The movie's good, the Broadway show is even better!

Rating: Null/10 (7 August 2001)

I saw the movie for the first time last spring(time) and found it to be "cute" but not quite as brilliant as I was expecting. Then I was lucky enough to see the Broadway show with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick last month. What a masterpiece!
The new show scales back on some of the characters (no LSD, for example) and expands others (Ulla is a much more central character), but for the most part it is pretty faithful to the movie, even down to a lot of the dialogue. So why did I like the movie and LOVE the show? I think the difference is, the story lends itself so perfectly to being a brassy, broad, over-the-top musical, that the film seemed somehow too "little." It should be larger than life, just like Max Bialystock. The show's score (all written by Mel Brooks) is lush and melodic, but just listen to the bawdy, hilarious lyrics! I'd highly recommend to all fans of the movie to get new cast recording of The Producers on CD.
Mr. Brooks, if you're listening, please, PLEASE consider shooting a musical remake with Nathan and Matthew, especially for all the fans who won't get a chance to see it on Broadway. Who knows, maybe it would spark a new generation of movie musicals, something Hollywood is sorely lacking right now. In the show, Roger DeBris is seduced into directing "Springtime for Hilter" by the lure of a Tony ("Tony-Tony-Tony"). Maybe Mr. Brooks will answer to the call of Oscar-Oscar-Oscar...