" Silhouetted figures were vaguely seen canoodling through the door.Cash-hungry, desperate, bankrupt, wild-eyed, hustling, has-been Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) was entertaining and romancing a rich, love-starved little old lady for her money.[Note: On a side note, he real-life divorced couple of Powell and Lombard were married previous to the film""s making, from 1931 to 1933." Cabot called Grushkov""s excuses for their absence lies - he believed that the Russians had no idea of their whereabouts.Pendergast: "I consider myself a very lucky little lady...being engaged to Mr.Pendergast."All he while, he was amorously embracing her, caressing her, and fondly ouching her hands, arms, and shoulders - she vainly attempted to ignore his advances.