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To Be or Not to Be (1942) Reviews

To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Member Rating:  
Ernst Lubitsch directs the 1942 political satire classic To Be or Not to Be, which marked the final screen appearance of comedienne Carole Lombard. In Warsaw at the beginning of WWII, Maria Tura (Lombard) and husband Joseph (Jack Benny) perform anti-Nazi plays with their theater troupe until they are forced to switch to Shakespeare's Hamlet. Lt. Stanislav Sobinski (Robert Stack) falls for Maria and meets up with her during Joseph's famous "To Be or Not to Be" speech as Hamlet. When Stanislav is eventually dispatched for war, he implicates Maria with Professor Siletsky (Stanley Ridges), who has a secret plan to destroy the Warsaw resistance. The Polish theater troupe is then forced to use their theatrical skills to ensure their survival. Eventually, they turn to impersonating Nazi officers -- and even Hitler himself -- in order to outwit the enemy and keep the resistance safe from spies. To Be or Not to Be opened to a controversial release in 1942, when the U.S. was still very much involved in WWII. It was remade in 1983 starring Mel Brooks and real-life wife Anne Bancroft. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Starring:
Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, (more)
Director(s):
Ernst Lubitsch
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(8 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Megan E.

This movie is a fabulous, entertaining film! The dialogue is witty, Carole Lombard and Jack Benny are extremely funny and the comedy has perfect timing, and the supporting cast is wonderful. This is not a historical film and if lack of authenticity bothers you, the accents are all over the place. But as an entertaining movie, this is a great film!

Yes   |   No


David S.

It's a tragic shame Carole Lombard was tragically taken from us too early to actually see this film released, because with the exception of My Man Godfrey, it's her very best film. Absolutely uproarous WWII satire, and classic, undefinable "Lubitsch Touch".

Yes   |   No


Kenneth Z.

Apparently NOT to be. I wanted the 1942 version and all I got (five times) was the 1983 version. They really need to listen to and act upon their customer feedback.

Yes   |   No


Tom G. R.

I happen to have gotten the right movie with the right cover and liked it a lot. I ordered the Mel Brooks movie and got it. It was on par with most other Mel Brooks movies. I hope that when I order the Jack Benny version I get the right one.

Yes   |   No


Tito A.

I requested the original 1942 movie and got the Mel Brook's version instead. Shame.

Yes   |   No


Jaret M.

This is my third experience where the movie listed is not what I wanted, and they do not bother to fix it. I actually wanted the original movie, as indicated in the image! I figured with the two previous reviews, I would indeed get what I wanted. Instead, they send me the Mel Brooks movie! I CAN'T WIN.

Yes   |   No


Heather G.

this is the older movie, not the 1983 movie with mel brooks! Directed by Ernst Lubitsch Writing credits Melchior Lengyel (story) Edwin Justus Mayer (screenplay) In occupied Poland during WWII, a troupe of ham stage actors (led by Joseph Tura and his wife Maria) match wits with the Nazis. A spy has information which would be very damaging to the Polish resistance and they must prevent it's being delivered to the Germans. Carole Lombard .... Maria Tura Jack Benny .... Joseph Tura Robert Stack .... Lt. Stanislav Sobinski Felix Bressart .... Greenberg Lionel Atwill .... Rawitch Stanley Ridges .... Prof. Alexander Siletsky Sig Ruman .... Col. Ehrhardt Tom Dugan .... Bronski

Yes   |   No


Stephan B.

This is NOT the Mel Brooks/Anne Bancroft remake; it's the original, as the image indicates.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (8)
     
    Megan E.

    This movie is a fabulous, entertaining film! The dialogue is witty, Carole Lombard and Jack Benny are extremely funny and the comedy has perfect timing, and the supporting cast is wonderful. This is not a historical film and if lack of authenticity bothers you, the accents are all over the place. But as an entertaining movie, this is a great film!

    Yes   |   No

     
    David S.

    It's a tragic shame Carole Lombard was tragically taken from us too early to actually see this film released, because with the exception of My Man Godfrey, it's her very best film. Absolutely uproarous WWII satire, and classic, undefinable "Lubitsch Touch".

    Yes   |   No

     
    Kenneth Z.

    Apparently NOT to be. I wanted the 1942 version and all I got (five times) was the 1983 version. They really need to listen to and act upon their customer feedback.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 8 Reviews
       

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