Mel brooks to be or not to be is entertaining, but the best version is ernst lubitsch s 1942 film with jack benny and carole lombard. 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 lubitsch s to be or not to be, 1942. So the financing of to be or not to be was taken up by british film executive alexander korda, a coowner of united artists. Notice how the exchange gives at once too much and too little information. Comedy virtuosos carole lombard and jack benny star as married shakespearean actors in world war iiera poland who put their theatrical skills to use to foil a nazi spy. In occupied poland during wwii, a troupe of ham stage actors led by joseph tura and his wife maria match wits with the nazis. The title of the movie is based on the to be or not to be. To be or not to be 1942 ernst lubitsch watch online. Lubinski, kubinski, lominski, rozanski, and poznanski. To be or not to be, an antinazi comedy for which lubitsch had the very original story idea, was to be his next independent project, but the poor box office of that uncertain feeling led to the company being dissolved. Rent to be or not to be 1942 on dvd and bluray dvd. It was adapted by lubitsch uncredited and edwin justus. Ernst lubitsch s to be or not to be 1942 teaser trailer.
Stanislav sobinski robert stack falls for maria and meets up. Instead of a fluff piece, this particular movie has incredible. Shot before the us was even involved in ww2, set in 1939 poland, and directed by a german jew, it has staying power as an incredibly brave film that dared to confront the evils of nazi germany with laughter and a confidence that, in the end, even fools would be able to outsmart those blowhards. Jack benny and ernst lubitsch share a laugh on the set of to be or not to be lubitsch himself was born to a jewish family in berlin. With mel brooks, anne bancroft, ronny graham, estelle reiner. To be or not to be by ernst lubitsch carole lombard, jack. In to be or not to be, he achieved this even in the face of the darkest of shadows. Ernst lubitsch filmography click a film title for more info link opens in a new window.
To be or not to be is a remake of the 1942 film of the same name, directed by ernst lubitsch and starring carole lombard and jack benny. Vf to be or not to be film lubitsch streaming gratuit. Komedie oorlog film geregisseerd door ernst lubitsch. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production right before the u. What he shows us is an illusion, but an illusion created from a refined consciousness of what the world is, with the aim of creating delight. Hamlets most famous soliloquy was a positive declaration when compared to the jangled moods and baffling humors of ernst lubitsch s new film, to be or not to be, which opened yesterday at the. January 29, 1892 november 30, 1947 was a germanborn film director, producer, writer, and actor. Made during world war ii by german expatriate ernst lubitsch, the film features antifascist themes that never overwhelm the characters, and it allows star jack benny to fashion a. To be or not to be ernst lubitsch streaming vf streaming complet. To be or not to be 1942 movie clip while hes still. 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 jeux dangereux bande annonce vost.
Jack benny, carole lombard, robert stack, lionel atwill en felix bressart. Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and urgent wartime suspense in a comic highwire act that has never been equaled. Rock hudson, american actor noted for his good looks and movie roles during the 1950s and 60s and popular newsletter icon. In march of 1942, when the film was initially released, most critics werent laughing.
Johnson may not quite have lubitsch s lightness of touch, but he puts an excellent cast through their paces with great verve, and the charm is as potent as ever. To be or not to be film by lubitsch 1942 britannica. I love ernst lubitschs classic the shop around the corner, and thought id give this picture a try. 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 directed by ernst lubitsch. 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. Robertsons initial success for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production soon after the u. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being hollywoods most elegant and sophisticated director. One of those old, classic comedies whose humor has stood the test of time. 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. With carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart. Ernst lubitsch s sparkling satire blends urbane wit, romance, and geopolitical intrigue into one practically perfect package. 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.
Directed by ernst lubitsch, it is set in germanoccupied warsaw during world war ii. Media in category to be or not to be 1942 film the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a. Premiere voted this movie as one of the 50 greatest comedies of all time in 2006. World war ii officially began with the invasion of poland on. As mild as the hollywood response to the third reich may have been in the days and. Ernst lubitsch carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack. A spy has information which would be very damaging to the polish resistance and they must prevent its being delivered to the germans. As nervy as it is hilarious, this screwball masterpiece from ernst lubitsch stars jack benny and, in her final screen appearance, carole lombard as husbandandwife thespians in nazioccupied warsaw who become caught up in a dangerous spy plot.
The late late show with james corden recommended for you. To be or not to be ernst lubitsch streaming vf streaming. The films comedic skewering of nazis was particularly controversial at a time when the war was ongoing. Ernst lubitsch s 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. But with the great cast assembled here charles durning is particularly great in his role, its certainly worth a look. Rent to be or not to be 1942 starring carole lombard and jack benny on dvd and bluray. During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy. 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 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 one another.
Richard brody on ernst lubitsch s to be or not to be 1942. Lubitsch, of course, would never be so strident as to say so out loud. Melchior lengyel original story, edwin justus mayer. The plot concerns a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. However, to be or not to be the film this evening is a remastered version of a 1942 american political satire classic comedy directed by ernst lubitsch, about a troupe of actors in nazioccupied warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. Rent ernst lubitsch movies and tv shows on dvd and bluray. 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.
Ernst lubitsch to be or not to be to be or not to be subtitle date. The screenplay was written by ronny graham and thomas meehan, based on the original story by melchior lengyel, ernst lubitsch and edwin justus mayer. In warsaw at the beginning of wwii, maria tura lombard and husband joseph perform antinazi plays with their theater troupe until they are forced to switch to shakespeares hamlet. Yet, tellingly, to be or not to be must be roundabout in making that claim, so much so that it would be wrong to even call it a claim. Ernst lubitsch carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart, lionel atwill. Jewishness is simply not something that can be claimed or affirmed in the world of this movie, nor in the world of its making. 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. The original film, at the time of its release, provided social and political commentary on the war, which was a clear and present danger to europe. As nervy as it is hilarious, this screwball masterpiece from ernst lubitsch stars jack benny and, in her final screen appearance, carole lombard as.
255 990 1418 393 580 1022 1413 391 800 159 290 881 284 755 1267 1411 152 1043 1003 1177 656 737 1241 1465 1012 301 492 110 788 1227 175 769 195 813 175 1276 559 158 1253 758 134