THE PRODUCERS (1968)

I thought it was odd when I first heard they were making a Broadway musical adaptation of my favorite Mel Brooks movie, The Producers. * But let me tell you, it’s going to be a hit! **

You will not see the hippie Hitler (played by Dick Shawn*** in the original) in the musical remake. I guess Mel thought the character was too dated. Of course, he’s my favorite character in the original and I kept waiting for him to come on stage in the updated version…but, alas, it was not to be. ****

Why do I keep talking about the musical? I guess because I just watched it. I watched both of them, the 1968 The Producers and the musical based on the 1968 The Producers. ***** To tell you the truth, I’m a little Springtime for Hitlered****** out right now. But if you are a fan of the musical, or if you aren’t, don’t forget to check out the original ******* because Zero Mostel is great! ********


*My favorite after Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, High Anxiety and Spaceballs. Well, The Producers is probably tied with Spaceballs.

**I know, it’s already been a hit for years. Let me at least pretend its opening night, Okay?

***Mr. Shawn was also very funny in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. He was just a funny guy all around.

****Having the gay director play Hitler in the new version was still pretty funny.

*****And not to be confused with the 80’s band called The Producers, who did a couple of songs I like including She, Sheila. I think I’m getting off topic.

******Yet over the years, I admit to singing Springtime for Hitler to myself more than a few times.

*******Is original even the proper term? The Broadway show isn’t a remake. It’s a musical adaptation. My Fair Lady isn’t a remake of Pygamalion exactly. Is it?

******** I'll say it again. Zero Mostel is great!

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, (1974)

Let’s see: I saw Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein at the theater when it came out, on the West Georgia College campus a couple of years later, when it came on TV, when it came out on VHS, when it came out on DVD and probably a couple of times in between and today. Obviously, it’s a favorite.
Since I’ve seen this movie so often, I’ll just try to come up with twenty memorable moments…in no particular order:


1)”Puttin’ on the Ritz!”
2) Gene Wilder’s hysterical rant after the creature doesn’t come to life
(Quiet dignity and grace?)
3) “Abby Normal, I’m pretty sure that was the name”
4) ”Sed-a-give!”
5) Peter Boyle’s reaction after the blind Gene Hackman destroys his cup during a toast.
6) Kenneth Mars’s artificial arms
7) Wilder stabbing the scalpel into his thigh (My grandfather’s work was doo-doo!)
8) “He vus mah boyfriend!”
9) “Sweeeeeet mystery of Life at Last I’ve found you.”
10) Madeline Kahn’s Bride of Frankenstein hairdo.
11) “You take the blonde, I’ll take the one in the toiban.”
12) “Frau Blucher!” (Horse whinnies)
13) “It could be worse, it could be raining.”
14) Girl flying through the air off the seesaw into her safe bed.
15) “Put the candle back”
16) “Pardon me boy, is this the Transylvannia station?” “Track 29, Care for a shine?”
17) Wilder using the corpses’ hand to avoid suspicion from the officer
18) “My name isn’t Fronkensteen, It’s FRANKENSTEIN!” (A surprisingly dramatic moment)
19) Igor’s shifting hump
20) And pretty much any other Marty Feldman line.