At the onset of WW2, a Polish actor's family and the Polish Resistance help the troupe of a theatre escape Poland and the invading Nazis.At the onset of WW2, a Polish actor's family and the Polish Resistance help the troupe of a theatre escape Poland and the invading Nazis.At the onset of WW2, a Polish actor's family and the Polish Resistance help the troupe of a theatre escape Poland and the invading Nazis.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 6 nominations total
James 'Gypsy' Haake
- Sasha
- (as James Haake)
José Ferrer
- Prof. Siletski
- (as Jose Ferrer)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMel Brooks has said this is his favorite of his Brooksfilms movies.
- GoofsIn the Naughty Nazis song, "A Little Piece...", they mention Pakistan as one of the countries. Pakistan was not created until 1947.
- Quotes
Frederick Bronski: Let's face it, sweetheart: without jews, fags and gypsies there is no theatre.
- Crazy creditsThe opening and closing credits show a picture of Bancroft and Brooks drawn side by side in overlapping profile, this is clearly an homage to the similar drawing of Benny and Lombard in the opening and closing credits of the 1942 version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in An Audience with Mel Brooks (1983)
Featured review
I've been a big fan of the Jack Benny movie since I was 10 years old. Then, just earlier this year, I sought out the Mel Brooks version. I had become a huge Mel Brooks fan and he is now my favorite entertainer. So I thought I'd see this version just because I sorta kinda had to as a Mel Brooks fanatic. My grandfather (also a big Mel Brooks fan) had seen the film on its release back in 1984 and thought it was a kind of pale copy of the Jack Benny version, which he loves too. But I personally thought that the film was a brilliant motion picture and contained more laffs and better music than the original. This quickly became one of my favorite Mel Brooks movies (even though he didn't direct or write it!) The supporting cast is great, in a different way than the original. Instead of trying to merely copy the original performances, they create their own, equally-funny ones, especially Charles Durning and Christopher Lloyd. Jose Ferrer was great. That underrated Jewish character comic George Wyner was also as funny as ever. Even Ronny Graham had a role as Sondheim("Sondheim, send in the Klowns!") James Haake as Sasha gave a brilliant performance. I wish he'd won an Oscar. Tim Matheson was good in his kind of bland role as the Polish Flier. But of course, the stars are Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. Their highlights together include a Polish version of "Sweet Georgia Brown." Brooks sings "A Little Peace," "Ladies," and (on the soundtrack album only) "The Hitler Rap."
- CHARLIE-89
- Nov 6, 1999
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Sein oder Nichtsein
- Filming locations
- Mayfield Senior School - 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California, USA(Hotel Europa; Polish Officers Club)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $13,030,214
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,020,958
- Dec 18, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $13,030,214
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