Yeah, Mel Brooks said on the documentary that the reason why he did it was that you can't really argue with fasicts and their ilk because they're masters of retoric and debate, but you have to fight them with humor to show how rediculas they are. I'm a big fan of using logic to solve disputes, but when your oppent/target wouldn't know reality from a postcard humor is the only way you can really do something about it.
While this was Gene Wilder's first movie role, he did have success with roles on the brodway stage. Actually, the way that Brooks met Wilder: Bancroft worked with Wilder in a stage production.
I'll have to look for The Front: the 1950s is one of my favorite periods to study because of the begingings of the Cold War and McCarthyism. Mostly because I figure I need to know the politics of fear so Im not used in that manner.
And did you actually get to see The Producers on stage? Oh, man, that's somthing I would love to do. The first time I heard the original cast recording I fell for it hard.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-04-16 05:51 pm (UTC)While this was Gene Wilder's first movie role, he did have success with roles on the brodway stage. Actually, the way that Brooks met Wilder: Bancroft worked with Wilder in a stage production.
I'll have to look for The Front: the 1950s is one of my favorite periods to study because of the begingings of the Cold War and McCarthyism. Mostly because I figure I need to know the politics of fear so Im not used in that manner.
And did you actually get to see The Producers on stage? Oh, man, that's somthing I would love to do. The first time I heard the original cast recording I fell for it hard.