To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Brilliant and touching

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

While I enjoy comedies, I was never one to "burst out with laughter" during any comedy film. That was, until I viewed 'To Be or Not to Be'. Simply put, this film does not hold back on its satirical humour of, not only Nazi Germans, but the theater/stage community and the extreme levels of passion many actors/actresses involve themselves in. Despite the heavy elements of satire, the humour never goes overboard into crude or absurd (compared to many satirical films of today). Every bit of humour, whether dialogue or action, is delivered perfectly and hits the right note. There are very few, if not none, "dud" moments. The acting is, of course, excellent, with each actor/actress giving off performances that make it seem as if the role were tailor-made for them (which appears to be the case for Jack Benny).After viewing this film, it is surprising to see that it is often excluded from many "Greatest Comedies of All-Time" lists, and may be overlooked. If you enjoy characters pretending to be others, finding themselves in awkward/precarious situations, and their attempts to squeeze their way out, you will find this film hilarious. Either way, it is a must-watch.10/10

***User reviewer theowinthrop ("Swan Song in Warsaw", theowinthrop from United States, 12 November 2005) has an interesting review that covers most of the bases which follow here.*** "To Be Or Not To Be (1942, Ernst Lubitsch)", a comedy about the Nazi invasion of Poland, is worthwhile escapism. It is a product of the time it was made. Completed in 1941, the producers withheld it from release until the US was at war with Germany. When it was being made, the US was still neutral regarding the conflicts raging in Europe. So the Nazi subject matter (e.g., many digs at Adolf Hitler, the references to concentration camps, the Gestapo, etc.), was fairly new to Western audiences. There is a strong propaganda element throughout, and the leading actors are handicapped by the need to kiss up to the Allies while demonizing the Axis powers.This film may have inspired "Hogan's Heroes" which arrives 25 years later. For both, the Germans are easily defeated. "Hogan's Heroes" also has a Colonel Schultz who is particularly dim-witted.Even though the Saturday crowd was laughing out loud, many of the gags seem pretty antiquated today. What makes "To Be Or Not to Be" enjoyable is the performance by the three principal leads. Also, the Edwin Justic screenplay is energetic.In the tradition of 1930s screwball comedies, Robert Stack as Lieutenant Stanislav Sobinski is a very handsome young man in pursuit of love but inexperienced at it. He is more than a capable bombardier and soldier, but love is a more difficult battle altogether.Jack Benny's Joseph Tura, a pompous actor obsessed with his wife's presumed infidelities, is quite brilliant. Even though Tura repeats himself frequently, Benny has the skill to keep it interesting. Benny might have become a clown to rival Bob Hope if he had made more films. However, for many reasons Carole Lombard (as Maria Tura) is obviously the main attraction here.Lombard did not live to see this film released. She was killed at age 33 while flying to a war bond rally. Her departure was a terrible loss for world cinema. Not only is Carole Lombard breathtakingly beautiful, she is vastly talented. She excelled in comedic repartee. Her Maria Tura thinks very fast on her feet while captivating throughout. Carole Lombard was an elite performer during the fabled Golden Era of Hollywood.Cinephiles will enjoy "To Be or Not to Be." Just don't board an aircraft with an unpressurized cabin getting to the revival theater showing this.

It Could be Argued that this is Not Near as Good as The Great Dictator (1940), Charlie Chaplin's Nazi Comedy, this is Still Quite a Polished Piece of Cinema. Never Relying on Slapstick, it is All Done with Wit and Timing, Along with a Complicated Narrative Intertwining a Theatre Troupe Dressing Up and Posing as Nazi's with Real Nazi's. It has a Sophistication About it that Cannot be Denied.What Was Denied in the Initial Wartime Release was a Complete Affection for the Satire and Some People and Critics were Taken Aback to Say the Least. It was Mostly Ignored or Shunned and if it was Talked About at All it was Generally Agreed it was in Bad Taste.But it is a Well Pieced Together Plot Wavering Between Intrigue and Scripted One-Liners that Pepper the Picture and is the Glue that Holds it Together. Not All of the Jokes Work, but that is Typical of Most Comedies...Hitler as Cheese...for Example. But when they do they are Terrific...Robert Stack Bragging about His Manhood..."I can drop two tons of dynamite in two seconds".Overall, Jack Benny is Surprisingly Good and Carole Lombard is Masterful with Perfect Timing and a See Through Dress. What You Think of the Film will Largely be a Reflection of Your Mindset and if You Can Laugh at Concentration Camp Jokes. But Any Personal Protests Cannot Obscure the Films Artistry, This is One Sleek and Slick Production.

It's 1939. Husband and wife, Joseph (Jack Benny) and Maria Tura (Carole Lombard), are theater stars. He's a self-obsessed diva and she has an admirer in bomber pilot Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski (Robert Stack). After the German invasion, Sobinski is in England. He meets Professor Siletsky who is going back to Poland. Everybody gives him family and friends names to send greetings to. Sobinski is suspicious when he doesn't know who Maria Tura is. Before Sobinski could tell the higher ups, he's gone back and Sobinski is sent after him.This is a suspenseful thriller with some jokes thrown in. The remake is funnier and jokier. This one still has the funniest line "Heil myself". Mel Brooks makes walking out on "To be or not to be" much funnier than Jack Benny. Jack is less outrageous than Mel. This one is just more of a spy action movie being shown right in the middle of the war. It does struggle with the tone as it keeps going back to the big laughs with Jack Benny. It's a battle between the dark serious subject matter and Jack Benny trying to ham it up.