To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Stars: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack
Runtime: 99 minutes
Synopsis: During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.
Performances: 4/5
Screenplay: 4/5
Editing: 5/5
Cinematography: 5/5
Score/Soundtrack: 4/5
Verdict: Released in 1942 only a few month after the attack on Pearl Harbor that led the United States to take part in World War 2, "To Be or Not to Be" follows an acting troupe that gets involved in the tracking of a German spy in occupied Poland.
Directed by the legendary Ernst Lubitsch (who funnily enough comes from a German family and was born in Berlin), the film's main attribute is the fact that it juggles between genres and can be enjoyed by almost anyone. It's a satire, drama, romance, war and spy movie all at once, and never feels overwhelming tonally, mainly because the focus is thrown on the comedy more than anything else. The movie makes fun of the Nazi regime in a very effective way that still holds up to this day while also providing the audience with an entertaining, thrilling narrative that serves as sort of a tribute to theater and acting.
"To Be or Not to Be" is a fascinating watch when considering the time it was released in. It joins Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" as one of the most outrageous satirical films about the German Reich released in times of war. It's also worth noting that it's Carole Lombard's last acting credit before her untimely death in a plane crash earlier that same year, and she shines in it as much as the rest of the cast which includes names such as Jack Benny or Robert Stack. Definitely check it out if the subject seems interesting to you.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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