Review of The Producers (1968) by Paul N — 12 Jan 2009
Here's the thing with me and Mel Brooks films: I generally find them funny, yet I always seem to expect them to be funnier than they are. So, I watch them, laugh quite a bit and, yet, leave them with a strange lack of satisfaction.
It's very strange. So, it came as no surprise to me when I watched this, Mel's universally acclaimed directorial debut, and went through pretty much the same motion. (It probably didn't help that I saw the 2005 movie musical version beforehand, and kept mentally referring everything back to the excellent Lane & Broderick.
) There's some terrific gear here though: the leads are fantastic, Kenneth Mars is awesome, Lee Meredith is a massively fetching knockout as Ulla and the film works as a beautiful satire of Broadway excesses.
Actually, despite the odd empty feeling I left with, I'm convinced that was just the weight of my expectations and this is actually the very good film everyone says it is, and I can see it holding up to repeated viewings much more than most Brooks films.
This review of The Producers (1968) was written by Paul N on 12 Jan 2009.
The Producers has generally received very positive reviews.
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