To be be or not to be (1942)
IMDb meta data is a runtime of 1h and 42m, rated 8.1 by 48,344 cinematizens.
Genre: Dramedy or Comdram.
DNA: Poland via Hollywood.
Verdict: Satire stings.
Tagline: A sea of troubles!
A Warsaw acting company gets caught up in the German invasion of Poland, and the more its members try to wriggle out of the net, the more deeply enmeshed in it they become.
Betrayal, espionage, treachery, mayhem, torture, suicide, murder, all have a lighter side in this offering. The Nazi’s are so preoccupied with being Nazis they fail to notice details.
Whatever is made of that, as theatre it is pitch perfect. When Jack Benny (yes, you read that right) has to imitate a dedicated Nazi he reiterates the nonsense he has heard another Nazi say, and is relieved, though surprised, to find that it works.
Released in January 1942 the makers saw it as a contribution to war effort to mock and belittle the enemy as Charlie Chaplin had in The Great Dictator (1940). Yes Mel Brooks reprised it.
We went to see it on the wide screen at the Ritz in Randwick. What a treat.