Mel Brooks' first film (and one of his best) is a riotous comedy that wouldn't have worked with a lesser cast. It's not that the script was bad, but it does require comic genius to pull off. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, an inspired match, meet the challenge and succeed with flying colors. Admirably showcased in this film, they're an offbeat nutty delight as a failing producer of Broadway shows and his accountant, respectively. Wilder observes that more money could be made by producing a flop than a hit; the idea sets Mostel's conniving brain in motion. Mostel and Wilder are fun and funny even when the script isn't, which is rare.