Review of The Producers (1968) by Jay B — 01 Feb 2009

There's an interesting bit of movie history associated with The Producers. Peter Sellars was interested in playing Leo Bloom, the Gene Wilder role. Mel Brooks was also expressed interest in casting him, but it didn't come to pass. The movie didn't do well in its first release, and Sellars happened to catch a private screening of it as it was dying at the box office. Tne next day, he took out two full page newspaper ads at his own expense, proclaiming it one of the greatest comedies he had ever seen. It revived the flagging box office receipts a bit, and perhaps helped propel it to cult status.

And it is one of the the greatest comedies put on film. It is a textbook definition of farce, and so expertly written and acted, it should be required viewing for all students of theater, film or literature. There is not a misstep in any performance. I could single out Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Christoper Hewett, Dick Shawn. But I'd also have to mention the brilliant little throw away bits performed by Barney Frank, Ren�©e Tayor, Estelle Winwood or Madlyn Cates ("I ain't a madame! I'm the con-see-urge!").

The movie work brilliantly for the first two acts, but loses its way in act 3. After the giddy and tasteless show within a show number, "Springtime for Hitler," Mel Brooks has no where to go. There's a lame plot involving dynamite and a trial to tie up loose ends, but it feels rushed and tacked on.

Brooks solved the act 3 problem in the recent Broadway musical version, which was actually pretty good. The movie version of the musical, however, loses everything that made the first movie and the stage version worth seeing.