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

The Producers 2005

"I want everything I've ever seen in the movies!"

Ok, see if you can keep up...this film is based on a play which is based on a movie (The original Producers) which is based on a play...confused yet? Unlike the 1968 film, this version of the Producers is a musical. Max Bialystock (Lane) is a Broadway Producer. He used to be a god, but his recent plays have turned out to be flops (which we learn in the opening number of the film). In order to continue his career he begins "seeing/dating" little old ladies with lots of cash...these women become his financial backers. After his most recent play "Funny Boy" (a Hamlet story) flops, his accounting firm sends neurotic Leo Bloom (Broderick) to check his books. While there Leo makes the discovery that it is possible for one to make more money with a flop than with a hit (because with a flop you don't need to pay the backers), but you have to raise extra cash. Together they decide to raise 2 million dollars (from the little old ladies), find the worst play, director and lead and make a flop. For the play they find "Springtime for Hitler" written by Nazi Franz Liebkind (Ferrell): who wears an army helmet, talks with a thick German accent, and loves his birds (he has a large number of carrier pigeons). They hire gay director Roger DeBris (Gary Beach) and his assistant/lover Carmen (Roger Bart) to destory the play: "that second act has to go...they're losing the war". Then they cast Swedish actress Ulla (Thurman) along with making her their secretary (even though her English is lacking), and convince Franz that he must play the lead. On opening night Leo is in love with Ulla, Franz has a broken leg, and Roger takes the stage to play Hitler as a straight man (yes, he fails miserably).

Personally I prefer the original, but there are aspects of this film I like as well. Will Ferrell is excellent as Franz: his accent is good and you really believe he's crazy: "Stand still! How can I shoot you if you keep moving! ". In general this version has a lot more sexual humor (and underlying themes) which I think take away from the mastery of this film. Also, even though I love musicals, I do not like this one...perhaps on stage it works, but the film doesn't work as a musical. Overall I would give it a B-/C+ because it is entertaining but the original is better!

The Producers (2005) 134 minutes
Director: Susan Stroman
Starring: Nathan Lane as Max
Mathew Broderick as Leo
Uma Thurman as Ulla
Will Ferrell as Franz