A failing great and washed up Producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and an accountant named Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) plan to make more money with a flop then with a hit. They receive a Nazi glorifying play called "Spring Time For Hitler" which is written by a former Nazi.They must now get an awful director, raise the money, find an actor to play Hitler and when the play closes on the day it opens, he and Leo head off to Rio. Will it work?
Our two main characters are both well casted and are completely funny, no ifs or butts. Zero Mostel as this money hungry and dishonest man who was once the king of Broadway plays his role as if it were written for him. His facial expressions are funny, his energy is great and his character is wonderful. I love the scenes when he tries to con money from little old ladies after playing naughty sex games with them. I just love how greedy, dishonest and washed up he is and yet can still be likable. Only Zero can A+ this role. Gene Wilder, same feeling, tons of energy, has over the top facial expressions and is another great character. I love how smart and yet childish he is but what I really love are his hysterical moments. He puts so much energy into it that he can turn his face completely red. The chemistry between the two characters is so wonderful and funny that it's an epic comedy win.
The supporting characters are just as well casted and well written as our main stars and characters. Kenneth Mars (Who you know him in "Young Frankenstein" as Inspector Kemp, Little Foot's Grandpa in "The Land Before Time" and King Triton in Disney's "The Little Mermaid") as the neon Nazi Franz Liebkind is completely crazy, nuts, loves Hitler like a Father but is most of all out of his mind. Only Kenneth can make this over the top Neon Nazi have this much energy. Christopher Hewett as the gay cross dressing Director Roger (Parody of Edward D. Wood Jr.) and his assistant and lover Carmen Giya (Andreas Voutsinas) are both really funny, very gay, classy and feminine characters. Then we have Lee Meredith as Ulla the Swedish speaking receptionist, who's not only hot and funny but she loves to tease, dance, serve and is considered as a "Toy". Finally we have Dick Shawn as the flower loving hippie Lorenzo St. Du Bois aka "L.S.D." and he's so so funny that I can hardly breath while laughing. I don't care if the character's a bit dated, he's still funny and boy does he know how to make a Hippie out of Hitler. All these characters are so good, so well casted that no one can bring the same feel and energy as them.
Now the directing, cinematography and score give this film a great comedic atmosphere and I love the shots of New York in the 60's. The dialogue is so funny and quotable that it's probably one of the most quotable films I ever saw. The songs are funny and memorable.We get a song called "Love Power" sung by Dick Shawn and a prison song called "Prisoners Of Love" which are really good tunes. The best song of course is "The Spring Time For Hitler" number which is so offensive, so vulgar, so Nazi glorifying that only Mel Brook's can achieve making such a risky musical number so funny and catchy with great choreography and set design. There's tons of other moments in the film but I won't give them away.
The characters are memorable, the scenes are memorable, the dialogue is memorable and the story is memorable. While feeling a tad bit dated it still never gets old and doesn't fail to bring laughs. What a great way to start Mel Brook's career.
RATING 5/5
It's really a great film, impossible to be remade, who can fill the shoes of these characters?
YOU MUST BE JOKING?!
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