The Producers Movie Review 1968

A hilarious farce follows an attempted swindle by theater producer/con artist Max Bialystock (Mostel), who convinces his meek accountant Leo Bloom (Wilder) to go along with a scheme to deliberately stage a Broadway flop and abscond with the investors' money. They pick what they believe will be a surefire disaster, a musical entitled "Springtime for Hitler," only to see their plan backfire. Film achieved cult status and is considered one of Brooks' best. The phony play was later actually produced by Alan Johnson.

Distribution

Criterion Collection, 210 E. 52nd St., 578 Broadway, New York, NY 10022, Phone: (212)212756-8822, Toll-free: 800-446-2001, URL: http://www.criterionco.com, Remarks: Does not sell directly to consumers

Available on VHS
Running time 90 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Satire & Parody, Scams, Stings & Cons, Showbiz Comedies

Screenplay

Mel Brooks

Cast

Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, Estelle Winwood, Lee Meredith, Frank Campanella, Mel Brooks

Cinematography

Joseph Coffey

Director

Mel Brooks

Music

John Morris

Producer

Avco Embassy

Awards

Oscars 1968: Story & Screenplay, Natl. Film Reg. 1996;; Writers Guild 1968: Orig. Screenplay.