The Producers (1967)

Broadway has-been (Zero Mostel) realizes that if he sells more than 100% of the shares in a musical, and it fails catastrophically, investors won’t be looking for their money, and he can keep everything. So, he gets the wrong play, and hires the wrong director and actors. What could possibly go right?

The Producers features many exceptional, over the top comedic performances. Specifically Kenneth Mars as the Nazi playwright (I outrank you!), Dick Shawn as the on-stage Hitler, and of course Gene Wilder and Zero. But don’t forget about the secondary characters from the elderly, love-struck investors to the go-go dancing secretary.

The movie rose from relative obscurity when it was adapted into an actual Broadway musical then remade as a film. This is how Mel managed to earn an EGOT, which is pretty good for a man who can’t read music. I have not seen the latter film.

The movie’s many hilarious scenes are facilitated by the brilliant, almost plausible premise. The very broad, and very dated humor may be off putting for some, but for me The Producers is a delightful romp. Mel Brooks is a national treasure and I loved every minute of this film. AMRU 4.5.

“Hitler, there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon! Two coats!”

The Woman in White (1948)

A painter (Gig Young) is hired to give art lessons to a young woman (Eleanor Parker). On his way to their country estate he meets a mysterious woman in white. He soon learns that this family has many secrets.

John Abbott plays Frederick Fairlie, the Roderick Usher-adjacent head of the household, but it’s Count Bosco (Sidney Greenstreet) that runs things. Anita Sharp-Bolster appears as, I suppose, a housekeeper. I’ve seen her in quite a few films but I don’t ever remember her.

Gig Young stole his screen name from his character in The Gay Sisters. He seems familiar to me, particularly his IMDb photo. I saw him in the forgettable Desk Set, but I feel I recognize him in his later days, but I am wholly unfamiliar with the last decade of his career. Maybe he resembles John Forsyth, who, because of his drinking, replaced him in Charlie’s Angels. In fact he had to be replaced as The Waco Kid in Blazing Saddles because his DTs were so bad. Three weeks after marrying his fifth wife, thirty three years his junior, he killed her then himself.

Based on Wilkie Collins’ book of the same name, it has been remade for film and television many times. His later book The Moonstone is considered the first modern detective/mystery novel. That story too has been adapted several times.

The Woman in White falls in the drama/mystery genre, but dips its toe into romance and supernatural themes. As hinted it does have Fall of the House of Usher vibes, but it stands on its own as a fine Victorian mystery. Perhaps not super memorable, but worth watching. AMRU 3.

The Queen of Spades (1949)

Herman (Anton Walbrook), a 19th century Russian army captain, has ambitions of greatness. He discovers that an elderly countess had sold her soul to learn the secret to win at card games, so he plots to learn her secret.

Recommended by a youtube channel, I found it streaming and gave it a watch. He liked it better than me. Walbrook’s performance was great, but the slow burn made it something of an endurance test.

Pretty Yvonne Mitchell plays a would-be love interest. She had a fairly successful career in film. Married to film critic Derek Monsey, they would divorce, then remarry in 1978 only for him to die the following year. One month later, Yvonne herself would die of cancer. And so it goes. The elderly countess would outlive both her and Walbrook.

A bit slow as I mentioned, but The Queen of Spades has great atmosphere and cinematography, excellent performances, features some unique storytelling, and they totally stick the landing. It’s not for everyone, and I don’t think I would rush to rewatch it, but I am glad I saw it. AMRU 3.5.

Mr. Lucky (1943)

Gambler Joe (Cary Grant) needs to raise cash to finance a gambling cruise, so he plots to scam a war relief charity into running a fundraising casino. Will love bloom?

If you like the smart aleck Grant ala His Girl Friday, well here he is. That’s not to say that the films are equal. Girl Friday is a far better film, all around. But his charming scoundrel is present. Laraine Day, fifteen years Cary’s junior, is the charity worker wise to his intentions.

Not too much to say about this one. Typical wartime Hollywood patriotism, as one would expect. Amusing and perfectly watchable film. AMRU 3.5. Wow, I’ve gotten behind on my postings. I still have three films in the chamber.