Reasons to Love New York
New York celebrates the citys timeless, peerless connection to movies.
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Matthew Broderick doesnt love looking in his career rearview mirror.
Reminiscing makes me feel old and strange and queasy, he says.
But hell make an exception forThe Producers.Talking about it, he says, fills me with pleasure.
I feel aboutThe Producersthe way people from Chicago feel about Ferris Bueller, he says.
Broderick says, I remember reading that Mel was developingThe Producersand thinking,Hell never cast me in that.
alongside his friend (andLion Kingco-star) Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock.
The show opened torecord-breakingticket sales.
The Broadway stars reprised their parts, as did supporting scene-stealers Gary Beach and Roger Bart.
But first: He shares his memories about being the toast of his favorite town.
We were both going to act in it.
The next day, I went to the arrangers apartment to hear the score.
Mel was a real childhood hero of mine.
I slept withThe 2000 Year Old Manplaying on my record player between the ages of 11 and 14.
It was never because I thought,Oh, this isnt good.
How could you possibly live up to what it had been?
So much so that I remember friends telling me, I dont know if you should do that.
But I knew the original so well that I didnt know I could make it my own.
I can watch the movie just by closing my eyes, so theres no avoiding it.
There was no way to ignore the original Leo Bloom.
I was a replacement, in a way.
Nobody knew what was going to happen.
We also changed the play a little bitfrom Chicagoand had an actor replaced.
It wasnt all smooth sailing.
But the show wasan instant hit.
That was a nice feeling because it felt like something youd see in a 1950s movie.
Id never been in a show that people went crazy for like that.
It was very exciting and rosy in memory.
Did Gene Wilder enjoy the show when he saw it?I think so.
He spoke very quietly, but he was very complimentary and loving toward me.
It was a little bit emotionally difficult for him to see, I would think.
What was it like reopening after 9/11?
Could you sense a difference in the audience?The first audience was maybe 400 people.
It was a great relief.
Do you remember this at all?I do now, yeah.
I think thats a joke thatMichael Patrick Kingwrote into the show.
It was very nice to be the joke that its hard to get seats to your show.
Im sure everybody inHamiltonknows the feeling.
And then a few years later, you and Nathan did the film.
LikewhatHamiltondid last year?Yeah, but that was more of a hybrid.
That was very well done.
Mel said, Those things kind of stink.
Theyre not as good as the show.
It sounds negative, but I think he wanted it to be more like a movie.
So rather than that version, he wanted to make a real movie musical.
Were you onboard right away?Certainly, I was onboard.
Everything else was good and had worked out so well.
And Stro and Mel, I love those people.
And Nathan, too.
The fact that they were using most of the original cast was just thrilling for us.
I wonder how Im still alive after doing that.
In that sense, it was a dream come true to have this movie be tacked onto this play.
Would you describe it as an easy shoot?You know, I hate talking for others.
But the one difficult part was thatAnne Bancroftwas very sick.
I cant remember the movie without honestly thinking about it.
So it wasnt a total joyride.
Why do you think itdidnt do well at the box office?
I knowChicagojustified people breaking into song.
You and your family are so well associated with the city.
New York adds a huge energy to movies.
He knew every inch of the city.
And there was something about the whole New Yorkness of the crew.
Ive done movies where youre in Toronto pretending to be New York, and its not the same.
Whats it like for you to film a movie in your own backyard?Oh, I love it.
Nothing makes me happier to be shooting a block from where I grew up.
ForThe Freshmanin 1990, we shot in Washington Square Park.
Every now and then, I get Do you still act?
and thats not so nice.
One of the good things about New York is the vibe here.
People tend to not speak to others.
They look at their feet.
How often do you talk to Nathan Lane these days?
You two were such a signature pairing.I see him all the time.
And Mel and Stro.
Its a cliche, but we were all a family.
CouldThe Producerswork in 2021?We were wondering that at the reunion too.
Its just making fun of people in it.
Its aware and not accidentally shocking, and unless Im forgetting something, its very good-hearted.
I hope somebody will revive it.
I keep telling Nathan he can still do it.
What about you?Im 900 years old.
Id have to wear a lot of knee braces.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
