The Producers 1968

"How could this happen? I was so careful. I picked the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did I go right?"

This is the first film directed by Mel Brooks...the rest of his films reference this film, or something about the Nazi party/Germany. Basic plot summary: Max Bialystock (Mostel) and Leo Bloom (Wilder) team up to produce a Broadway flop. They get the play "Springtime for Hitler", which shows the softer side of Hitler: the synopsis says "a gay romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden". The play is written by the crazy Nazi Franz Liebkind (Mars), "I am the author. You are the audience. I outrank you!". To direct the play they get the worst director: the very gay Roger De Bris (Christopher Hewett):

Roger "Ah, Bialystock and Bloom, I presume! Heh heh, forgive the pun!"

Leo [to Max] "What pun?"

Max [to Leo] "Shut up, he thinks he's witty. "

When we meet Roger he is modeling his costume for the Coreographers Ball. He is going as the Grand Duchess Anastasia (thus wearing a dress, and eventually a wig). To star in their play they find the druggie L.S.D. (the incredibly funny Dick Shawn):

Goebbels: Danke schön, mein Führer

LSD: Hey, you're a German.

Goebbels: We're all Germans.

LSD: That's right. [gasps] That means we CANNOT invade Germany.

And to complete this crazy ensemble are Hold Me, Touch Me and Ulla. Ulla (Lee Meredith) their sexy, Swedish secretary: "Max, have you gone mad? A receptionist who can't speak English? What will people say?". Hold Me, Touch Me (Estelle Winwood) is one of Max's financiers (she's a rich, little old lady): "And after that, we'll play, "The Abduction and the Cruel Rape of Lucretia", and I'll be Lucretia."
Max: "And I'll be Rape!"

Since this is a Mel Brooks film you can expect some funny dialogue and crazy situations, and that's what makes this a must see film!

Rent it multiple times: the first time it's hard to process...the second time it's funny
Dude, it's quotable: is there a Mel Brooks movie that isn't funny??

The Producers (1968) 88 minutes
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Zero Mostel as Max
Gene Wilder as Leo
Kenneth Mars as Franz