The review of "The producers" (1967) by Mel Brooks

Rating: 8/10 (8 October 2018)

The perfect script, which was recognized by Academy Award, looks modern nowadays. This story about unsuccessful producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel), who was "The king of the Broadway" in past. The idea to stage the worst play of the world, which came to him thanks to appearance of an accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), sounds like a madness. And because of this crazy idea producers' life became very funny and surprising!
The script is well built and the characters are skillfully designed. The author of the play named "The springtime for Hitler" justifies his nature. He is fond of Hitler and he admires the greatest tyrant. This madman speaks with birds and shoots a gun and whole his feelings and motivations are accurately played by Kenneth Mars.
It is a slapstick comedy which mixed different types of humor, jokes, tricks and gags. Needless to say, absurd dialogues make the narration more interesting and intriguing. There are also details of screwball comedy, especially scenes where Max encompasses for elderly ladies to get some money, and the funniest depiction of casting for Hitler's part in performance, where the comic sing a song about "love power".
The plot is untypical because of the results of the opening night. The "genial plan" was destroyed and the "sure-fire flop" was failed. The play was a success with viewers. The producers were very upset and the author was very angry. The main value of the script is unpredictable climax and astonishing resolution. The producers never give up, they have got a new "genial idea". Their project is called "The prisoner of love"!