The original version of the movie of the stage play.

Rating: Null/10 (15 April 2008)

Two years ago I saw the modern remake of this movie, with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, and really enjoyed it. Tonight this 1968 version, the original movie of the play, was shown on TCM. Zero Mostel in the role of Max Bialystock and Gene Wilder as Leo Bloom. This was only Wilder's second movie, and 18 years before he made the memorable "Lady in Red." While both movies are very similar, I enjoyed this version better, the period seemed more appropriate.
When you see a show like this, you do so for the acting and production numbers, not for the story. This is the movie version of the hit Broadway play, and has the look and feel of a stage musical. The performances are very good, the musical numbers excellent, I found it to be a very enjoyable movie.
The story is the same as in the other movie. Producer Max Bialystock hardly ever has a successful show. While being audited, the CPA Leo Bloom casually mentions that Max might actually make more money with a flop that opens and closes the same night, and just keeping the up front money that he convinces all his little old lady followers to cough up. Very reluctantly Leo agrees to partner with Max, the lure of being a 'Producer'!
SPOILERS FOLLOW. Max and Leo set out to find the absolute worst script, the worst actors, and the worst director, while raising $1Million. The play will close on opening night, and they will skip out to Brazil with the money. But 'Springtime for Hitler' turns out to be a hit, a very funny take on Hitler. Franz is upset, comes over shooting, they compromise to try to blow up the theater, eventually get to prison, there they put on musicals for the prisoners, their sentences are commuted for having brought so much joy to the hardened criminals.