My Favorite Version
I prefer this version of The Producers the newer version. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy both immensely, but this one just has that extra special "something". I've thought about it, and have come up with the reasons I prefer this one.
* Leo Bloom. I think Gene Wilder did a much better job at portraying Leo's hysterics. The line of "you're going to jump on me like Nero jumped on Popeiia" makes me laugh every time. Then, of course, the jumping that Max does makes more sense. I found Matthew Broderick's acting to be a little wooden in the role, albeit his singing was excellent.
* Roger de Bris. Forgive me that I do not recall the actors' names who portrayed this character. I found that the character of Roger de Bris is great when he is underplayed. The newer version seemed to make him more flamboyant, so the big reveal of the character is less shocking.
* Lorenzo St. Dubois. This character made the movie, in my opinion. His auditioning song was so bizarre and weird, that he made a perfect character. His forgetting his own name was priceless as well. Of course, when he becomes the lead character, his insanity leaks out, and makes the play a freakish comedy. When I first watched this movie, I got a headache from laughing so hard. I didn't find the new version to be as funny without this character.
* Springtime for Hitler. I found the few clips of the play worked very well, and were very funny, primarily because of LSD. The new version, because it's a musical, added more scenes and choreographed it more, but seems to have been watered down a little. It feels like this version was still so close to the events in question, that there's a little more tension in it than in the newer version, where more liberties could be taken.
All in all, I enjoy both versions, but this one is my personal favorite.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.