The Producers (2005)
Promotional poster for The Producers (2005)
Directed by	Susan Stroman
Produced by	Mel Brooks Jonathan Sanger
Written by	Mel Brooks Thomas Meehan (screenplay)
Starring	Nathan Lane Matthew Broderick Uma Thurman Will Ferrell Gary Beach Roger Bart
Music by	Mel Brooks Thomas Meehan
Cinematography	John Bailey Charles Minsky
Editing by	Steven Weisberg
Distributed by	Universal Pictures Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	December 16, 2005 (select cities) December 25, 2005 (nationwide)
Running time	134 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$45,000,000 USD (estimated)
IMDb profile

The Producers is a 2005 film based on the 2001 Broadway musical of the same name, which is in turn based on the 1968 movie starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder and Andréas Voutsinas. The movie is directed by Susan Stroman (the director and choreographer of the original Broadway production). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (510x755, 73 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Susan Stroman (born October 17, 1954 in Wilmington, Delaware) is a Broadway director, choreographer, and performer. ... Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an Academy Award-winning American director, writer, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. ... Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an Academy Award-winning American director, writer, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. ... Thomas Meehan is a Tony award-winning author. ... Nathan Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of the stage and screen. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his roles as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off and Simba in Disneys The Lion King. ... Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, actor and writer who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ... Gary Beach is a Tony Award-winning American actor, primarily in Broadway musical theatre. ... Roger Bart is Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and SAG Award-winning television, stage and film actor and singer. ... Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an Academy Award-winning American director, writer, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. ... Meehan, Thomas (March 21, 1826 - November 19, 1901), American Nurseryman and botanist. ... John Bailey (cinematographer) (born 10 August 1942 in Moberly, Montana) is an award-winning American cinematographer and film director. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ... Download high resolution version (1085x724, 102 KB)Earth flag created solely from public domain sources and released into the public domain by Derrick Coetzee. ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... USD redirects here. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ... This article is about the 2001 stage musical. ... This page is about the 1968 film. ... Mostel in Sirocco (1951) Zero Mostel (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was a Brooklyn-born stage and film actor best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof , Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Max... Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933) is an American actor who is best known for his role as Willy Wonka, his collaborations with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, and his four movies with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil... Andréas Voutsinas is a French actor. ... Susan Stroman (born October 17, 1954 in Wilmington, Delaware) is a Broadway director, choreographer, and performer. ...

Plot

The film opens ("Opening Night") with the flop musical "Funny Boy" based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Afterward, Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) arrives at the office of the show's washed up producer, Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane). Max has hired Leo Bloom as his accountant. While studying Max's books, Leo inadvertently inspires Max to put on a show that is certain to fail at the box office and cleverly change their accounts leaving them with $2,000,000 to spend. At first, Leo refuses to participate. Max, who cannot change the books himself, attempts to coax Leo into the scheme ("We Can Do It"). Leo still refuses and returns to his old accounting firm, Whitehall & Marks. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... For other uses, see Hamlet (disambiguation). ... Leo Bloom is a character in Mel Brookss films and musical of The Producers. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his roles as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off and Simba in Disneys The Lion King. ... Max Bialystock is a fictional character and main protagonist who first appeared in Mel Brooks 1969 movie, The Producers, played by Zero Mostel. ... Nathan Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of the stage and screen. ...

After being chastised by Mr. Marks (Jon Lovitz), Leo fantasizes about being a Broadway producer ("I Wanna Be a Producer"). Leo quits his job and with Max, forms Bialystock & Bloom. Max and Leo search for "the worst play ever written" and discover Springtime for Hitler, written by an ex-Nazi named Franz Liebkind (Will Ferrell). They are coerced into performing Adolf Hitler's favorite tune in order to gain Liebkind's signature for Broadway rights to the musical ("Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop"). They solicit a flamboyant gay director, Roger De Bris (Gary Beach) (the worst director in the world), to direct and choreograph the play. De Bris initially refuses saying that the musical is far too dark and gritty and that Broadway needs to be more "gay" ("Keep It Gay"). But, sooner or later, Max and Leo finally persuade him to direct Springtime for Hitler. Then, Ulla (Uma Thurman), a beautiful Swedish woman, appears at their office for casting despite there being no auditions. Max insists on hiring her as their secretary and auditioning her ("When You've Got It, Flaunt It"). Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... A row of dancing stormtroopers in the infamous opening musical number from Springtime for Hitler. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, actor and writer who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Look up flaming in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Gary Beach is a Tony Award-winning American actor, primarily in Broadway musical theatre. ... A row of dancing stormtroopers in the infamous opening musical number from Springtime for Hitler. ... Scene from the London version of the Producers, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, April 2006. ... Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. ...

To gain the finances for the musical Max has sexual affairs with every old lady across town ("Along Came Bialy"). Max and Leo return to the office to discover that Ulla has redecorated it to be entirely white. After Max leaves, Leo laments about Ulla and the dangers of sexual affairs straying him from his work, culminating in a kiss between Leo and Ulla ("That Face"). Later, at the auditions for the role of Hitler, Franz becomes angered at a performer's rendition of a beloved German song. Franz storms the stage and sings the song the correct way ("Haben Sie Gehört Das Deutsche Band?"). Max hires Franz to play Hitler.

On opening night, as the cast and crew prepare to go on stage, Leo wishes everyone "good luck", to which the players are horrified. They explain to Leo that it is in fact "bad luck" to say "good luck" on opening night and that the correct phrase is to say "break a leg" ("You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night"). Franz leaves to prepare and, in his rush, literally breaks his leg. Max enlists Roger to perform the role in his place, and Roger accepts.

As the show opens, the audience is horrified and begins to walk out until Roger steps on stage as Hitler. Because his performance is so flamboyant, the audience sees the play as a mockery of Hitler rather than Franz's original vision ("Springtime for Hitler"). As a result, the show is a success and the IRS will be keeping tabs on Max and Leo. Max gets arrested for his tax fraud while Leo and Ulla escape to Rio ("Betrayed"), however they return to stand up for Max in court ("'Til Him"). The judge sentences them both to five years at Sing Sing prison, but they are pardoned after writing a musical in prison ("Prisoners of Love"), and go on to become successful Broadway producers. Alternative meaning: Sing Sing (band) Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a prison in Ossining, New York. ...

After the credits roll ("There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway"), there is an extra song ("Goodbye") by the cast.

Cast

• Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock
• Matthew Broderick as Leo Bloom
• Will Ferrell as Franz Liebkind
• Uma Thurman as Ulla
• Gary Beach as Roger De Bris
• Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia
• Jon Lovitz as Mr. Marks
• Michael McKean as Prison Trustee
• David Huddleston as Judge
• John Barrowman as Lead Nazi Tenor
• Eileen Essell as Hold Me-Touch Me
• Debra Monk as Lick Me-Bite Me
• Andrea Martin as Kiss Me-Feel Me

Nathan Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of the stage and screen. ... Max Bialystock is a fictional character and main protagonist who first appeared in Mel Brooks 1969 movie, The Producers, played by Zero Mostel. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his roles as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off and Simba in Disneys The Lion King. ... Leo Bloom is a character in Mel Brookss films and musical of The Producers. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, actor and writer who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ... Franz Liebkind is a fictional character in Mel Brooks film and musical, The Producers. ... Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... Scene from the London version of the Producers, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, April 2006. ... Gary Beach is a Tony Award-winning American actor, primarily in Broadway musical theatre. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Roger Bart is Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and SAG Award-winning television, stage and film actor and singer. ... Carmen Ghia is a fictional character from the 1968 Mel Brooks comedy The Producers played by Andréas Voutsinas, its 2001 Broadway show The Producers by Roger Bart, and the 2005 musical film The Producers also by Roger Bart. ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in... Born in Vinton, Virginia, on September 17, 1930, David Huddleston was briefly an officer in the United States Air Force before beginning his formal education in acting at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. ... John Barrowman (born 11 March 1967 in Mount Vernon, Glasgow) is a Scottish-American actor, musical performer, dancer, singer, and TV presenter who has lived and worked both in the United Kingdom and the United States. ... Eileen Essell is a British-based, elderly actress who has starred in such movies as Duplex, Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 version), The Producers (2005 film version), and other films and TV programs. ... Debra Monk (born February 27, 1949) is an actress and author. ... Andrea Martin (born January 15, 1947) is a Tony Award-winning American actor and comedienne. ...

Soundtrack and songs

The Producers Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Opening Night - Opening Nighters
3. We Can Do It - Max and Leo
4. I Wanna Be a Producer - Leo, Accountants, and Mr. Marks
5. Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop - Franz, Max, and Leo
6. Keep It Gay - Roger, Carmen, Max, Leo, and Company
7. When You Got It, Flaunt It - Ulla
8. Along Came Bialy - Max and Little Old Ladies
9. That Face - Leo and Ulla
10. Haben Sie gehört das Deutsche band? - Franz
11. You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night - Roger, Carmen, Franz, Max, and Leo
12. Springtime for Hitler (Part I) - Soldiers, Girls, and Company
13. Heil Myself - Roger and Company
14. Springtime for Hitler (Part II) - Roger, Ulla, and Company
15. You'll Find Your Happiness in Rio - Samba Band
16. Betrayed - Max
17. 'Til Him - Max, Leo, and Little Old Ladies
18. Prisoners of Love (Broadway) - Prisoners, Ulla, and Company
19. Prisoners of Love (Leo and Max) - Leo and Max
20. There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway - Leo and Max
21. The Hop-Clop Goes On - Franz
22. Goodbye! - Leo, Max, Ulla, Roger, Carmen, Mr. Marks, Accountants, Dancing Girls, and Mel Brooks
23. The King of Broadway - Max (deleted scene on DVD)

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mel Brooks (born June 28, 1926) is an Academy Award-winning American director, writer, comedian, actor and producer best known as a creator of broad film farces and comedy parodies. ...

Reception

The Producers received mixed reviews from critics. One positive online review said: "Outrageous musical numbers evoke most of the laughs in this movie funfest. Eat your heart out, Rockettes, because here comes a little old ladies’ chorus line (“Along Came Bialy”) to rival your success. Watch out, real-life producers, for an actor named Gary Beach (“Heil Myself”). Never, and I mean never, hire him if you want your play to flop! And stop spinning in your grave, Florenz Ziegfeld. Those “Springtime for Hitler and Germany” showgirls are all in good fun. Finally, congratulations to director Susan Stroman, for making this Broadway gem into a film that old-time movie musical fans like me can cheer about."^[1]

Nathan Rabin wrote: "Between the rough start and an ending that lingers too long, there's a solid hour or so of terrific entertainment that serves as both a giddy tribute to Broadway musicals and a parody thereof. Thirty-seven years after Brooks declared war on taste and propriety, 'The Producers' has lost its power to shock or offend, but it's retained its ability to amuse."^[2]

Roger Ebert cited difficulty in reviewing the film due to familiarity with the original 1968 film. However, he did state that the new version was "fun" and gave it three stars (out of a possible four). Said Ebert: "The new movie is a success, that I know. How much of a success, I cannot be sure."^[3] Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ...

Most negative reviews suggested that the performances were tuned more for the theater rather than for film. Stephanie Zacharek observed: "'The Producers' is essentially a filmed version of a stage play, in which none of the characters' expressions or line readings have been scaled down to make sense on-screen. Every gesture is played out as if the actors were 20 feet (or more) away in real life, which means that, by the time the performers are magnified on the big screen, they're practically sitting in your lap. The effect is something like watching a 3-D Imax movie without the special glasses.^[4]

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In the song "Opening Night", a newspaper theatre review is shown on the screen; on the byline, credit is given to Addison DeWitt, the theatre critic played by George Sanders in 1950's All About Eve.
• Although it's never said, the film takes place in 1959, when Broadway was a prominent piece of entertainment. ^[5]
• In the scene when Ulla first enters Bialystock's office, the King Leer poster next to the door can be seen, and after a few seconds, its eyes start spinning.
• The bit that Max Bialystock reads and claims to be 'too good' as he searches for the worst play is the opening section of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.
• The voices of 'Tom The Cat' (who is thrown by Bialystock into the theater) and the Stormtrooper who says 'Don't be stupid, be a smarty, come and join the Nazi Party!' are provided by Mel Brooks, two voices he also pre-recorded for the Broadway show and one voice (the latter) that he did in the original movie.
• After the closing credits, there is an additional song where the cast bids good-bye to the audience. This number is also sung in the stage production right after the final company bow. At the end of the number is a cameo by Mel Brooks himself, who tells the audience: 'Get out, it's over'. In an interview, Brooks complained that audiences wanted to stay in the theater after the show was over. He specifically wrote this song to tell everyone to leave.
• When Leo Bloom shouts "Stop the world. I wanna get on!" it is a reference to the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off.
• When Max is visiting the old ladies in their apartment buildings, he pushes a lot of intercom buttons. One of the names is A. Bancroft, a reference to Mel Brooks' late wife, Anne Bancroft. Another is labeled 'J. Gatsby', a reference to the eponymous protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. Others include Bloomingdales, which is the name of a department store, and Tisch, which also bears the Tisch School of Arts and Tisch Hospital at NYU. Another name there is C. F. Kane, referring to Charles Foster Kane, from the film Citizen Kane. One more name is E. Wharton, referring to Edith Wharton author of "Ethan Frome" Yet another button reads "M. Kaminsky", a reference to Mel Brooks' birth name, Melvin Kaminsky. Further Names include A. Carnegie (Andrew Carnegie) and J. Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller).
• A black fedora is the "Broadway producer's hat" that Max finally allows Leo to wear in the last scene.
• While talking about the $2,000 missing from Max's books after "Funny Boy", the calendar behind Max and Leo reads June 16th. The date is known as "Bloomsday" (later referenced when Leo and Max agree go ahead with their plan) by fans of James Joyce and his novel Ulysses. Joyce's character Leopold Bloom experiences extraordinary things on what's supposed to be an ordinary day - June 16th.
• The two main stars of the film, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick previously worked together voicing friends Timon the meerkat and Simba the lion in Disney's 1994 animated motion picture The Lion King. A scene shot for The Producers, but deleted featured the pair on-screen with Ernie Sabella, who voiced the third member of their friendship, Pumbaa the warthog. This scene is included on the DVD.
• At the end of the song "The Hop-Clop Goes On", you can hear Franz say "Don't forget to buy Mein Kampf, in paperback. Available near you at Borders Books or Barnes & Noble und Amazon.com."

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Do you mean: George Sanders (1906-1972), the British actor George Sanders, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on the first day of the Battle of the Somme This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other uses, see All About Eve (disambiguation). ... Kafka redirects here. ... The Metamorphosis (German: ) is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915, and arguably the most famous of his works along with the longer works The Trial and The Castle. ... A post-credits scene (also called a stinger or tag) is a short clip that appears after all or some of the closing credits of a movie have run. ... Stop the World - I want to get off Stop the World - I want to get off was a musical which opened at the Queens Theatre, London on 20th July 1961, and ran for 555 performances. ... Anne Bancroft (September 17, 1931 – June 6, 2005) was an iconic Academy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning American actress. ... This article is about the novel. ... Information Gender Male Age 78 (at time of death) Date of birth 1863 (estimated) Date of death 1941 Occupation Newspaper tycoon Family Mary Kane (mother) Relationships Emily Monroe Norton Kane (first wife) Susan Alexander Kane (second wife) Children Charles Foster Kane III Portrayed by Buddy Swan (as a child) Orson... Citizen Kane is a 1941 mystery/drama film released by RKO Pictures and directed by Orson Welles, his first feature film. ... Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 – August 11, 1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. ... Ethan Frome is a novel that was released in 1911 by the Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Edith Wharton. ... Andrew Carnegie (last name pronounced IPA: )[1] (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) was a Scottish industrialist, businessman, a major philanthropist, and the founder of Pittsburghs Carnegie Steel Company which later became U.S. Steel. ... John Davison Rockefeller, Sr. ... A fedora, which in this case has been pinched at the front and being worn pushed back on the head, with the front of the brim bent down over the eyes. ... This article is about the writer and poet. ... Ulysses is a novel by James Joyce, first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on February 2, 1922, in Paris. ... Nathan Lane (born February 3, 1956) is a Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of the stage and screen. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his roles as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off and Simba in Disneys The Lion King. ... For the television series with these characters, see Timon & Pumbaa (TV series). ... For other uses, see Simba (disambiguation). ... This article is about Disneys 1994 film. ... Ernie Sabella (born September 19, 1949) has been an actor on Broadway, television and film since the late 1970s. ... For the television series with these characters, see Timon & Pumbaa (TV series). ... Mein Kampf (English translation: My Struggle) is a book by the German-Austrian politician Adolf Hitler, which combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitlers National Socialist political ideology. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Borders Group (NYSE: BGP) is an international bookseller based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... A typical Barnes & Noble bookstore. ... Amazon. ...

References to other Brooks films

In the movie there are references to other movies by Mel Brooks, including:

• High Anxiety; when Ulla asks if she can audition for Max and Leo, Leo starts to say, "Oh no, miss, that won't be nece–" and Max interrupts him, saying, "Yes, it is 'nece,' extremely 'nece!'"

• Blazing Saddles; while looking over the contracts in the freshly-painted office, Leo says to himself, "Work work work, work work work, work work work." Also, in the scene where Max is in prison, and the prison guard says he has a postcard from someone in Brazil, he wonders who he knows in Brazil, before then asking to the guard, "Why am I asking you?". Carmen Ghia's drawn out "Yesssss" is also a call-back to Blazing Saddles, heard during the scene of the gay dancers headed by Dom DeLuise.

• To Be or Not to Be; while playing Hitler, Roger sings a song entitled, "Heil Myself."

• Silent Movie; The "walker dance" during the number "Along Came Bialy"

High Anxiety is a 1977 comedy film directed by and starring Mel Brooks. ... Alex Karras as Mongo in Blazing Saddles Blazing Saddles (1974) is a comedy directed by Mel Brooks and starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, and released by Warner Brothers. ... To Be or Not to Be is a 1983 comedy film directed by Alan Johnson, written by Ronny Graham and Thomas Meehan, and starring Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. ... This article is about the comedy film. ...

References

Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Susan Stroman (born October 17, 1954 in Wilmington, Delaware) is a Broadway director, choreographer, and performer. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Producers (2005 film)

• Official site
• The Producers at the Internet Movie Database
• The Producers at Rotten Tomatoes