The Producers (2005)

Director:

Susan Stroman

Writers (WGA):

Mel Brooks (screenplay) and
Thomas Meehan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

After putting together another Broadway flop, down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quick scheme to put on the world's worst show.

Plot Keywords:

Opening Night | Accountant | Nazi | Broadway Musical | Pigeon

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Nathan Lane	...	Max Bialystock
Matthew Broderick	...	Leo Bloom
Uma Thurman	...	Ulla
Will Ferrell	...	Franz Liebkind
Gary Beach	...	Roger DeBris
Roger Bart	...	Carmen Ghia
Eileen Essell	...	Hold Me-Touch Me
Michael McKean	...	Prison Trustee
David Huddleston	...	Judge
Debra Monk	...	Lick Me-Bite Me
Andrea Martin	...	Kiss Me-Feel Me
Jon Lovitz	...	Mr. Marks
Bryn Dowling	...	Usherette / Girl With Pearls / Little Old Lady / Bavarian Peasant
Meg Gillentine	...	Usherette / Girl With Pearls / Little Old Lady / Tapping Brown Shirt
Kevin Ligon	...	Workman / Little Old Lady

Also Known As:

The Producers: The Movie Musical (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and references.

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (Certificate #42240) | UK:12A | Australia:M | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Norway:A | Sweden:7 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:6 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Stay after the credits for a special number and appearance.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the 'Heil Myself' number, the characters sing the line "If you're looking for a war, here's World War Two!" and make the hand gestures for 'W' 'W' '2'. The lead tenor (John Barrowman) is in a hurry to replace his hat and does the hand gestures incorrectly: 'V' 'W' '2'.

Quotes:

Hold-Me Touch-Me: [in court where Max is the defendant] Hold me. Touch me.
Max Bialystock: I'm a little busy right now.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Titanic (1997)

Soundtrack:

You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night

Springtime is delightful, in Germany (and for the audience)

What a fantastic surprise. I've seen Luke-warm reviews about this film, largely saying that the theatrical basis (the Broadway show) is oh-so-evident. Well, in my opinion, this is one of the film's strengths. It's a well-intentioned performance and is close enough to the original Producers, and so unlike it, that the musical remake is justified.

I love musicals, especially musical comedy. This film is a sop to the musical comedy, with good performances from the leads, and Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell, who all appear to be enjoying themselves.

The central (staged) number "Springtime for Hitler" is brilliantly choreographed, with suitably outrageous costumes. Gary Beach as a brilliantly camp Hitler completes this excellent scene. And the bratwurst!! The editing in this sequence - camera panning to the gob-smacked audience is brilliant. This is a film that salutes and spoofs musicals. It's an absolute delight