The movie classic that became a Broadway sensation now becomes a movie musical event.
Mel Brooks is bringing The Producers, one of the most honored musicals in the history of the American theater, to the motion picture screen as a sparkling, feature-length musical comedy. The record-breaking Tony Award-winning hit (based on Mel Brooks' seminal 1968 motion picture comedy) received 15 nominations and won a record-breaking 12 awards, including Best Musical, Best Director and Choreographer, and Best Actor.
Two-time Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick return to their celebrated roles as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a scheming theatrical producer and his mousy CPA who hit upon the perfect plan to embezzle a fortune: raise far more money than you need to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop and then (since no one will expect anything back), Max and Leo can pocket the difference. To do this, they need the ultimate bad play, which they find in the musical Springtime for Hitler. Their plans come to naught and the duo are taken completely by surprise when their new production is hailed as a toast-of-the-town hit. Will Ferrell also brings his spot-on comic talents to the role of Franz Liebkind, the neo-Nazi playwright (and pigeon fancier) responsible for penning the "worst play ever written."
Release:
December 16, 2005 (limited); December 25, 2005 (wide release)
Premiere:
New York Gala Screening on December 4, 2005 at Ziegfeld Theatre / World Premiere on December 12, 2005 at Westfield Century City, Los Angeles
Studio:
Universal Pictures / Sony Pictures Entertainment
Genre:
Comedy / Musical
Rating:
PG-13
Running Time:
134 minutes
Writer:
Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics:
Mel Brooks
Producer:
Mel Brooks and Jonathan Sanger
Director:
Susan Stroman
Cast:
Matthew Broderick..... Leo Bloom Nathan Lane..... Max Bialystock Uma Thurman..... Ulla Will Ferrell..... Franz Liebkind Gary Beach..... Roger De Bris Roger Bart..... Carmen Ghia Jon Lovitz..... Mr. Marks
Award:
2005 Hollywood Film Festival..... Supporting Actor of the Year (Broderick)
Nomination:
2005 Critics' Choice Awards..... Best Comedy Movie, and Best Soundtrack 2006 Golden Globe..... Best Picture (Musical/Comedy), Best Actor in a Musical / Comedy (Lane), Best Supporting Actor (Ferrell), and Best Original Song (There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway) 2006 Golden Reel Award..... Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Music - Musical 2007 Grammy Awards..... Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (There's Nothing Like A Show On Broadway)