BY: BARAK ALDER
News Editor
Among director Mel Brooks’ most iconic films, “The Producers” has become something of a classic.
In the aftermath of his declining career, Broadway producer Max Bialystock (played by Zero Mostel) is desperate for a hit. Without sources of funding that do not involve seducing elderly women’s wallets, he has fallen well below the pinnacle of success. But that does not mean he has lost his desire for wealth.
With the help of his meek accountant Leo Bloom (played by Gene Wilder), Bialystock decides to carry out an ingenious plan: raise well over the funds needed for production, design a show bound to fail, and when no one expects a return on their investment, pocket the extra funds. Or in Bloom’s words, use “creative accounting.”
Overall, “The Producers” is very entertaining to watch. Its main characters become practically cartoon- like over the course of the film, with Bialystock completely motivated by dollar signs and Bloom by an inability to refuse Bialystock’s orders, as they face constant, hilarious challenges as a result of their moral failings.
However, in some ways, the film does come across as dated, as its humor occasionally falls flat due to jokes and references that have not aged well since its release.
“The Producers” also suffers from issues not reflective of its writing or performances, but rather, technical limitations characteristic of 1960s cinematography. Actors’ lips do not always move in conjunction with the audio. Several scenes present facial expressions that are hard to see in comparison to movies filmed with more advanced lighting techniques and cameras, and the film often portrays its actors at angles that suggest less than ideal camera placement. By current standards, its camera movements also seem somewhat stiff.
Yet, “The Producers,” unafraid to push buttons in exchange for a laugh, serves as a prime example of how to perform low comedy right. It somehow expertly presents greed, lust, and other timeless themes within 90 minutes of runtime, and what’s more, Mostel and Wilder maintain such strong onstage chemistry that their comedic timing is a treat to watch. While “The Producers” does have shortcomings, it should satisfy even its most critical audience members.
