I understand the NY Times film critic gave The Producers a largely negative review, calling it "tasteless and crass." Well, duh! What does he expect from the man who gave the world bean-eating, flatulent cowboys - Ibsen and Strindberg? Of course, it's crass, but that's all part of the fun of it. I was lucky enough to see Lane and Broderick in the Broadway production and we can all be thankful that their brilliant performances have been captured on film for all eternity. I've read complaints that they are too big for the screen and seem to be playing to the second balcony, but when parts are written so broadly, it would be wrong to try to be subtle. The bigger the better, I say! Also, it was a great decision by Susan Strohman to film the dances so that we actually get to see the dancing. Strohman, Broderick and Thurman pay tribute to Astair & Rodgers with their wonderful dance to "That Face" where the camera films their entire bodies without a lot of quick edits (think Rob Marshall's "Chicago"). It looks from the credits that Andrea Martin and Debra Monk had their scenes cut out. That's unfortunate, but hopefully they'll be in the DVD. Thank you, Mel Brooks!
Review of The Producers
