movie

1983 · United States

To Be or Not to Be

Tonight at a glance

Runtime: 107 min
Age rating: PG
Language: English
Country: United States
Violence: Moderate

The story

A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.

nazi
world war ii
parody
remake
polish stereotype
gay theme
dramatic
suspenseful
enthusiastic

The look

A few frames, chosen rather than collected.

The bill

José Ferrer — Prof. Siletski
George Gaynes — Ravitch
Christopher Lloyd — Capt. Schultz
George Wyner — Ratkowski
Lewis J. Stadlen — Lupinsky
Jack Riley — Dobish
James "Gypsy" Haake — Sasha
Ronny Graham — Sondheim
Estelle Reiner — Gruba
Zale Kessler — Bieler
Scamp — Mutki

Directed: Alan Johnson
Written: Thomas Meehan, Melchior Lengyel, Ronny Graham, Ernst Lubitsch

Production

Rating: 6.7 / 10 · 239 ratings
Studio: Brooksfilms

If this stayed with you

Then these are the nearest things Cue holds — chosen for what they share with it, not for what happens to be popular.