The Producers

2005 Musical

After transforming his first motion picture into a smash Broadway musical, Mel Brooks brings the story of two would-be theatrical moguls turned con men back to the screen in this musical comedy. Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) was once one of Broadway's most successful producers, but a string of flops has thrown his career into a tailspin, and now he struggles to raise the cash to stage new shows by playing gigolo to lonely old ladies. While going over his books, accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) notices that Bialystock raised more money than he spent for one show, and points out that if one raised enough money for a show that closed in one night, you could make more off a flop than a hit. This strikes Bialystock as a brilliant scheme, and he decides to give it a try, persuading Bloom to join him in staging the world's greatest flop. After discovering a truly vile script -- "Springtime for Hitler," a musical set in the Third Reich written by neo-Nazi pigeon fancier Franz Liebkind (Will Ferrell) -- and giving a key role to the secretary Ulla (Uma Thurman), a drop-dead gorgeous blonde with only a tenuous understanding of the English language, Bialystock and Bloom are certain they have the disaster they need for their plan to work. But the scheme unexpectedly goes wrong when "Springtime for Hitler" becomes a "so bad it's good" hit. Mel Brooks co-wrote the screenplay for The Producers as well as producing it, but directorial chores were handed over to Susan Stroman, who also directed the Broadway show; Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick also repeated their roles from the Broadway production. more..

Director: Susan Stroman

Starring: Nathan Lane,Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Gary Beach

Reviews

  • It was fun, it was funny, it was alive.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • Susan Stroman directed the show on Broadway and what she has done here is photograph that show -- no more, no less. This is good news for anyone who couldn't afford a trip to New York and $100 tickets, but it's a fairly odd approach to cinema.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    27 April 2013

  • Enough is enough. Somebody should just stop remaking The Producers.

    Claudia Puig - USA Today

    27 April 2013

  • The accountant in Bloom would probably approve of the new Producers: It's an efficient extension of a popular brand. In theory, what's not to like? In reality, the whole schmear.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • Stroman should have studied the original Producers that Brooks directed in 1968, with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It answers the question "Where did they go right?"

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Comedy Movie

    Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2006)

     
  • Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

    Golden Globes (2006)

     
  • Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

    Grammy Awards (2007)

     
  • Supporting Actor of the Year

    Hollywood Film Festival (2005)

  • Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Music - Musical

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (2006)