The Producers (DVD, 2003, Standard Version)

Excellent & then some.

This 2003 DVD release is of Mel Brooks's 1968 debut as a film director. In 2007, "Producers" still represents Brook's best career achievement & a classic theatre farce. "Producers" gained such extreme acclaim due to over-the-top performances by the 'odd couple' antics of Zero Mostel & Gene Wilder (who made his film debut in this one).

Here's the story: Bizarre has-been Broadway producer, Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel), has digressed to seducing little older ladies for checks made out to cash in exchange for hysterically weird 'sexual favors' that rarely take place. It's Bialystock's scam to accumulate enough of their money to produce a Broadway show.

Entering into Bialystock's office, interrupting a hysterical sexual role playing game with one of his elderly unwitting production "backers," come a neurotic & shy auditor, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder on the silver screen for the first time!). Bloom has come to audit Bialystock's financial records. After Bloom finds s substantial amount of money unaccounted for, Bialystock (Mostel) seduces even him by conveying his tall tall tale of has-been producer woes. Bloom has a neurotic break-down & pulls out his little blue baby blanket remnant wiping his face for comfort. Bialystock grabs it & Wilder has an immediate anxiety attack! Such a scene between to the lead actors is typical of their ever so long beloved antics. Mostel & Wilder prove to be one of Hollywood's most perfect casting matches. Add to it, that Mel Brooks wrote his most famous comedy script and voila'--"Producers" is a film masterpiece.

Following the script again, the now comforted paniced auditor Bloom (Wilder)unwittingly blurts out a sceme that the desperate Bialystock seizes upon to concoct an undetectable plot. Deliberately produce a sure Broadway flop, "sell" 25,000% of the one-night-bust of a play & 'take the money & run'.

Bialystock seduces Bloom again; this time to co-produce the flop of all Broadway one-night flops. Reading through the worst scripts they can find, Bialystock discovers the sure loser. Bloom concurs that their top choice for instant failure is half-wit Nazi-wannabe's script, "Springtime for Hitler," which is supposed to redeem the writer's idol, Adolf Hitler.

I'm no spoiler, so this is one show you'll have to watch to know the rest.
Be assured, there's ample justification for this critic & all others who rave as I do to still view "Producer" as Mel Brooks' best.

Aside: Gene Wilder grew up with a mother with disabilities. He learned to be a comedian in order to make her laugh so hard she wet her pants!

The vendor was very prompt in acknowledging my purchases and mailing them to me. I would recommend them highly and not hestitate to buy from them again.