To Be or Not to Be

8.5

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To Be or Not to Be

Original title: To Be or Not to Be
Year: 1942
Running time: 99 min.
Country: United States
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Screenwriter: Edwin Justus Mayer (Story: Melchior Lengyel)
Music: Werner R. Heymann
Cinematography: Rudolph Maté (B&W)
Cast: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Stanley Ridges, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Sig Ruman, Tom Dugan, Charles Halton, George Lynn
Producer: Romaine Film / Alexander Korda
Genre: Comedy. Mystery | Satire. II World War. Nazism. Stage Play. Black Comedy
Synopsis / Plot: Joseph Tura and his wife Maria top the bill at a Warsaw theatre company. Young aviator Lieutenant Sobinski is madly in love with the girl and the two arrange to meet in her dressing room during the play they are putting on (Hamlet). He leaves the theatre to see her just as Joseph starts the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy. Germany invades Poland and Sobinski has to leave for England, although he will have to return to Warsaw to disarticulate a conspiration against the underground movement.

Awards: 1942: Nominated for Oscar: Best Soundtrack (Drama or Comedy)

Critics' reviews

"[An] absorbing drama with farcical trimmings. It's an acting triumph for Lombard, who delivers an effortless and highly effective performance"

Variety
"One of the most profound, emotionally complex comedies ever made"

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"Mr. Lubitsch had an odd sense of humor—and a tangled script—when he made this film (...) [but] this film has balance and feeling. There is no question about it."

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"An eclectic comedy that races off into several directions, usually successfully (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"This is a film worth sharing and revisiting on a regular basis."

Leonard Maltin: IndieWire
"'To Be or Not to Be' very much exhibits the German-born director’s signature aesthetic and spiritual approach (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Ed Gonzalez: Slant
"Because the second half of 'To Be Or Not To Be', once Benny starts impersonating Nazis, is so outlandishly hilarious, it’s easy to forgive the film’s comparatively sluggish first half"

Mike D'Angelo: AV Club
"It's certainly one of the finest comedies ever to come out of Paramount"

Rod McShane: Time Out

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Ranking Lists Position

12 My Favorite Comedies (433)
64 Funniest Movies Ever (49)

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