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August 25, 2007

Greetings From Seattle

Seattle's weather finally turned into "Seattle weather" after a couple of beautiful, sunny days here in the Emerald City. This is the first time I have visited the city (as an adult) apart from the Seattle International Film Festival and thus, the first time with a rental car and thus, a very different and more beautiful experience.

Still, Salumi is easily within walking distance from the hotel and the smoked meat and mozzarella (and more) dive owned and operated by Mario Battali's dad is one of the great lunch experiences you could ever ask for. Truly spectacular... even worth standing on line for... and the line was still 15 deep at 2:30 in the afternoon. (Unfortunately, they are only open Tues-Fri, so no repeat visit this trip.)

The purpose of the journey was to see Young Frankenstein, which happened last night. Going back for another look on Sunday, so details on Monday. But one of the most interesting highlights of the evening, for me, was noticing Bob & Harvey Weinstein sitting at the other end of my row, on their own (meaning it was a business trip), a day after the official Seattle opening… which also struck me as meaningful… meaning that they were they under the radar, not getting photographed the night before at the opening.

The Brothers were co-financiers of The Producers when it went to Broadway. This time around, the money came primarily from Robert F.X. Sillerman (who was also in on The Producers) and Mel Brooks himself with an assist from The Frankel-Baruch-Viertel-Routh Group. Also not invited to invest in this next cash cow were Rocco Landesman, Rick Steiner, James D. Stern and Douglas L. Meyer.

So were The Brothers there as friends of the Brooks family, unable to break away from Nanny Diaries duty to get to the Thursday opening… or were they there to get a first look to buy movie rights… or does the show need some more money on the way to Broadway (the least likely scenerio, since the pre-sale is said to be well into the teens of millions)?

Mel Brooks sat front and center for the show and was quickly escorted out of the theater as he curtain came down. Hundreds of people streamed unawares past director Susan Stroman as she hung out with crew members outside of the theater before the show started. Brooks’ posse of L.A. pals actually came up to Seattle weeks ago, in the first week of the production, so they could give notes.

One thing is undeniable. The audience went crazy for the production. The show could go to Broadway as is and would play for at least a couple of years. But for me, I think it’s only about 80% there, as I will explain in detail come Monday, after I have had a chance to let it all sink in one more time.

Posted by poland at August 25, 2007 12:27 PM

Comments

i saw it too. but you're more forgiving. i'd say it's 60% there. interested to hear the rest of your impression. i'm no prude by any stretch, but the potty humor was a bit excessive...and Mel needs a family audience to make this one stay ALIVE for years to come.

Posted by: seattlemoviegoer [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 25, 2007 01:11 PM

I tell ya, if I had 80 bucks a head to spare, we'd be there.

Posted by: doug r [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 25, 2007 01:55 PM

David, did it have the blind hermit sequence? (one of my fave scenes from the flick).

Posted by: Spacesheik [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 27, 2007 06:04 AM

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