The Producers (2005)

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.

Director:

Susan Stroman

Writers:

Mel Brooks (screenplay), Thomas Meehan (screenplay)

Stars:

Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

New York, 1959. Max Bialystock was once the king of Broadway, but now all his shows close on opening night. Things turn around when he's visited by the neurotic accountant Leo Bloom, who proposes a scheme tailor-made for producers who can only make flops: raise far more money than you need, then make sure the show is despised. No one will be interested in it, so you can pocket the surplus. To this end, they produce a musical called Springtime for Hitler written by escaped Nazi Franz Liebken. Then they get the insanely flamboyant Roger De Bris to direct. Finally, they hire as a lead actress the loopy Swedish bombshell Ulla (whose last name has over 15 syllables). As opening night draws near, what can go wrong? Well, there's no accounting for taste...

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Plot Keywords:

scheme | opening night | accountant | swedish | nazi | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and references

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Kind, who played Max Bialystock on Broadway and on the national tour, makes a brief cameo as the jury foreman at the end.

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Goofs

In the dance number with the old ladies, Bialystock and the ladies cross Fifth Avenue, which is shown as one way. Fifth Avenue did not become one way until January 14, 1966. The film takes place in 1959.

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Quotes

Leo Bloom: Mr. Marks, you were right about one thing. You are a CPA. A Certified Public ASS-HOLE!

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Crazy Credits

After the credits finish, cast members from the film (including a cameo by Mel Brooks) sing the number "Goodbye!", which is sung in the stage version at the conclusion of the curtain call.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bachelor: Episode #14.3 (2010)

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Soundtracks

That Face
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Performed by Matthew Broderick and Uma Thurman

User Reviews

One of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life, the only movie I've ever walked out of in theaters

I saw the trailer for this movie and thought, this looks hilarious. I loved Mel Brooks and thought, how could you go wrong with Springtime for Hitler? Boy was I wrong. The songs lasted forever, then another song would be sung, and then the same song from twenty minutes ago would be sung again. I didn't smile once at this poor excuse for a movie. I don't think this could have been worse if they had tried. I absolutely hated this film so much that after two incredibly long hours in the theater, I left a movie for the first time in my life. I love all movies, yet I hate this one with a passion. I would have rather flushed five bucks down the toilet then watch this film for three reasons, 1: It would have cost less 2: It would have been more entertaining 3: It would only take about thirty seconds. Nobody should ever have to sit through this terrible excuse for a movie, if you buy a copy of this, feed it to the dog, eat it yourself, or burn it, no matter what, DON"T WATCH THIS MOVIE.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Producers: The Movie Musical

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$154,590, 18 December 2005

Gross USA:

$19,398,532

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,075,318

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Brooksfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1