The Producers (1967)

A stage-play producer devises a plan to make money by producing a sure-fire flop.

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writer:

Mel Brooks

Stars:

Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Zero Mostel	...	Max Bialystock (as Zero)
Gene Wilder	...	Leo Bloom
Dick Shawn	...	L.S.D. - Lorenzo St. DuBois
Kenneth Mars	...	Franz Liebkind
Estelle Winwood	...	Hold Me Touch Me
Christopher Hewett	...	Roger De Bris
Andréas Voutsinas	...	Carmen Ghia (as Andreas Voutsinas)
Lee Meredith	...	Ulla
Renée Taylor	...	Eva Braun (as Renee Taylor)
Michael Davis	...	Production Tenor
John Zoller	...	Drama Critic
Madelyn Cates	...	Concierge (as Madlyn Cates)
Frank Campanella	...	The Bartender
Arthur Rubin	...	Auditioning Hitler
Zale Kessler	...	Jason Green

Storyline

Down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock is forced to romance rich old ladies to finance his efforts. When timid accountant Leo Bloom reviews Max's accounting books, the two hit upon a way to make a fortune by producing a sure-fire flop. The play which is to be their gold mine? "Springtime for Hitler."

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Plot Keywords:

joseph goebbels character | national film registry | neo screwball comedy | has been | cult classic | 

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Taglines:

Hollywood Never Faced a Zanier Zero Hour!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features Gene Wilder's only Oscar nominated performance. He lost to Jack Albertson in The Subject Was Roses (1968), with whom he would co-star in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), three years later.

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Goofs

While playing the kitty game with the lady in blue, Max sits on the couch. Between shots, his position changes; he is first to the right and then to the left.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Max Bialystock: Come on.
Old Lady: Ta-ta.
Max Bialystock: Ta-ta. Don't forget the checkie. Can't produce plays without checkie.
Old Lady: You can count on me, you dirty young man.

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits show each actor's full name and their picture, but it only says "Zero" for Zero Mostel.

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Alternate Versions

The 2002 DVD release includes an alternate blow-up-the-theater sequence. Franz Leibkind stomps out "ze quick fuse" after lighting it. He then switches to electrical detonation from outside the building. This fails. When Leo, Max and Franz go back into the basement to see what went wrong, the drunk from the bar comes along. Thinking that the detonator handle is a shoeshine stand, he props his feet up on it...

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Connections

Featured in Role Model: Gene Wilder (2008)

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Soundtracks

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
Written by Gus Edwards and Edward Madden
Performed by Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and John Braden

User Reviews

Mel Brooks' Masterpiece

THE PRODUCERS might just be the funniest film ever made. It stars Zero Mostel, as a bankrupt Broadway producer, and Gene Wilder, as his emotionally-retarded accountant. Together, they figure that they could actually make more money producing a flop than a hit, so they become producers and put on "Springtime for Hitler," a sure-fire flop. However, things go horribly "right," and soon the producers find themselves in a tight spot trying to repay their investors. It is not the flop they hoped for, and they wind up in jail, with a hilarious finale.

This is Mel Brooks' masterpiece. Brooks' won an Oscar for Best Screenplay-1968-no surprise,as this is as funny a film ever to be made! The song should've won an Oscar, as it is one of the most hilarious tunes to come out of any movie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

10 November 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Springtime for Hitler

Filming Locations:

100 East 7th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$941,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,091, 9 June 2002

Gross USA:

$328,673

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$375,524

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crossbow Productions, Springtime Productions, U-M Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1