Bickford Film Series Salutes 50th Anniversary of THE PRODUCERS

The Bickford Theatre celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest comedies to ever hit the big screen, The Producers, written and directed by the legendary Mel Brooks and staring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, and Kenneth Mars. The film won an Academy Award in 1968 for Best Original Screenplay.

When it was premiered in late 1967, the studio considered shelving it as being in "bad taste." At first, it received mixed reviews but over the years has gained in stature and is now one of the highest rated comedies ever made. The noted film critic Roger Ebert claimed that it "is one of the funniest movies ever made."

The screening will be moderated by retired New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick and the Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture Commission, Steven Gorelick. Mr. Lumenick is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and is well-known for his entertaining and occasionally controversial reviews. Before his 27 years at the New York Post, Mr. Lumenick was the film critic for the Bergen Record.

Mr. Gorelick has served as the Executive Director for the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission since 2008 and is responsible for bringing many well-known films and television shows to the state including "Transformers 2" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

Tickets for the Bickford Film Series range from $10 to $15 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 973-971-3706 or visiting www.morrismuseum.org/bickford-film-series. The screening of The Producers is on Wednesday, March 7, at 7:30 pm. The Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.