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. Josef tura and his wife maria are leading players in a theater company in poland. The leading lady was johns daughter diana barrymore, who had a brief hollywood career. To be or not to be is full of spontaneous interactions and hardly subdued insinuations, and is perhaps one of the sharpest metacomedies to materialise from the hollywood studio system. The film s comedic skewering of nazis was particularly controversial at a time when the war was ongoing. The 2020 academy awards just happened, and we have the full list of winners. Every now and then you find a movie that you can watch over and over without getting tired or bored, for me to be or not to be is one of those films. To be or not to be 1942 ernst lubitsch cast and crew. Directed by ernst lubitsch, it is set in germanoccupied warsaw during world war ii. Casablanca classic film score and song on its 75th anniversary. To be or not to be 1983 internet movie firearms database. Favorite things about to be or not to be 1942 the motion.
During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy. Watching the 1942 version in the context of the time in which it was made lends lubitschs film extra relevance and significance, raising this satire to a rarefied realm. It was in november of 1942 that a film classic was born. To be or not to be, american screwball comedy film, released in 1942, that was carole lombards last film. To be or not to be 1942 new sealed dvd carole lombard for. A film that is both comedic and suspenseful is no easy trick to pull off. Powell plays a diplomat whose amnesia about his past comes back to trouble him. A movie lampooning adolf hitler may have been acceptable a few years prior see, for example, charlie chaplins the great dictator 1940, though even then chaplin began to regret his. Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and wartime suspense in a comic highwire act that has never been equaled. Original is better 202014 to be or not to be to be or not to be 1942 film peter anderson written by adrian chapman to be or not to be, that is the question are probably the bestknown lines in english literature, hamlets greatest soliloquy s. To be or not to be 1942 full movie download full hd. In warsaw at the beginning of wwii, maria tura and her husband joseph perform antinazi plays with their theater troupe until they are forced to switch to shakespeares hamlet.
Quickly becomes slow and dull, never living up to its potential. 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 1942 movie clip while hes still young. To be or not to be on dvd 085393197629 from warner bros directed by ernst lubitsch. Casablanca the classic film score and song on its 75th anniversary. To be or not to be differs sufficiently from any other lubitsch film that it seems fair to grant mayer a decisive role in shaping its pointed style.
To be or not to be is a 1942 american black comedy film directed by ernst lubitsch and. Note how this complete plot description reads more like an involved. The original frankenstein is one of the silver screens most unforgettable characters and, along with the other universal classic monsters, defined the hollywood horror genre. To be or not to be 1942 new sealed dvd carole lombard. Walt disneys bambi hankies, 1942, complete, childrens. Carole lombard in to be or not to be 1942 cinema cities. My man godfrey full movie william powell carole lombard tcc ai color duration. As stated by film production expert eve light honthaner in the complete film production handbook, focal press, 2001 p. To be or not to be 1942 passed 1h 39min comedy, war 6 march 1942 usa during the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy.
Its scenes are crowded with wisecracks and actors playing multiple parts, and lubitsch makes forceful efforts in breaching the hampering restrictions of the. The 1942 version of to be or not to be arrives on bluray packaged in a standard criterion case. Jan 18, 2017 to be or not to be was in postproduction when lombard was tragically killed in an airplane crash after returning from a tour selling war bonds in january 1942, so she sadly didnt live to see the films release. Warsaw stage star maria tura carole lombard with dresser maude eburne, receives a note from a fan, hammy husband joseph jack benny beginning his soliloquy, handsome lieutenant stanislav robert stack paying his first visit, in ernst lubitschs to be or not to be, 1942. Complete list of every best picture oscar winner ever today. To be or not to be is an american comedy drama about an acting troupe in world war ii poland that uses their skills to fool the nazis.
The films comedic skewering of nazis was particularly controversial at a time when the war was ongoing. Nicholas barber looks at how the classic romantic melodrama was really about the plight of. Why casablanca is the ultimate film about refugees bbc. To be or not to be, a 1942 wartime comedy directed by the great ernst lubitsch and adapted from a story by melchior lengyel. In 2002, the american film institute selected to be or not to be as one of the 50 funniest american movies of all time. With carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart. She was pushed into the background once the story started.
Living in warsaw just before the 1939 invasion of poland, the troupe is putting on a play about nazi germany. Staring jack benny, carole lombard, felix bressart and stanley ridges. The film is pretty much a straight up remake of the 1942 film of the same title starring jack benny and carole lombard. The plot concerns a troupe of actors in nazi occupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. In march of 1942, when the film was initially released, most critics werent laughing. Ernst lubitsch jack benny carole lombard robert stack to be or not to be 1942 the great dictator charlie chaplin paulette goddard many national socialists felt that these two films made during ww2 gave false information to americans about adolf hitler and national socialist germany. The title is a reference to the famous to be, or not to be soliloquy in william shakespeares hamlet. To be or not to be 1942 movie posters cinematerial.
To be or not to be was in postproduction when lombard was tragically killed in an airplane crash after returning from a tour selling war bonds in january 1942, so she sadly didnt live to see the films release. Watch to be or not to be 1942 full movie free online. Media in category to be or not to be 1942 film the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. August 8 walt disneys animated film bambi opens in united kingdom. To be or not to be 1942 is berlin germanyborn director ernst lubitschs sophisticated screwball masterpiece, with satirical comedy, romance, and suspense. The setting is poland of 1939, at the time hitlers army marched in and shot everyone in its way. Watch to be or not to be full movie in hd visit during the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embr. To be or not to be 1942 movie clip while hes still.
To be or not to be, american screwball comedy film, released in 1942, that was carole lombard s last film. Casablanca classic film score and song on its 75th. Unlike many movies that star mel brooks, he did not write or direct it, only serving as actor and producer. This years cannes competition lineup included jupiters moon, a. What i love about the battlefield series is not only the gameplay, but the music. The film was misunderstood in its time as a black comedy, but now is appreciated as a true gem. The title of the movie is based on the to be or not to be. Complete national film registry listing film registry national film preservation board programs at the library of congress library of congress. In warsaw, poland, during august, 1939, actors at the theatre polsky rehearse their new play gestapo, about the nazi regime in germany. The film was adapted from a story by melchior lengyel and was produced and directed by ernst lubitsch. To be or not to be 1942 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. To be or not to be, a 1942 wartime comedy directed by the great ernst lubitsch and adapted from a story by melchior lengyel the synopsis. To be or not to be film by lubitsch 1942 britannica. Parents need to know that to be or not to be is a classic blackandwhite 1942 black comedy thats an odd, entertaining mixture addressing the nazi dread engulfing 1940s america and the need for a good laugh just around the time america entered world war ii.
Stanislav sobinski robert stack falls for maria and meets up with her. Crossroads is a 1942 mystery film noir directed by jack conway and starring william powell, hedy lamarr, claire trevor and basil rathbone. The plot concerns a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. Why casablanca is the ultimate film about refugees its 75 years since casablanca was released. Nov 24, 2017 no selfrespecting film festival is complete, at the moment, without some acknowledgement of the ongoing refugee crisis. Whether intentionally or not, the film implies that hitler himself was a hitlerimpersonator, that hitler is a kind of unattainable ideal. Now we finally have this wonderful criterion release of the classic 1942 ernst lubitsch comedy, yes comedy. Two that come to mind are foul play and silver streak. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production soon after the u. Publicity photos star headshots have traditionally not been ed. Nothing is what it seems in the film, which opens in 1939 as hitler. 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.
The film was misunderstood in its time as a black comedy, but now is. Cover has the foreign language text as the picture shows. According to wikipedia, jack bennys own father walked out of the theater early in the film, disgusted that his son was in a nazi uniform, and vowed not to set foot in the theater again. 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. She was pushed into the background once the story started progressing, which tells they didnt quite trust her. 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 hitler, the nazis and the third reich, while still being completely entertaining in its story of.
To be or not to be is a 1983 comedy starring mel brooks and his reallife wife, the late anne bancroft. The film was inspired by the 1938 french film crossroads which had also had a british remake dead mans shoes in 1940. Find movie and film cast and crew information for to be or not to be 1942 ernst lubitsch on allmovie. To be or not to be 1942 full movie download full hd youtube. Ernst lubitsch carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack.
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. Whats missing is the relevance of the 1942 film, released while germany occupied poland. Ernst lubitsch directs the 1942 political satire classic to be or not to be, which marked the final screen appearance of comedienne carole lombard. To be or not to be 1942 cast and crew acting couple joseph jack benny and maria tura carole lombard are managing a theatrical troupe when the nazis invade poland. Starts out interesting with a reappearing corpse, like a real life nightmare 1942. Gallery of 17 movie poster and cover images for to be or not to be 1942. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them. Backstage during an evening performance of shakespeares hamlet by the same polish troupe in warsaw, bronski and fellow actor greenberg commiserated about how in the current play, they were only cast in minimal acting parts as spearcarrying guards. Complete legacy collection includes all 8 films from the original legacy including the tragic classic starring boris karloff and the timeless films that followed. All, world wide, it can be played at any dvd player. This film is perhaps bennys best film, one of the few times he plays a part where his standard satire style fits into an anti nazi film during the war itself. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be is a black comedy about a polish. Compare this 1942 film with the modern with mel brooks and anne bancroft, and many polar opposites in opinion are evident.
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