Product description

The Producers Special Edition [1968]

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Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5060049140711
Label : Momentum Pictures
Manufacturer : Momentum Pictures
Publisher : Momentum Pictures
Release date : 2004-10-25
Title : The Producers Special Edition [1968]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Parental Guidance
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 2
Original release date : 1968-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 84
Studio : Momentum Pictures
Theatrical releaseDate : 1968

Customer reviews

review by: bianc93 date: 2008-10-11 rating:

Better than the remake
No disrespect to the new effort, but this older version of the Producers if far superior. And part of it's appeal is that it was made at a time when certain aspects of the story would shock the cinema goer. Joking about Nazis today? Yawn. Transvestites? Yawn. A fat decrepit gigolo? Yawn.
But back in the 60's I'm sure these ingredients were shockingly hilarious, particularly with the added twist of 2 Jewish actors (Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder) playing characters who are anxious not to upset the sensitivities of a Nazi refugee skulking around New York writing homages to Hitler.
Yes, this movie is miles better than the remake.

review by: date: 2008-09-24 rating:

First class comedy
This is Mel Brooks debut film as a director, and its amongst his very best work. Of his other films only Young Frankenstein is in the class IMO. From its marvellous opening credit sequence right through to the end this maintains a very high standard of comedy. Fortunately for Mel Brooks he was lucky enough to get Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder in the two leading roles. They both give outstanding performances which are very nearly matched by Kenneth Mars. He plays 'Franz Liebkind' the writer of a musical that both Max and Leo (Mostel and Wilder) believe will fail horribly and make them a fortune. Of course not everything goes quite to plan and the rest you should see for yourself.

The extras in this two disc edition are very good. The original statement from Peter Sellers after he first saw The Producers is read. Sellers described it as "the ultimate film....". As another reviewer has mentioned he later used a large chunk of Liebkinds dialogue in a famous interview on the Parkinson show. There is a 63 minute documentary on the making of The Producers and some outtakes as well.

I picked this 2 disc edition up very cheaply, so look around as there is no need to pay full price. Overall an excellent film that would probably have got 4.5 stars from if it was possible.

review by: croydon music date: 2008-01-18 rating:

very funny
No film ever has devided opinion like this. Some say it is brilliant and others says it is rubbish, very strange rubbish at that. Barry Norman rated this as one of the funniest films of all time, and I tend to side with his opinion on this.

Failed producer (Zero Mostelo) and his accountant (Gene Wilder) dream up a scheme to make a fortune. This involves finding a sure fire flop play and putting it on Broadway, and then selling 800% shares in it. They think they have struck gold when they dig out 'Spring Time For Hitler' and persuade the Nazi author to put the play on broadway infront of a mainly jewish audience. In the meantime they employ the worst director in the business, and a dope ridden lead actor who can not remember anything. Surely nothing can go right !! The Nazi author will assist their back up plan, just in case it does. In order to finance this big idea, Zero Mostell starts up an escourt agaency, for the over 70s.

There are several hysterically funny moments, the interviews for a singing and dancing Hitler, their first meeting with the director to be and his secretary, the Nazi author, and the faces of the audience on opening night.

Give it a try and see what you think.

review by: Bard date: 2007-03-20 rating:

none finer
The Producers is without a doubt a classic of 20th century cinema. It is born out of that moment of magic when forces come together to produce genius. Zero Mostel was probably the only person who could have brought the character of Max Bialystock to life and obviously reveled in the role. Gene wilder shows us here the comedy timing that made him a popular favourite through the seventies up to today and Mel Brookes who is a comedy god has only ever matched this quality once and that was with Blazing Saddles. I first saw this movie in 1979 when I was 11 and couldn't believe how much it made me laugh. I had no idea who Mostel, Wilder and Brookes were but I fell in love with it and have destroyed my VHS version through constant playing over the years. It still seems fresh and is a delight that can always bring a smile to my face. Try the Producers, you wont regret it.

review by: harmonyinformation date: 2006-01-05 rating:

Couldn't bear to watch it
Perhaps it is the 1960s humour, perhaps it is Mel Brooks, but I couldn't bear to watch this past the first 10 minutes. Glad I only had it on rental so just wasted £1.99.

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