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The Producers is the film version of the Mel Brooks Broadway musical that won 11 Tony Awards, which was the musical version of the 1968 film that won Brooks his only Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (everybody got that?).
The story is about a washed-up Broadway producer (Nathan Lane, recreating his Tony-winning Broadway role) and a nebbish accountant (Matthew Broderick) who conspire to produce a flop Broadway show, oversell percentages in the show and then leave the country with the money. Brooks wisely allowed director/choreographer Susan Stroman (who also directed and choreographed the Broadway show) to take the helm here because Stroman has a keen eye for musical comedy and knows exactly what a musical comedy should look like. She knows exactly what audiences expect from a movie musical and she delivers.
With solid assistance from Mel Brooks' superb screenplay, music, and lyrics, Stroman has mounted this film with great care and attention to detail, expanding it nicely for the screen and makes wonderful use of NYC locations for the production.
Nathan Lane's bigger than life stage presence translates to the screen beautifully here with the performance of his career as Max Bialystock. His solo number in a jail cell called "Betrayed" where he practically re-enacts everything that happens in the movie, is just brilliant. Matthew Broderick practically channels Gene Wilder in his recreation of Leo Bloom. His paranoid, pantaphobic Leo is a joy to watch, especially when he has his security blanket taken away from him. His fantasy production number "I Want to be a Producer" is a throwback to musicals of the 1930's and is a delight.
There is also a brilliant production number called "Along Came Biayli" with Lane leading a chorus of little old ladies who do a tap dance with walkers that is inspired, purely Stroman's brainchild. Will Ferrell steals every scene he is in as Franz Leibkind, the author of SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER and Gary Beach and Roger Bart hilariously recreate their Broadway roles as the very gay director of the show and his lover/assistant. Their number "Make it Gay" is also hysterically funny. Uma Thurman makes a lovely Ulla (though her singing appeared to be dubbed). I couldn't help but imagine Nicole Kidman in this role, who was originally cast in the role. Her duet with Broderick "Her Face" was a lovely nod to Astaire and Rogers though.
The actual production of SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER was a musical comedy classic (just as it was in the original film)...hilariously staged and performed, the likes of which will never be seen again.
Even though Susan Stroman directed this film, Brooks' hand is definitely all over this film. There is a poster for a show in Max's office called "The Breaking Wind." At the end of Lane and Broderick's duet "Till Him", Lane walks up to Broderick and you expect him to thank him for his friendship, but instead he says "You're a really good singer." Even the shots of the audience watching SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER were hilarious. If you like stage musicals, movie musicals, or Mel Brooks, this film is an absolute must and I can't wait for it come out on DVD. I know it's going to become one of those films I can watch over and over again.
The Producers is the film version of the Mel Brooks Broadway musical that won 11 Tony Awards, which was the musical version of the 1968 film that won Brooks his only Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (everybody got that?).
The story is about a washed-up Broadway producer (Nathan Lane, recreating his Tony-winning Broadway role) and a nebbish accountant (Matthew Broderick) who conspire to produce a flop Broadway show, oversell percentages in the show and then leave the country with the money. Brooks wisely allowed director/choreographer Susan Stroman (who also directed and choreographed the Broadway show) to take the helm here because Stroman has a keen eye for musical comedy and knows exactly what a musical comedy should look like. She knows exactly what audiences expect from a movie musical and she delivers.
With solid assistance from Mel Brooks' superb screenplay, music, and lyrics, Stroman has mounted this film with great care and attention to detail, expanding it nicely for the screen and makes wonderful use of NYC locations for the production.
Nathan Lane's bigger than life stage presence translates to the screen beautifully here with the performance of his career as Max Bialystock. His solo number in a jail cell called "Betrayed" where he practically re-enacts everything that happens in the movie, is just brilliant. Matthew Broderick practically channels Gene Wilder in his recreation of Leo Bloom. His paranoid, pantaphobic Leo is a joy to watch, especially when he has his security blanket taken away from him. His fantasy production number "I Want to be a Producer" is a throwback to musicals of the 1930's and is a delight.
There is also a brilliant production number called "Along Came Biayli" with Lane leading a chorus of little old ladies who do a tap dance with walkers that is inspired, purely Stroman's brainchild. Will Ferrell steals every scene he is in as Franz Leibkind, the author of SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER and Gary Beach and Roger Bart hilariously recreate their Broadway roles as the very gay director of the show and his lover/assistant. Their number "Make it Gay" is also hysterically funny. Uma Thurman makes a lovely Ulla (though her singing appeared to be dubbed). I couldn't help but imagine Nicole Kidman in this role, who was originally cast in the role. Her duet with Broderick "Her Face" was a lovely nod to Astaire and Rogers though.
The actual production of SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER was a musical comedy classic (just as it was in the original film)...hilariously staged and performed, the likes of which will never be seen again.
Even though Susan Stroman directed this film, Brooks' hand is definitely all over this film. There is a poster for a show in Max's office called "The Breaking Wind." At the end of Lane and Broderick's duet "Till Him", Lane walks up to Broderick and you expect him to thank him for his friendship, but instead he says "You're a really good singer." Even the shots of the audience watching SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER were hilarious. If you like stage musicals, movie musicals, or Mel Brooks, this film is an absolute must and I can't wait for it come out on DVD. I know it's going to become one of those films I can watch over and over again.