To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Director:

Alan Johnson

Writers:

Edwin Justus Mayer (1942 screenplays)
Ronny Graham (writer)

Release Date:

1 February 1984 (France)

Genre:

Drama | War | Comedy

Tagline:

That is the movie!

Plot:

A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when what should intrude but World War II in the form of an invasion...

Plot Keywords:

Gay Holocaust | Reference To Hamlet | Remake | German Occupation | Funny Nazi

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Mel Brooks	...	Dr. Frederick Bronski
Anne Bancroft	...	Anna Bronski
Tim Matheson	...	Lt. Andre Sobinski
Charles Durning	...	Col. Erhardt
Christopher Lloyd	...	Capt. Schultz
José Ferrer	...	Prof. Siletski
Ronny Graham	...	Sondheim
Estelle Reiner	...	Gruba
Zale Kessler	...	Bieler
Jack Riley	...	Dobish
Lewis J. Stadlen	...	Lupinsky
George Gaynes	...	Ravitch
George Wyner	...	Ratkowski
James 'Gypsy' Haake	...	Sasha (as James Haake)
Earl Boen	...	Dr. Boyarski

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Mayfield Senior School - 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

A street sign reads "Kubelski Avenue". To Be or Not to Be (1942) starred Jack Benny, whose real name is Benny Kubelski.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Bronski becomes agitated when Sobinski wishes him good luck, because wishing an actor "good luck" is bad luck. Yet earlier, Anna wishes him good luck and Bronski is not at all bothered.

Quotes:

Colonel Erhardt: Mrs. Bronski, Mrs. Bronski, Mrs. Bronski.
Anna Bronski: We're all here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beat This!: A Hip Hop History (1984) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Ladies

Delightful slapstick at its best

I was so pleased to come across this movie on tv, and found it delightful every step of the way even though it does go "over the top" in its script. I could almost sense Sid Caesar's presence in the group but he was not a part of it here, which I regret.

Although the subject matter is serious enough, as it deals with the Nazi military and their activities, there is so much humor to be found in the foibles of citizens and soldiers alike that we are swept up in the steady action.

Mel Brook and Anne Bancroft carry the plot along splendidly. I don't think Jose Ferrer had been in many comedies so it was a pleasure to see him take part in this type of film.

Good entertainment and full of action.