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 enlarge | Director: Susan Stroman
Actors: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Gary Beach
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.99
Buy Used: $1.01
You Save: $8.98 (90%)
New (63) Used (103) Collectible (4) from $1.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  180 reviews
Sales Rank: 3802
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 134
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD28437D
UPC: 025192843723
EAN: 0025192843723
ASIN: B000EWBKMG
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2005
Release Date: May 16, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Over the top October 21, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) is a loser as a Broadway producer, but his accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) helps him come with up with a plan to produce the worst show ever on the Great White Way, one they know will close after only one performance, and then abscond with the money they raised. The show they're sure will bomb is called "Springtime for Hitler."
Based on Mel Brooks' Broadway musical that was based on his non-musical movie, this is pretty much a filmed stage play starring the play's two leads, Lane and Broderick. I like Nathan Lane, but this is too much of a good thing; he's too loud, too mincing, and too broad and is exhausting to watch. Broderick is full of wide-eyed, Ferris Bueller-charm and likeability, but he is tiresome after a while, too. Will Farrell was completely awful as the Nazi-loving playwright and really ruined the show for me. All the dialogue is SHOUTED as if they're still trying to reach the last row of the balcony and they all seem so enamored of themselves and their material that it's off-putting.
I liked the original Producers back in 1968, which was nutty and wacky and funny; this time around, the movie is too big for the big screen. I grew weary and wanted it to end. I can certainly see how charming Lane and Broderick would be on the stage, especially if you're seated 100 feet from them. They're adorable and talented and the story is funny; it just doesn't work on the screen.
Even Better with Music September 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been a longtime fan of the original Mel Brooks movie starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, so it was with some interest that I went to see a summer stock version of the Broadway show here in Maine. It was at The Ogunquit PLayhouse. The two leads had been in road show versions of the play and were outstanding as was the rest of the cast. It was a total hoot.
Out of interest, I decided to purchase the movie version of the Broadway show to compare it with what I had just seen and while it is hard to top Nathan Lane in anything, as a whole I preferred seeing it as a play rather than a movie of the same.
That being said, the play is as entertaining a time as you can spend in the theater and I thought it was an improvement on the original movie. The songs are toe tappers for the most part, the expansion of the parts of the director and the author of "Springtime for Hitler" were welcome as was the expanded role of the Swedish bombshell.
Mel Brooks zany mind works as well on stage as in the movies and this is a DVD you really want to have in your archives.
PS: The out takes included with the DVD are hilarious and there is a section where the director comments throughout the movie on various aspects of what you are watching, giving inside tidbits about the scenes and the filming, which by themselves are worth the price of the DVD.
 Nathan and Matthew Cheers August 18, 2008
I borrowed this title from the library. I wasn't expecting much but I was laughing from start to finish. The concept of Nathan Lane as a straight man was funny in and of itself. I really enjoyed the musical numbers. I'm going to buy my own personal copy of this movie.
I'm Sure This Plays Better As Live Theater But Who Cares? March 15, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Living far from Manhattan and relying on what is available at TKTS when I do get to see a "real" Broadway musical I appreciate this chance to see even a filmed version of Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and much of the original cast in their landmark roles in THE PRODUCERS. Sure the film often seems too "stagy" and perhaps Broderick and Lane are too theatrical and well rehearsed as Leo and Max but this is still an enjoyable opportunity to see what all the excitement was about in 2001 when this musical opened on Broadway. Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman were not in the stage production but they are fine in this film version. I've never been a big fan of Ferrell but he is very funny playing the Nazi worshiping author of "Springtime for Hitler". Beautiful Uma Thurman certainly looks the part of a Swedish bombshell and her singing and dancing do justice to the role. The deleted scenes on the DVD include some musical numbers that were cut including "King of Broadway" which I'm sure is great fun to see in person but way too over the top for the filmed version. Remember to watch this film all the way through the credits to get a last laugh from Mel Brooks himself.
A musical romp February 22, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A musical based on the Broadway show which in turn was based on the original film which was awesome. Although derivitive it is good in its own right, especially with some of the musical numbers in it. The film never quite makes the same level of comedy that the original movie does though, mostly because this version has compressed and combined many of the characters ("LSD" does not appear at all in this version, for example) but it partially makes up for it with some scenes, dialogue and numbers which would never have made it in the original film. Well worth watching.
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