To Be or Not to Be (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Every once in a while you learn about a movie that you never knew existed, that you can't believe you never knew existed. "To Be Or Not To Be" is one of those movies.A film produced by a Jewish director (Ernst Lubitsch) making fun of Nazi's in 1941 was a risk on a variety of levels, and although it met with much critical (and political) condemnation it stayed in the minds of all the right people, with Mel Brooks more comedic remake and later frequent tips of the hat by Quentin Tarantino/The Weinstein Company in  Inglourious Basterds (Blu-ray + DVD) . Being Jewish and making a pseudo comedy about Hitler carries a certain degree of satisfaction, but for Lubitsch it was personal. Indeed, Lubitsch's face had been used in an early Nazi propaganda film and Hitler used him as an example of supposed corrupt influences within Europe that needed to be stamped out.Although we would probably call it a black comedy today, Lubitsch himself described TBONTB as a "tragical farce or a farcial tragedy". The film is certainly funny in parts, excellent really, but frequently enough in an understated manner that for me at least seemed more drama than comedy. That is not a criticism by any means, but for anyone thinking this will be a "Mel Brooks" type of funny it simply won't be. It is pretty unique, which is pretty rare indeed. If you like intelligent comedy that relies on context and wordplay you won't be disappointed.Carole Lombard and Jack Benny are superb and on top of their game here, and the film transfer is excellent. Even if you have never heard of Lubitsch but are Benny or Lombard fans you will like this movie. The many Criterion DVD bonus features can be hit or miss, but with so many, and a great 25 page booklet, it is hard to feel nothing but satisfied with the extras. A 1916 silent film directed by and starring Lubitsch is the best of the bunch (and hard to believe it is almost 100 years old). With Lubitsch himself passing away in 1947, and Lombard dieing in a plane crash before the movie was even released, we are truly lucky that this historically important film even got made in the first place.

The Criterion Collection released this(at the time) controversial 1942 comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Jack Benny as Joseph Tura, leader of a Polish acting troupe in 1939 Warsaw who becomes involved in impersonation and espionage after his wife Maria(played by Carole Lombard) becomes involved with an American pilot, and huge fan, (played by Robert Stack) who has to evade Nazi capture after they invade Poland, and take over Warsaw. Can they pull off this grand deception?A superb HD upgrade over the 2005 DVD, though this contains new extras like an interesting audio commentary by film historian David Kalat, an early 1916 silent film short by Lubitsch, a French 2010 documentary, and two radio programs. This does not port over the DVD extras, a 1930 comedy short with Jack Benny, and a brief skit promoting war bonds, but they had nothing to do with the film otherwise.Funny, even daring comedy with a fine cast and direction, though of course the premise is quite farfetched!

A film that is both comedic and suspenseful is no easy trick to pull off. Two that come to mind are FOUL PLAY and SILVER STREAK. Now we finally have this wonderful Criterion release of the classic 1942 Ernst Lubitsch comedy , YES - comedy!, about the Nazis occupying Warsaw, Poland and a small troupe of Polish actors who help to sabotage their invaders. This story isn't played for total laughs, and there are plenty of suspenseful moments, which makes this film so incredibly great. Interesting to note, that when this film was released in 1942, in the thick of the war, it was generally panned and criticized. Even Jack Benny's father walked out on the initial screening-mortified that his son would appear in a Nazi uniform. (Benny later changed his father's mind, And the man ended up loving it and seeing it 46 times!) The passing of time would end up finding this film generally loved and considered a comedy classic.Interesting notes: The film was Carole Lombard's last, and was released 2 months after she died in a plane crash.Sig Ruman, who plays Col. Ehrhardt, would go on to play the original "Sgt. Schultz" in Billy Wiler's STALAG 17.Look for an early role by Robert "Elliot Ness" Stack as the Polish pilot who has a crush on Carole Lombard's character.It's funny, because if you've ever watched the Jack Benny show, every now and then somebody will remark on a film he made - THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT - as "THE ONE" film he made, and never lived it down. I realize it was played for comedic effect, but he certainly had nothing to be ashamed of his Tour-de- force role in this excellent film!

A good one-time watch

This is probably the best performance of Jack Benny’s career. You can watch it for that alone.

I used to own an earlier DVD version of this wonderful Ernst Lubitsch film and watched it over and over. If it's possible to wear out a DVD, I would have done it if I hadn't lost it when I moved. Since I can't afford Turner Classic Movies, I have to purchase the classics if I want to see them because the movies I like are not generally available at Walmart or even the library. When I viewed this DVD on my computer, the quality absolutely blew me away. Sharp and crispy is the best way I can describe it. It's like seeing it for the first time again. And lately I've been on a Jack Benny kick; earlier I was (and still am) on a Carole Lombard kick. They worked so well together. If circumstances had been different, they might have teamed up again, who knows? Look closely at the beginning for an inside joke using the names of the director and stars. This film is so rich in humor and yet it conveys the pathos brought about by German occupation. I see something different in it each time I view it. If you order it, by all means order the Criterion Collection version. The little extra you pay is well worth it.

Imported this from America. (You unfortunately need a multi-region or a region 1 player to enjoy it). Remade by Mel Brooks in 1983, this film, though I love Mel's version as well, just that little bit sharper when comes to dialogue, and less loud than his version. Being a Criterion release, the film looks stunning for its age. If you have the means to play it, and don't get frightened by the cost of import; this is a real treat which I can't recommend highly enough. It's a riot!

Not much I can say about this classic. A Romantic Comedy with elements of farce and suspense, superbly acted by Jack Benny (as "That Great Great Polish Actor Joseph Tura") and Carole Lombard as his rather unfaithful, but loving wife. Directed with great syle by Ernst Lubitsch in 1942 this Criterion release is a superb B/W crystal clear print, 4.3 Ratio. The extras are a very useful booklet, and commentaries, and 2 Radio Plays all on disc 2. Whether it is in bad taste is a matter of personal choice as it is set in Warsaw just before and during the German Invasion. Maybe it is, but it remains a classic and should be in every cinema lovers collection.

Four or five stars? That is the question. Out of question is wether this is or not a masterpiece. And it is. A genious idea that is not just the starting point of a perfect plot, but also a thought propvoking way to talk about Nazi and what makes us humans or not. Theatre is the answer, because life is acting, in pure Lubitsch style who shows how much he inspired Billy Wilder and how much this film is close to The Great Dictator. Aside from few superfluous moments, it is so perfect and rhythmed that it looks more engaging that many more recent films

Una copia malísima. No entiendo como pueden vender estos DVDs y encima a unos precios de escandalo. Me he permitido devolverlo inmediatamente.

Precio barato pero pobre calidad.