Fresh
Lubitsch's guidance provides a tense dramatic pace with events developed deftly and logically throughout.
Variety Staff, Variety
To Be or Not to Be
The Picture Everyone Wants to See
1942 · 1h 39m · Approved
Comedy, Romance, War
Directed by
Ernst Lubitsch
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To Be or Not to Be
Overview
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.
Director and cast
- Ernst Lubitsch Director
- Carole Lombard as Maria Tura
- Jack Benny as Joseph Tura
- Robert Stack as Leutnant Stanislav Sobinski
- Felix Bressart as Greenberg
- Lionel Atwill as Rawitch
- Stanley Ridges as Professor Alexander Siletsky
- Sig Ruman as SS-Gruppenführer Ehrhardt
- Tom Dugan as Bronski
- Charles Halton Cast
- Henry Victor Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
96%
Tomatometer
Rotten
To say it is callous and macabre is understating the case.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Fresh
One of the most profound, emotionally complex comedies ever made, covering a range of tones from satire to slapstick to shocking black humor.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Terribly funny.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
Fresh
To Be is a very funny comedy, salted to taste with melodrama and satire.
TIME Magazine
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