To Be or Not to Be (1942)
That is the movie
To Be or Not to Be is one of my favourite films. I tend to like almost anything directed by Ernst Lubitsch (Ninotchka (1939); The Shop Around the Corner (1940); Heaven Can Wait 1943), etc.) In this fun satirical film, you have the tale of a bunch of quarrelsome actors who, believe it or not, team up with the Polish resistance to pull one over on the bumbling Nazis.
In 1939, Joseph Tura and his wife Maria, leading performers at a Warsaw theater company, are rehearsing their roles in Gestapo, a comedy that mocks the Gestapo. About this time, the authorities decide to cancel the play Gestapo to prevent escalating tensions with Germany.
As the troupe is now performing Hamlet, Maria receives a letter from a fan, Lieutenant Stanislav Sobinski, and arranges for him to visit her dressing room during Joseph's performance of the oration "to be, or not to be." On the subsequent evening, Sobinski once again leaves his seat during the "to be or not to be" soliloquy to meet with Maria, much to Joseph's annoyance. Sobinski declares his love for Maria, expressing his desire for her to leave her husband and be with him. Before Maria can respond to him, news spreads that Germany has invaded Poland. Sobinski leaves to join the Polish division of the Royal Air Force, as the actors find shelter during the intense bombing of Warsaw.
Sobinski and his comrades meet with Professor Siletsky, a prominent figure in the Polish resistance and learning that he will soon be in Warsaw, give him messages for their families. Sobinski grows suspicious when he gives him a message for Maria Tura and Siletsky fails to recognize the well-known actress. The Allies realize that Siletsky could potentially reveal the identities of Polish airmen's relatives, putting them at risk of Nazi retaliation. Sobinski hurries back to warn Maria, but Siletsky reaches her first, delivering Sobinski's message and inviting her to dinner with hopes of recruiting her as a spy. Joseph returns home to find Sobinski there. He vows to kill Siletsky, while Maria and Sobinski contemplate their next move.
A troupe member, disguised as a Gestapo officer, calls Siletsky to the theater, posing as Colonel Ehrhardt. Joseph convinces Siletsky to hand over the list of resistance fighters' relatives, but Siletsky grows suspicious when Sobinski's message is mentioned. When Joseph reveals his true identity, Siletsky draws a gun, but Sobinski shoots and kills him on stage. Joseph then takes on Siletsky’s identity to retrieve another copy of the list at the hotel, encountering Maria and Captain Schultz, who plan to take him to meet Colonel Ehrhardt.
Joseph pretends to be Siletsky and fools Ehrhardt, who believes Maria has joined the Nazis. Ehrhardt tells Maria they found Siletsky's body in the theater. Joseph, unaware of this, calls Ehrhardt acting as Siletsky and meets with him. To test Joseph’s identity, Ehrhardt leaves him with Siletsky's corpse. Joseph shaves Siletsky's beard and uses a fake one, tricking Ehrhardt into believing he is Siletsky. Actors posing as Hitler's guards then arrive, remove Joseph's fake beard, and pretend to arrest him. Everyone is safe but cannot use the plane Ehrhardt arranged for Siletsky to escape Poland.
Maria is waiting for the company to pick her up when Col. Ehrhardt arrives and attempts to seduce her. Actor Bronski, acting as Hitler, shows up and sees the two and then exits speechless, which leads Col. Ehrhardt to believe that she is Hitler's mistress. Maria runs after Bronski. Ehrhardt, overcome with shame, shoots himself.
Now that the actors’ scheme was carried out (almost flawlessly) and is completed, Joseph is asked by the press what reward he would like for saving the underground movement. Maria interrupts and says that Joseph’s passion is to play Hamlet. While performing, Joseph is pleased to see Sobinski quietly seated in the audience at the critical moment of his soliloquy. However, as he continues, another handsome young officer gets up out of his seat and heads noisily backstage! Poor Jospeh Tura!
The movie’s plot sounds confusing and believe me, as I read this over and over, I tend to think that if you haven’t seen the movie, this synopsis may be confusing! But there’s a fix for that...watch this film! It’s one that I can watch many times and never tire of. No wonder Mel Brooks was a big fan of To Be or Not to Be!
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Released March 6, 1942
Cast
Maria Tura...Carol Lombard
Joseph Tura...Jack Benny
Stanislov Sobinski...Robert Stack
Colonel Ehrhardt...Sig Ruman
Professer Siletsky...Stanley Ridges
Bronski...Tom Dugan
Greenberg...Felix Bressart
Interesting facts
Released after the death of star Carole Lombard, killed in an airplane crash after returning from a tour selling war bonds.
The line "What can happen in a plane?" was deleted from the film after Carole Lombard's death.
A great remake was filmed in1983 starring Mel Brooks and his wife, Ann Bancroft.
The Flicks & Forks choice to go along with this film….
Potato Latkes
What are Latkes?
A latke is similar to a fritter or little pancake but made with shredded potatoes. They are prominent in Jewish cuisine. Latkes can be made with grated, shredded, or mashed potatoes. This retro recipe is made with shredded russet potatoes, all-purpose flour, an egg, an onion, and salt. The potato latkes are fried in peanut oil.
You can serve potato latkes with a sour cream topping or on the side for dipping.
Ingredients
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled
1 large egg, beaten, or more to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated onion
½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
¼ cup peanut oil for frying, or as needed
Directions
Gather all ingredients.
Slice peeled potatoes and run through a food processor fitted with the grater attachment. Place shredded potatoes in a cheesecloth and wring, extracting as much moisture as possible.
Measure 2 cups shredded, drained potatoes and place into a medium bowl; save any extra for another use. Add egg, flour, onion, and salt, and stir until well combined.
Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Place large spoonfuls of potato mixture into the hot oil, pressing down on them to form 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick patties. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side.
Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain while you cook any remaining latkes. Serve hot.
Invite a few friends over and enjoy these latkes with a bottle of a nice Italian Pinot Grigio while you watch To Be Or Not To Be!
...Jill
How does Brooks’ version compare to the original?