Brooks directorial debut sloppy, crass, hilarious.

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2011)

Mel Brooks first time out of the box as a film director pays little attention to form and lays it all on the strident mugging of his leads Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder to belt out ( and sometimes swing and miss ) broad slices of Yiddish ham that result in an uneven but very funny comedy. Brooks more or less steps back and allows Mostel free reign and it works most of the time as the blustery iconic comedian by the mere force of personality holds court over an array of supporting characters taking their lead from Zero and making the most of small heavy handed bits that produce more belly laughs than groans.
Down on his luck Broadway producer Max Bialystock seduces wealthy old ladies to get capital for his productions. When an insecure accountant (Wilder) comes to look at the books he gives max an idea on how to make a fortune; produce a failure. Max then sets out to get the worst possible play, directors and performers while stepping up his seductions.
The Producers gives you the feeling Brooks is making things up along the way. Its oddly episodic with an array of patchwork meetings and rendezvous with one kooky character after another that either hits or misses and most of it hits before teetering on too much absurdity. Brooks frantic style goes well with Max's desperate plan but he does lay it on a little too long and too thick at times.
Mostel is a life force unto himself and more for better than worse allowed to do as he pleases. Wilder's malleable lack of fortitude partners well with Zero and a handful of precious bits by Kenneth Mars, Dick Shawn, Christopher Hewett and 84 year old Estelle Winwood insure a steady steam of hilarious moments in keeping with a film that deals with putting on a musical called Springtime for Hitler.
Brooks as a director would go on to get a better handle on film grammar in future films. Much of the Producers is shot in close-up though a Busby Berkeley moment and a casting call for Hitler types show him to be just as effective in his intent when he pulls his camera back. But the bottom line would always be about producing laughs and The Producers delivers droves of them.