Mel Brooks, writer and director, The Producers

I could have had a Universal picture finished and done, if I had only used [Springtime for] Mussolini. Lew Wasserman said, "Mussolini's not such a bad guy. You know, he's acceptable. Hitler is unacceptable." I said, " Lou, that's the reason for [Springtime for] Hitler, because the Jews want to close the show, they want a flop. With Mussolini they may get a hit." He said yeah, I see your point.

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