The Producers (2005)
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A washed-up producer and a neurotic accountant team up to create the worst musical ever staged to defraud the IRS.
The story
In 1959, following the flop of the Broadway musical Funny Boy, washed-up producer Max Bialystock hires a neurotic accountant named Leo Bloom. Upon discovering a financial discrepancy, Leo suggests a scheme to embezzle funds by producing a guaranteed flop. The two form 'Bialystock & Bloom' and search for the worst play ever written, eventually discovering 'Springtime for Hitler,' a musical tribute to Adolf Hitler. They recruit a flamboyant director and a cast to bring the offensive production to life, hoping to secure the $2 million they need through the fraud.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1959, producer Max Bialystock and his new accountant Leo Bloom decide to produce 'Springtime for Hitler' to defraud the IRS. They hire a transvestite director, Roger De Bris, and a secretary named Ulla. To fund the production, Max engages in dalliances with elderly women. They eventually hire Franz Liebkind, an ex-Nazi, to play Hitler. On opening night, Franz breaks his leg, and Roger takes over the role. Roger's flamboyant performance leads the audience to believe the show is a satire, making it a massive hit. Terrified of the IRS discovering their fraud, Max is furious at the success. A confrontation leads to Max physically torturing Carmen Ghia, while Franz attempts to shoot them for breaking his oath. Max is arrested for tax fraud and imprisoned. Leo elopes with Ulla but returns to defend Max. They are both sentenced to five years in Sing Sing Prison with Franz. While in prison, they produce 'Prisoners of Love.' The show's success leads to their pardon and eventual success as Broadway producers.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 134
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Susan Stroman
- Writers
- Mel Brooks · screenplay; Thomas Meehan · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nathan Lane · Max Bialystock; Matthew Broderick · Leo Bloom; Uma Thurman · Ulla; Will Ferrell · Roger De Bris; Gary Beach · Franz Liebkind; Roger Bart · Carmen Ghia; Jon Lovitz · null
- Genres
- musical comedy; black comedy; satire
- Themes
- fraud; ambition; satire
- Tone and mood
- comedic; satirical; stagy
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; black comedy; satire; adaptation
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2001 Broadway musical based on Mel Brooks' 1967 film
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film received generally mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial failure, grossing $38.1 million against a $45 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 51% · review count: 153; Metacritic · score: 52 · scale: 100 · review count: 36; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Stinkers Bad Movie Award · Worst Director · nomination; Stinkers Bad Movie Award · Worst Remake · nomination; Stinkers Bad Movie Award · Worst Actor for Broderick · nomination; Stinkers Bad Movie Award · Least Dynamic Duo for Broderick and Lane · nomination; Stinkers Bad Movie Award · Worst Song for "Keep It Gay" · nomination
- Production trivia
- Creature effects were provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.; Nicole Kidman was originally cast as Ulla but backed out.; The film was partly a result of Mel Brooks wanting a tangible record of the stage play.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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