What Could Go Wrong?

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2003)

THE PRODUCERS (1968) *** Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars, Dick Shawn, Estelle Winwood. Mel Brooks (who directed) won a deserved Oscar for Best Original Screenplay about Z-grade theatrical producer Mostel (in all his unscrupulous glee) and neurotic, yet lovable Wilder (who copped a Best Supporting Actor nomination) as his befuddled accountant who conspire to hatch a plan to bilk old ladies out of their life savings for a guaranteed box office fiasco and bankruptcy on talent in search of the worst play to act as their gold ticket to easy street. Funny at times but seemingly dated here and there (but the greedy, no qualms business sense still prevails today in show biz retains!) `Springtime For Hitler' may have been genius ahead of its time but would be the 12:50am skit on `Saturday Night Live'. Wilder's apoplectic tizzy over his blankie is a comic gem. Look sharp for William Hickey as a drunk (who would go on 20 yrs later to his famous role as the grizzled, octogenarian mobster in `Prizzi's Honor').