The Producers
is generally acknowledged to be one of the funniest films ever made. And
forty-five years after its initial release it is still completely hilarious. It
is now being released on Blu-ray for the first time, in a Collector’s Edition
combo pack that includes plenty of special features.
The Producers
is the film that got Mel Brooks’ film career off to a great start, and also
really launched Gene Wilder’s career (before this he had done mainly stage and
one film). It stars Zero Mostel as Max Bialystock, a man who was once a famous
and successful Broadway producer, and who now is reduced to entertaining
elderly women for cash for each project. (The opening scenes with two different
old women are wonderful. The odd games he plays with the second demented old
minx are deliciously ridiculous.)
Into this situation enters Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), whose
arrival is hilarious. Bloom is a fearful, nervous, awkward accountant, and Gene
Wilder is absolutely perfect as this man who doesn’t want anyone touching his
blue blanket. Every time I watch this film Gene Wilder cracks me up when he
says, “I’m having hysteria because I’m
hysterical.”
Bloom realizes that under the right circumstances a
producer could make more money with a flop than with a hit. So Max woos Leo
into trying out this scheme. They then have to find the worst play ever, and
they find “Springtime For Hitler,” written by a crazy, bird-loving Nazi. (“Not many people knew it, but the Fuhrer was
a terrific dancer.”)
They hire the worst director they can find. And they also
hire a secretary (played by the incredibly beautiful Lee Meredith). She can’t
speak English or type, but she can sure dance.
The scene with the auditions for Adolf Hitler is one of
the funniest things I’ve ever seen, topped only by the play itself, with that
great musical number, “Springtime For Hiter.” “Look out, here comes the master
race.”
The Producers
was written and directed by Mel Books. It stars Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick
Shawn, Andreas Voutsinas, Lee Meredith, and Kenneth Mars.
Of course, you probably already knew all that. As great
as the film is, it is likely the special features that will interest folks in
this Collector’s Edition.
Bonus Material
The main special feature in the Collector’s Edition is an
hour-long documentary titled The Making
Of The Producers. It features interviews with Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Lee
Meredith (she still looks totally sexy, and recreates her dance), Andreas
Voutsinas (he thought he’d never work again after this film), and Kenneth Mars
(he slept in his costume to help with the character). There are also interviews
with key crew members, including the composer, choreographer and production
designer. Mel Brooks talks about how he first wanted Peter Sellers for the role
of Bloom, and that Dustin Hoffman was originally going to be Franz (his getting
cast in The Graduate prompted new
auditions for the part, and that’s when they found Kenneth Mars). He also tells
the anecdote of the first day of shooting, and how he went to get lunch for
everyone and was stopped on his way back in. He also talks a bit about what he
had to do in directing the actors, the different approaches he took with Zero
and with Gene. Gene talks about how he acted certain scenes, particularly the
blue blanket bit. Gene is particularly funny when talking about Kenneth Mars. Gene
and Mel talk about how Gene wrote his courtroom speech. And of course there is a
lot about the musical number (Mel explains how his voice came to be in the
scene). Perhaps the most surprising element to this documentary is the
interview with Paul Mazursky about seeing The
Producers. This is a really good documentary, with lots of great anecdotes
and information.
The bonus material also includes Mel And His Movies: The Producers (19 minutes), which features an interview
with Mel Brooks. For the complete Mel And
His Movies, check out The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection Of Unhinged Comedy,
which was released in November.
The bonus features include a deleted scene. It’s
basically an extension of the scene where they plant the dynamite, and features
another appearance by Bill Hickey as the Drunk. (This scene is three and
a half minutes.)
There is also a short bit with Paul Mazursky reading the
ad that Peter Sellers took out in Variety. The Sketch Gallery shows several
sketches of sets for the film. The bonus features include the film’s trailer,
as well as promotional spots for Mel Brooks: Make A Noise and The
Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection Of Unhinged Comedy.
The Producers
Collector’s Edition is scheduled to be released on July 2, 2013 through
Shout! Factory.
