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To Be or Not to Be (1942)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
6 March 1942 (USA)
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Plot:
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Nazi
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Actor
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WWII
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Polish Resistance
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Blitzkrieg
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 2 wins
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NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Jude Law ... You Are the Father
(From TMZ. 11 October 2009, 8:08 AM, PDT)
Curio: 10 Cents for Carole
(From FilmExperience. 7 October 2009, 11:00 AM, PDT)
(From TMZ. 11 October 2009, 8:08 AM, PDT)
Curio: 10 Cents for Carole
(From FilmExperience. 7 October 2009, 11:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Playing Hamlet in Poland
more (65 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Carole Lombard | ... | Maria Tura |
 | Jack Benny | ... | Joseph Tura |
 | Robert Stack | ... | Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski |
 | Felix Bressart | ... | Greenberg |
| Lionel Atwill | ... | Rawitch |
| Stanley Ridges | ... | Professor Siletsky |
| Sig Ruman | ... | Col. Ehrhardt |
| Tom Dugan | ... | Bronski |
| Charles Halton | ... | Producer Dobosh |
| George Lynn | ... | Actor-Adjutant |
| Henry Victor | ... | Capt. Schultz |
| Maude Eburne | ... | Anna |
| Halliwell Hobbes | ... | Gen. Armstrong |
| Miles Mander | ... | Major Cunningham |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Canada:PG (video rating) |
South Korea:12 (2003) |
Finland:S |
Sweden:15 |
USA:Approved (PCA #7834) |
West Germany:12
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Carole Lombard took the female lead despite the strenuous objections of her husband, Clark Gable.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: When Tura is disguised as Colonel Erhardt in his meeting with Siletsky he is wearing the uniform of a Major General (actually an SS-Gruppenfuehrer).
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Quotes:
Josef Tura:
Someone walked out on me. Tell me, Maria, am I losing my grip?
Maria Tura: Oh, of course not, darling. I'm so sorry.
Josef Tura: But he walked out on me.
Maria Tura: Maybe he didn't feel well. Maybe he had to leave. Maybe he had a sudden heart attack.
Josef Tura: I hope so.
Maria Tura: If he stayed he might have died.
Josef Tura: Maybe he's dead already! Oh, darling, you're so comforting.
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Maria Tura: Oh, of course not, darling. I'm so sorry.
Josef Tura: But he walked out on me.
Maria Tura: Maybe he didn't feel well. Maybe he had to leave. Maybe he had a sudden heart attack.
Josef Tura: I hope so.
Maria Tura: If he stayed he might have died.
Josef Tura: Maybe he's dead already! Oh, darling, you're so comforting.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite (2001)
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Soundtrack:
Polonaise in A Major
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FAQ
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Having seen most of Ernst Lubitsch American films, we had missed this one because it's not played often these days. "To Be, or not to Be" is a wonderful satire that only a director like Lubitsch, with his European background could have pulled. The film is a good comedy that seems to has kept some of its freshness intact.
The film works because of the great contribution of Jack Benny and Carole Lombard, who sadly, died before the film had its premiere. They play the Turas, a Polish theatrical couple that foresee the Nazi invasion of their country.
In fact, Jack Benny, a man associated as a comedian, first on radio, then on television, was an actor with an uncanny sense of timing. Mr. Benny was a natural for this type of comedy, as he proves in the film. His pairing with Carole Lombard was a stroke of genius. In fact, for being associated to lighter fare, he demonstrates with his take on Joseph Tura, he was an actor of stature.
Carole Lombard is seen as Maria Tura, a grand dame of the Polish theater. Ms. Lombard gave a marvelous performance and her contribution to the success of this film is amazing. Robert Stack is seen as the pilot Sobinski. Other faces in the cast include Felix Bressard, Lionel Atwill, Sig Ruman, George Lynn, and others that are perfect under Ernst Lubitsch guidance.
This is a film to be treasured because of the work of Jack Benny and the impeccable direction of Ernst Lubitsch.