Watch The Producers

The Producers is a 1967 comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Dick Shawn. The movie tells the story of Max Bialystock (Mostel), a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer who teams up with accountant Leo Bloom (Wilder) to create a guaranteed flop of a show called "Springtime for Hitler." The plan is to raise more money than the production costs, then take the extra cash and flee to Brazil. However, things don't go as planned when the show becomes an unexpected hit.

The movie opens with Max Bialystock, a once-successful Broadway producer whose latest production closed on opening night, meeting Leo Bloom, a mild-mannered accountant. Max discovers that it is possible to make more money with a flop than with a hit, as investors only want a percentage of the gross, not the profit. Max convinces Leo to join him in producing the worst play ever written, and they set out to find the worst script, the worst director, the worst actors, and the worst composer for the show.

After looking at several scripts, they settle on one that is a love letter to Adolf Hitler, written by a delusional Nazi playwright named Franz Liebkind (played by Kenneth Mars). The duo hires Roger De Bris (played by Christopher Hewett), a flamboyant director, and his assistant Carmen Ghia (played by Andreas Voutsinas), to direct the show. They also cast Lorenzo St. DuBois (played by Dick Shawn), a dim-witted actor who goes by the stage name L.S.D. as their lead.

As the show takes shape, Max and Leo start to see it as a train wreck waiting to happen. However, when the audience witnesses the opening number, "Springtime for Hitler," they initially gasp in shock, but then erupt into laughter, thinking it's a satire. The audience finds the play hilarious, and it becomes a surprise hit. Max and Leo's plan backfires spectacularly, and they suddenly find themselves with a hit show on their hands. The rest of the movie explores how they scramble to conceal the fraud that they had committed and how they end up getting caught in the end.

The Producers is a classic comedy that delivers laughs at every turn. The movie is full of absurd and outrageous moments that keep the audience engaged throughout the film. The performances of the lead actors, Zero Mostel as Max and Gene Wilder as Leo, are outstanding. They share fantastic chemistry together and deliver comedy and pathos in equal measures. The supporting cast, including Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, and Andreas Voutsinas, are all hilarious, and they contribute to the movie's overall sense of fun.

One of the movie's most remarkable aspects is the sharpness of the satire. Brooks's decision to tackle the sensitive subject matter of Nazi Germany in a comedic manner was a risk, and it paid off. The movie's message is clear: art, entertainment, and commerce mix in dangerous ways. The Producers critiques the commercialization of the arts and how it can lead to the exploitation of tragedy for personal gain. The movie also shows how easy it is to manipulate people with a catchy tune, flashy production values, or eye-catching costumes.

The Producers was Mel Brooks's directorial debut, and it marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career. Brooks's unique directorial style is evident in the movie's pacing, visuals, and editing, which all work together to create a seamless and entertaining experience. The movie's production design, costumes, and music are also top-notch, creating a period piece that is a time capsule of the 1960s.

In conclusion, The Producers is a must-watch comedy that has stood the test of time. Its excellent cast, brilliant script, and memorable music make it a classic that continues to entertain audiences to this day. The movie is a testament to Mel Brooks's creativity and wit and an excellent example of how comedy can be used to address sensitive issues.

The Producers is a 1968 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 96.