Springtime for Hitler

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2017)

Once the King of Broadway, Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) is now a greedy, lustful, and corruptible producer that sexually manipulates old women to get some money. Upon meeting Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), the hysterical and insecure accountant, the two come up with the perfect scheme to gain a fortune. This time they have to fail (something they are both good at) by producing a flop rather than a hit.
The producer (1967) was the first film to be directed by Mel Brooks. His debut film is an amusing satire with a mood that makes the viewer lightheartedly go along the wickedness and fraud shown by the main characters. The jokes are rather genuine and the performances help a lot. Many say that the characters scream a lot (especially Wilder), but I only found that to be part of what made his hysterical personality so funny. The gay characters of Roger De Bris (Hewett) and Carmen Ghia (Voutsinas) and the Nazi Franz Liebkind (Mars) added a lot to the hilarious plot. Also, I should say that some of the names and jokes used reflect a witty and culturally knowledgeable Brooks.. (Using the name Prince Myshkin from Dostoyevsky's novel "The Idiot", or Carmen Ghia = Karmann Ghia.. etc.)
The film was criticized also for depicting the two main characters Bialystock and Bloom as two Jews that are trying to cheat theatrical investors; an aspect that many found unoffensive and remarkably clever especially when added to the "Nazi play scheme" planned for by the protagonists.
Although the film was more shocking back then in the 60s (it is claimed that Peter Sellers had to intervene with the executive producer Joseph E. Levine to convince the studio to release it! And it was released on one condition that is changing the title from Springtime for Hitler to The Producers), it is in fact gaining more and more respect throughout the days. Many critics such as Roger Ebert, consider it one of the funniest movies ever. Whatever the taste of the viewer is, I recommend this movie for it is really a brilliant classic film.. the type missed nowadays.