The Producers

Film 92 (Goal: 300) of 2024 Just a really well written comedy, at a time where comedy was still witty, and revered. The entire cast is great from top to bottom. Zero Mostel, who I don't recall seeing before makes what should be a completely unlikable character into borderline likeable. Gene Wilder, who is nominated for an Academy Award for this performance, is my least favourite character and performance in this film. Maybe I just don't get it but a sheltered accountant goes from having never committed a single crime, to boldly claiming he will assist in this major crime after only a few minutes. It's moments like this where the film falls down. The rest of the cast is also fantastic with Kenneth Mars crazed Nazi Franz Liebkind and Dick Shawn's campy rendition of Hitler standing out. I actually wish we got to spend a little more time with these characters, especially Shawn's L.S.D. The Producers is one of the beacons of really great, classic witty comedies. Another feather in the very large cap of Mel Brooks.

you can definitely make them like this, and they still do. they just don't make them this dated and unfunny anymore. i could see finding this very funny in 1967 but seeing this for the first time in 2023 i just found it boring, which is a shame because i was really looking forward to this. blazing saddles was much funnier and a smarter comedy. this was lazy shock humor in a time where shock humor didn't seem to exist yet