Customer Reviews
Better than the remake - By: Bianca White, 11 Oct 2008 
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 & 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.
First class comedy - By: S J Buck, 24 Sep 2008 
This is Mel Brooks debut film as a director, & 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 & 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 & Leo (Mostel & Wilder) believe will fail horribly & make them a fortune. Of course not everything goes quite to plan & 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 & 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. Overalll an excellent film that would probably have got 4.5 stars from if it was possible.
very funny - By: Red Rose, 18 Jan 2008 No film ever has devided opinion like this. Some say it is brilliant & others says it is rubbish, very strange rubbish at that. Barry Norman rated this as one of the funniest films of alll time, & I tend to side with his opinion on this.
Failed producer (Zero Mostelo) & his accountant (Gene Wilder) dream up a scheme to make a fortune. This involves finding a sure fire flop play & putting it on Broadway, & then selling 800% shares in it. They think they have struck gold when they dig out 'Spring Time For Hitler' & 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, & 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 hystericallly funny moments, the interviews for a singing & dancing Hitler, their first meeting with the director to be & his secretary, the Nazi author, & the faces of the audience on opening night.
Give it a try & see what you think.
none finer - By: P.J., 20 Mar 2007 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 & 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 & Mel Brookes who is a comedy god has only ever matched this quality once & that was with Blazing Saddles. I first saw this movie in 1979 when I was 11 & couldn't believe how much it made me laugh. I had no idea who Mostel, Wilder & Brookes were but I fell in love with it & have destroyed my VHS version through constant playing over the years. It still seems fresh & is a delight that can always bring a smile to my face. Try the Producers, you wont regret it.
Couldn't bear to watch it - By: , 05 Jan 2006 
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.
