He wasnt sure his 1967 movie needed any tunes, and had to be persuaded by a persistent producer.
Brooks toldThe Guardiannewspaper that only when producer David Geffen kept calling did he finally agree to the project.
He recalled:
David Geffen called me every day.
Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel co-starred in the 1967 movieEmbassy Pictures
I said, David, its a perfectly good little movie.
I won the Academy Award for my screenplay.
Its been honored and saluted enough.
Theres no reason to make it a musical.
Then the next day, he called me again.
He never stopped calling me.
And finally, I said, Well, hes not a dumb guy, so maybe there is something.
Brooks said:
I was privileged to knowGene Hackmanbecause he played tennis with another GeneGene Wilder.
He said, Do you think Mel would let me play it?
Ive always wanted to do a comedy.
Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.
