To be or not to be is a 1942 american black comedy film directed by ernst lubitsch and starring carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart, lionel atwill, stanley ridges and sig ruman. To be or not to be 1942 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. To be or not to be is an american blackandwhite film from 1942, so almost 80 years old, that runs for almost 100 minutes and was directed by ernst lubitsch. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be is a black comedy about a polish theater companyled by joseph and maria tura jack benny and carole lombardthat turns to espionage after being shut down by. In early january 1942, as ernst lubitsch was editing the film, united artists informed him that to be or not to be, with its shakespearean reference, seemed too highbrow a title and that thought should be given to changing it. The plot concerns a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops.
Though its impossible to imagine governments using actors as spies at least not in the way the film employs them, it really does seem that the makers of the film understood the psychosis that motivated hitlers regime in ways that the allies did not. It was adapted by lubitsch uncredited and edwin justus. Mel brooks to be or not to be is entertaining, but the best version is ernst lubitschs 1942 film with jack benny and carole lombard. Jack benny and carole lombardthat turns to espionage after being shut down.
As mild as the hollywood response to the third reich may have been in the days and years before the second world war, two movies. By the time the picture wrapped on december 23, the u. The anarchist film archive presents to be or not to be 1942 ernst lubitsch, watch online now. To be or not to be 1942 tainies online fevgatotv greek. In a sense, this is the hogans heroes of ww2 era movies. In march of 1942, when the film was initially released, most critics werent laughing. Rent to be or not to be 1942 starring carole lombard and jack benny on dvd and bluray. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production right before the u. Dont ask me why ive never seen the original version of to be or not to be 1942. In warsaw at the beginning of wwii, maria tura and husband joseph perform antinazi plays with their theater troupe until they are forced to switch to shakespeares hamlet. Stanislav sobinski robert stack falls for maria and meets up with her. Sobinski returns backstage to confess his love to maria, assuming that she will leave her husband and the stage to be with him.
Watch to be or not to be 1942 movie trailer instantly, no need to login. Gallery of 17 movie poster and cover images for to be or not to be 1942. Makin huge profits while staying neutral the film was not allowed to be. Whats missing is the relevance of the 1942 film, released while germany occupied poland. To be or not to be is playing on mubi in the us through august 28 in 2002, the american film institute selected to be or not to be as one of the 50 funniest american movies of all time. To be or not to be passed 1h 39min comedy, war 6 march 1942 usa during the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be is a black comedy about a polish. Large database of subtitles for movies, tv series and anime at opensubtitles.
Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and wartime suspense in a comic highwire act that has never been equaled. The controversial antiwar comedy about espionage and politics from producer alexander korda marked by incisive black humor was a bold cinematic work during the world war ii years that skewered and lampooned the tyrannical leader adolf. But with the great cast assembled here charles durning is particularly great in his role, its certainly worth a look. Just as in wigans heroes, the nazis in to be or not to be are morons. Comedy is supposedly tragedy plus time, but ernst lubitschs wwii screwball classic to be or not to be 1942, 1 hr. During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy. Maybe thats what pissed so many people off about to be or not to be. This movie was made before while the us was still playin both ends against the middle. To be or not to be works as both comedy and thriller, ratcheting up the tension and humor as the actors scheme threatens to fall apart, and the gags build on. The screenplay was written by ronny graham and thomas meehan, based on the original story by melchior lengyel, ernst lubitsch and edwin justus mayer.
Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and urgent wartime suspense in a. Read famous quotes from to be or not to be, 1942, directed by ernst lubitsch, with carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack. Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and urgent wartime suspense in a comic highwire act that has never been equaled. When it was released, many believed the film broached its subject far too soon to be deemed in good taste. To be or not to be began filming in october 1941 on a very tight schedule. There was nothing moronic about the nazi conquerers. A masterpiece of satire and one of the more controversial films of its day, to be or not to be is a brilliant example of how comedy can be as effective in raising social and political awareness as a serious propaganda film, while still providing hilarious entertainment. Read the full synopsis of to be or not to be, 1942, directed by ernst lubitsch, with carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, at turner classic movies. Ernst lubitsch carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack. The movie was released after the untimely death of carole lombard who died in a plane crash while flying back to california after helping to sell war bonds in the eastern u. To be or not to be is a 1942 american comedy film about a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the.
To be or not to be 1942 tt0035446 during the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy. A renowned polish acting troupe is compelled to take on the performance of their lives with an impromptu spy plot in this wickedly funny satire of naziism and hitlers germany. The title is a reference to the famous to be, or not to be soliloquy in william shakespeares hamlet. Though brooks is tasteless as usual in to be or not to be, his remake of ernest lubitschs 1942 comedy of the same name may be his best work since his debut film, the producers. But tonight, the random movie generator was kind, and it spat out this classic movie. To be or not to be 1942 movie posters cinematerial. To be or not to be 1942 ernst lubitsch watch online. Maltin writes that it is a scene for scene copy, but i am not reminded of any shots i saw in 1942. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production soon after the u. This movie is hilarious, it has a great cast and a good director, and the. Richard brody on ernst lubitschs to be or not to be 1942.
To be or not to be 1942 synopsis in world war ii poland, the elaborately egotistical theatrical couple joseph and maria tura jack benny and carole lombard head a company that is forced by their occupiers to switch from antinazi propaganda to shakespeare, allowing maria to dally backstage with the young pilot sobinski robert stack while joseph hams it up as hamlet hence the title. To be or not to be is a 1942 american comedy film about a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. Its a 1942 war time comedy classic that uses shakespeares soliquy as an excuse me cue to sneak out of. To be or not to be, american screwball comedy film, released in 1942, that was carole lombards last film. I agree with the previous post that the movie defangs the nazis. Shortly before the films release during postproduction, one of its stars, hollywoods beloved carole lombard blonde wife of clark gable, died at the age of 33.
It was just one of many movies that seemed to slip through the cracks, though i did manage to find time to watch little witches five times. When this film premiered, poland had been ripped asunder and the warsaw ghetto had been created. To be or not to be is a 1942 screwball comedy produced by alexander kordas london films company though actually shot in america at the united artists studios, directed by ernst lubitsch, and starring jack benny and carole lombard in her final film role. To be or not to be 1942 is berlin germanyborn director ernst lubitschs sophisticated screwball masterpiece, with satirical comedy, romance, and suspense. Before she can correct his assumption, news breaks out that germany has invaded poland. The controversial antiwar comedy about espionage and politics from producer alexander korda marked by incisive black humor was a bold. To be or not to be film by lubitsch 1942 britannica. Ernst lubitsch directs the 1942 political satire classic to be or not to be, which marked the final screen appearance of comedienne carole lombard.
6 786 116 787 1282 456 1441 721 931 134 594 611 500 776 1253 482 573 1301 1281 353 1059 861 1281 1327 628 1103 462 106 272 1137 1258 498 370 366 21 401 454 23 791