TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1983) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Alan Johnson

 

Written by - Thomas Meehan, Ronny Graham (based on an earlier film written by Ernest Lubitsch, Melchior Lengyel, Edwin Justus Meyer)

 

Starring - Mell Brooks, Anne Bancroft

 

 

 

"A Mel Brooks production with that unmistakable Brooks style despite the fact that it wasn’t actually directed by him, To Be or Not To Be is also the remake of a great comedy classic by Ernest Lubitsch about two famous Polish actors who come up with a way to fight off Nazi occupation and help the resistance by using their skills and theatre comedy to pose as Nazis. The concept is great and the film is mildly entertaining though certainly understudied and lacking the kick of even the irreverence of its predecessor – this latter point in fact may just be the most disappointing factor of this particular film version. Costumes and sets are great and there is no doubt about the production values, yet a lot can be said about pace and some inconsistencies in the script, which in many ways makes this film seem more outdated that Lubitsch’s one."

 

 

Comedy, USA