The Producers (2001 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Mel Brooks (Artist), Matthew Broderick (Artist), Nathan Lane (Artist), Roger Bart (Artist), Gary Beach (Artist), Cady Huffman (Artist), Jesse Levy (Artist), Jennifer Smith Tony Kadleck Grace Paradise (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005AY6I
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (173 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,174 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
The Producers was the vehicle that first proclaimed Mel Brooks's decidedly singular comic vision as a film director in 1968. At the time, the world may not have been entirely ready for the depth charges of hilarity he unleashed; but more than three decades later, it seemed almost foreordained that the film's retooling as a full-fledged musical--directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman--would become the smash hit of the 2000-2001 Broadway season (even before opening at the St. James Theatre in April). Brooks is, of course, no stranger to the Broadway musical genre or to songwriting, but skeptics might find themselves taken by surprise at just how outrageously well all the threads come together for the new show.

The film's absurd core vignette--the infamous "Springtime for Hitler"--if anything gains a few notches in hilarity when framed by a character-rich musical that comes off as both parody and valentine in its mimicry of Broadway's "golden age." Brooks (with the help of idiomatically expert arrangements by Glen Kelly) has cooked up a variety of numbers constituting a virtual primer of old-fashioned American musical comedy styles (there's even a toying with Cabaret-style decadence), but they're always coated with an extra layer of zaniness. In fact, the whole show becomes a Chinese box of parodies within parodies. But what really gets the whole mix working is a surefire cast headed by Nathan Lane playing Max Bialystock and Matthew Broderick doing a delightfully nebbish turn with delusions of misplaced glory as his sidekick, Leo Bloom.

From his first big number (musically winking at Fiddler on the Roof), Lane hungrily lays claim to the role, undaunted by his formidable predecessor, Zero Mostel. Even on disc, you can visualize his over-the-top mugging as a dethroned "king of Broadway" who was "the first producer ever to do summer stock in the winter." Comedy, as they say, is all about timing, and that's exactly what Lane gets right. His interactions with Bloom, Franz Liebkind (Brad Oscar), and Roger de Bris (Gary Beach) are priceless, even when only in sound. As for the tunes, Brooks crafts a number of truly memorable ones--don't be surprised to find yourself horrified as you hum along with "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop" and, of course, "Springtime for Hitler." --Thomas May

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you, Mel Brooks, For Your Love Letter to Broadway, August 4, 2001

By	Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

What a treat to listen to the soundtrack of Mel Brooks' musical comedy based on his 1968 movie of the same name. I've never seen the movie nor will I, in all likelihood, get to New York to see this on stage. But, sitting in the comfort of my own home and listening to Nathan Lane and Matthew Borderick belt out their angst-driven energy as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom was a fantastic musical treat. The lyrics brim with Mel Brooks' distinctive wit, and though he'll never be confused with Oscar Hammerstein, this brazen and bawdy man knows how to entertain better than almost anyone.

When the overture begins and the first strains of "Springtime for Hitler" are heard, you know you are in for an engaging, disarming event. Nathan Lane's mugging, particularly in his "Fiddler on the Roof" takeoff as "The King of Broadway" comes shining through. "West Side Story," "The Pajama Game," "Cabaret," and other Broadway classics are spoofed in beguiling musical parodies.

If you don't see the actual production on stage you may miss the sex-starved old ladies dancing desperately with their walkers or the sight gags and the cameo appearance of Stormtrooper Mel Himself, but this CD is worth every penny for its high energy performances captured for everyone to enjoy. And as a special bonus, the gloriously nutty repartee within the songs has been recorded so the listener gets the full flow of the story.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to the Future with Uncle Mel, April 29, 2001

By	Kenneth Kane "Kommissar Ken" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My wife and I were lucky enough to see the show in previews on Broadway and we haven't stopped laughing yet. The CD contains music which SOUNDS like tunes you've heard before -- even a casual listening will prompt you to think of Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie, A Funny Thing Happened . . ., How To Succeed . . ., Fiddler on the Roof and at least a half-dozen other shows. It's as if someone dug this recording out of a circa 1950 time capsule.

This isn't meant to say the show is merely derivative. In fact, I consider the broadly familiar sound a strong positive factor. So is the madcap humor and pacing, both of the songs and the production as a whole.

Indeed, one of the show-stoppers on this cast recording is "The King of Old Broadway" and that's what this entire show is: a fabulous throwback to the old Broadway of classic American musical comedy of the mid-20th century. Three minutes into this CD you'll know you're NOT listening to a Disney show nor one composed by a Brit with three names.

Mel Brooks' tunes are catchy and singable and his lyrics are Noel Coward-sharp. (Just see if you can get these ditties out of your head!) The CD comes with a nice extra: extensive liner notes which include the complete lyrics and spoken interludes of every song.

The songs on the recording are well-played by an enthusiastic orchestra -- Glen Kelly's fine arrangements and orchestrations flesh out Mel's tunes. The singing is uniformly good, an occasional flat note not withstanding, and the interpreations are inspired. When Max/Nathan Lane tells Leo/Matthew Broderick near the end of the show, "I never realized you're a good singer" it's more than a line of dialogue. It's actually true.

If you're lucky enough to see the show, the CD is the ultimate souvenir. If you haven't seen it, the CD will more than tide you over until you do. And if "The Producers" inspires a renewal of the American musical comedy genre in the next few years (let's face it, success breeds imitation), then we all have Mel Brooks and company to thank or, to parody one of his own songs from the show:

Broadway going nowhere in a hurry . . . 'til him.

Bland and spiceless, never ever curry . . . 'til him.

Mel's schtick changed the Great White Way.

It's no longer prim.

Oi vay, let's hope there's at least another one . . . like him.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hysterical !, June 11, 2005

By	AJK (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I was fortunate enough to see "The Producers" with Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick shortly after it's premiere. The show was absolutely hysterical, with a really strong score. Nothing against Mr. Broderick, but Mr. Lane's part is larger & has the best songs. He totally deserved the Tony for Best Actor that year.

Musically, the production contains more songs than a typical score, with strong voices and orchestrations. Best tracks include:

The King Of Broadway
I Wanna Be A Producer
Keep It Gay
When You Got It, Flaunt It
Along Came Bialy
Springtime For Hitler
Betrayed [Lane's "tour de force" recap of the show]

While I wouldn't call this the best show to grace the stage (though it won the most Tonys ever & NY critics tripped over themselves in praise), it is fantastic & came at a time when the Great White Way was taking itself way too seriously. Also, it was too bad that "The Full Monty" did not share in the victories of that season. Timing is everything!

Nonetheless, one of the best scores ever!