Recording 'The Producers': A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks

The Producers is a Broadway musical by Mel Brooks, based on his film comedy of the same name from 1968. The story deals with a down-and-out theatre producer who, together with a dull bookkeeper, devises a plan to get rich quick using a flopped show. The musical, which had its première early this year and for which Brooks wrote the script and the music, was a brilliant success and was showered with awards. This film is not a registration of the show, but follows the recordings for a CD with the music from the musical. The entire cast is present, including leading actors Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Mel Brooks acts as the narrator. The camera is always close to the action. In the publicity surrounding the documentary, it was commended as the next best thing to watching the show in the theatre. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)