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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Forår for Hitler" or "Springtime for Hitler (working title)")

directed by Mel Brooks
USA 1968

Winner of the 1969 Academy Award and WGA for best screenplay, Mel Brook’s “The Producers” is one of the most insanely funny films ever made. Anarchic, rebellious and hysterically in any way possible, it tells the story of perhaps the most greedy and self-centred producer ever, Max Bialystock, who has no morals and who will sell out on everything, and his grey sidekick, Leo Bloom, and how one of the most stupid schemes for making a quick buck turned into the biggest failure (read: success) in history.

Inspired by a real life producer Brooks knew, Bialystock, is a has-been, who now makes a living making naïve old women give him checks for plays who flop. By accident the accountant Bloom realises a scheme, by which one can make, potentially, a million by producing a flop. Thus Bialystock makes the plan of producing the worst play ever and then to go to Rio.

First they find the worst play ever written, which happens to be “Springtime for Hitler”, a musical written by a paranoid Nazi, then in order to raise a million dollars, he first of all sells 40,000% of the play, after which they hire the worst director ever (“his plays usually close on the first day of rehearsal”) to direct and finally hires a washed-out hippie with no talent what-so-ever to play Hitler.

It is a masterpiece in so many aspects, that one can go on and on. First there is the story, which has no equal, then there is the dialogue, where basically each line spoken in the film now is a classic, the most classic, in my opinion, the most exuberant declaration of greed and desire ever: “I WANT EVERYTHING I’VE EVER SEEN IN THE MOVIES.”

Then there are the in-jokes, then there is the powerhouse performance by Zero Mostel, then there is the characters, who perhaps are the most outrageous characters ever to hit the screen: The dumb oversexed Swedish blond secretary, the paranoid Nazi playwright, the horny old ladies, the transvestite director, his ohh-so-gay assistant and of course L.S.D. As I said, one can go on and on.

Leonard Maltin notes, that this is one of the few movies, that becomes funnier the more times you watch it. So true. As one of the few films I’ve seen more than fifty times, this is a film that just never ceases to make one break out in laughter. A triumph of comedy. A masterpiece.

Henrik Sylow

Poster

Theatrical Release: March 18, 1968 (New York)

Reviews                        More Reviews                       DVD Reviews

Comparison:

MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Shout! Factory "Collector's Edition"  - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Kino Lorber "Special Edition"  - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Mathias Nielsen for the DVD Screen Caps!

Box Covers

 

  

  

BONUS CAPTURES:

Distribution

MGM

Region 1 - NTSC

Momentum Pictures
Region 2 - PAL
MGM
Region 1 - NTSC
Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:29:32 1:25:45 (4% PAL speedup) 1:29:40 1:29:22.440 1:29:22.440
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.79 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1:85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.25 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.70 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 38,366,657,209 bytes

Feature: 26,952,830,976 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.89 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,979,763,751 bytes

Feature: 29,369,118,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) 

Bitrate:

Momentum Pictures (Special Edition)

Bitrate:

MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)

Bitrate Shout! Factory:

Blu-ray

Bitrate Kino Lorber:

Blu-ray

Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English

5.1 Dolby Digital English

2.0 Dolby Digital Mono English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2816 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2816 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1695 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1695 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB

Subtitles English, French, Spanish, None English for the hearing impaired English, French, Spanish, None English, French, Spanish, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• The Making of 'The Producers' (1:03:49)
• Sketchgallery - slideshow (2:14)
• Playhouse outtakes (3:41)
• Photogallery
• Paul Mazursky reads Peter Sellers statement (00:54)
• Trailers
• Soundtrack spoofs
• Easter Eggs
• ...
• Extras on side B

DVD Release Date: August 8, 2003
Keep case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Momentum Pictures

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1:85:1

Edition Details:
• The Making of 'The Producers' (Divided into 'Opening', 'Act I', 'Intermission', 'Act II' & 'Closing'
• Sketch Gallery - slideshow
• Trailer
• Playhouse Outtake
• Peter Sellers' Statement Read By Paul Mazursky
• ...
• Animated 3D Menus
• ...
• All Extras on Disc 2
 

DVD Release Date: October 25, 2004
Digipak Drawer

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• The Making of 'The Producers' (1:03:49)
• Sketchgallery - slideshow (2:14)
• Playhouse outtakes (3:41)
• Photogallery
• Paul Mazursky reads Peter Sellers statement (00:54)
• Trailers
• Soundtrack spoofs
• Easter Eggs
• ...
• Extras on side B
• ...
• Including 8 seconds intro about fullscreen

 

DVD Release Date: August 8, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Shout! Factory

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 38,366,657,209 bytes

Feature: 26,952,830,976 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.89 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• The Making of 'The Producers' (1:03:24)
• Mel and His Movies: The Producers  (18:52)
• Deleted Scene (3:42)
• Peter Sellers Ad in Variety read by Paul Mazursky (00:53)
• 3 Trailer
• Sketch Gallery (2:15)

DVD of the Feature
 

Blu-ray Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,979,763,751 bytes

Feature: 29,369,118,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.91 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Michael Schlesinger
• The Making of THE PRODUCERS (1:03:24)
• Playhouse Outtake (03:42)
• Sketch Gallery (02:15)
• Peter Sellers' Statement Read by Paul Mazursky (00:54)
• Radio Spot (00:33)
• Theatrical Trailer (02:11)e

 

Blu-ray Release Date: April 13th, 2021
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (March 2021): Kino Lorber presents an all new 4K restoration of Mel Brooks' Oscar winning debut picture, "The Producers". This Kino presentation resides in a dual-layered Blu-ray disc. Upon looking at our comparison images below, one would be hard-pressed to defend the previous transfer after seeing this new 4K restoration. Not only is the framing slightly improved (now showing a tad more in the top and left frame, with less on the bottom/right), but a much heftier contrast improves not only the blacks, but the depth and richness of reds, blues, and greens especially. The 1.85:1 HD image looks brilliant in motion, thanks to a fully maxed-out bitrate. Detail is a bit better, but that increase in contrast also helps to show information that was previously lost. Thankfully there is still a healthy amount of grain in the texture too. A fabulous upgrade for Brooks fans.

 

NOTE: We have added 20 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Whereas Shout! Factory's older
Blu-ray included 24-bit linear PCM track as well as DTS-HD surround, this new restored Kino Blu-ray includes both but in 16-bit DTS HD Master audio. While 24-bit linear PCM tracks are typically stronger, this 16-bit DTS track is quite sufficient, and just as effective in my opinion. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

The significant new extra on Kino's
Blu-ray is an audio commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Michael Schlesinger. Schlesinger humorously opens the track by stating that his guess is as good as ours as to why he has been chosen to perform commentary duties. He then notes that Mel Brooks is still alive, and is his own personal God. What follows is a light-hearted yet rather wide-reaching commentary full of interesting historical facts and contextual curiosities. Fans of Schlesinger's other commentary work ("Holiday", "Support Your Local Sheriff'', "One, Two, Three") will be pleased with this track as well. Kino Lorber's new Blu-ray also includes many previously available extras (all listed above) including the "Making-of'', outtake, sketch gallery, the Peter Sellers statement read by Paul Mazursky, a radio spot, the film's theatrical trailer, as well as trailers for a handful of other films.

If you have never owned "The Producers" on
Blu-ray, this is the one to get. Kino's new 4K restoration blows the previous releases out of the water, image-wise. The new commentary is also a welcome bonus. To those that have previous iterations, this could definitely warrant an upgrade. Recommended.

-Colin Zavitz

 

***

 

ADDITION: Shout! Factory Collector's Edition - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (June 2013): Shout! Factory's new 1080P transfer is in 1.85:1 and skin tones demonstratively warm. Colors (notable blues and maroons) become vibrant and detail does pick up with the improved layered-contrast. It retains some film-like thickness. The Producers isn't part of the Mel Brooks Collection (on Blu-ray) reviewed HERE by Leonard. I like the grain but question how red those faces are. It is dual-layered with a strong bitrate - perhaps this is how it looked theatrically?

 

Audio goes lossless in a DTS-HD Surround or linear PCM in original 2.0 channel. I stuck with the stereo and it sounded quite good with potency and crispness. There are optional subtitles.

 

Extras mimic, most of, the 2-disc SE but add the 19-minute Mel and His Movies piece that fans will appreciate. A second disc DVD is included. I still enjoy this - so much fun. I love Gene Wilder. 

 - Gary Tooze

***

ON THE DVD: It doesn't look like the sources are the same. The R2 image is in some scenes slightly cropped vs. the R1 image (approx 2,5% top and 2% right), and in other scenes display more image right and bottom. I can only assume, that its two different sources and two different widescreen scans.

The R2 image also has received a more than healthy dose of light, colour and contrast, very visible in captures #3 and 6.

In addition to the OAR of 1.85:1, the R1 has a open matte version.

Where the R2 is a 2-disc, the R1 is something as a DVD-18, a flipper, with the two versions of the film (open matte and theatrical widescreen) on side A and additional material on side B.

 - Henrik Sylow

 


Menus

(MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
 

 

 Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


 

 CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) MGM (Special Edition (16x9)) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Momentum Pictures (Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND

3) MGM (Special Edition (Fullscreen)) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 


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Report Card:

 

Image:

Kino Blu-ray

Sound:

Shout Blu-ray

Extras:

Kino Blu-ray

Box Covers

 

  

  

BONUS CAPTURES:

Distribution

MGM

Region 1 - NTSC

Momentum Pictures
Region 2 - PAL
MGM
Region 1 - NTSC
Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...