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To Be or Not to Be (1942) To Be or Not to Be (1942)
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Nebs
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:01 pm
Posts: 6385
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 To Be or Not to Be (1942) To Be or Not to Be Quote: To Be or Not to Be is a 1942 American comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch, about a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. It was adapted by Lubitsch (uncredited) and Edwin Justus Mayer from the story by Melchior Lengyel. The film stars Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges and Sig Ruman. The film was released two months after actress Carole Lombard was killed in an airplane crash.
The title is a reference to the famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
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| Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:31 am |
 
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Nebs
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:01 pm
Posts: 6385
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Re: To Be or Not To Be [1942] Wonderful movie, love it dearly.
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| Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:32 am |
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Johnny Dollar
The Lubitsch Touch
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:48 pm
Posts: 11019
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Re: To Be or Not To Be [1942] Too bad audiences weren't ready for this in '42; It could have been really cathartic to watch someone so skillfully take the piss out of the Nazis. To Be... is far more effective than Chaplin's Great Dictator because it's got none of that picture's unnecessary sap. Lubitsch wouldn't do that to us.
It's also legendary for having the one screen role worthy of the great Jack Benny. And the role of vain, deluded, hammy Joseph Tura is perfect for him; certainly not a far cry from the persona he perfected on radio and TV.
A treasure all around.
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| Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:02 am |
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kypade
Kypade
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:53 pm
Posts: 7908
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Re: To Be or Not To Be [1942] Yeah, I caught it on TCM the other day.
Pretty sure it was my first experience with Lubitsch.
But anyway, I'd agree with "treasure." I loved it. It's both hilarious, and surprisingly suspenseful. Despite the fact that the funny gives it all a sense of "it's gonna be fine", every time there was a possibility of them being caught or shot the heartbeat kicked up. Really well done.
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| Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:18 pm |
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junio
Indiana Jones IV
Joined: Sat May 07, 2005 2:23 pm
Posts: 1778
Location: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
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Re: To Be or Not To Be [1942] I  it! It's so funny, and Carole Lombard and Jack Benny really bounce off each other well. _________________
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| Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:52 am |
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