It, Flaunt It !! Review: Mel Brooks hits a home run his first time up with this outrageous comic farce. The timing and pace, always critical in a comedy, is spot on. The cast of odd-balls, headed by Zero Mostel at the top of his game, plays it straight (well, except for Karman Ghia!) which makes the gags even funnier. Watching Gene Wilder's character (Leo Bloom) evolve from a shy, neurotic accoutant to outrageous Broadway Producer is also great fun. The jokes come at you so fast that you have to actually pay close attention or you'll miss the best parts. This is especially true of the visuals. These are classic Brooks sight gags that usually come from Mel's naughty sense of humor - watch for the camera panning back from Max's broken hand in a plaster cast during the court room scene with crying old ladies in the background. To die for. The Producers is the entire Brooks joke book in a nutshell....Maybe this is not the best movie for really young kids because of the underlying theme - Max having sex with older, shall we say mature, women for money - but it's played with so much energy and good humor that most teenagers should be able to handle it. If you liked the movie, you'll love the Broadway play - can't get to NYC, buy the Original Cast CD - Mel wrote every song and may follow it up with a movie musical!
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