- Release Date: 1984
- Runtime: 107 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
- Starring: Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Tim Matheson, Charles Durning ... see all
- Director: Alan Johnson
- Plot: A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when what should intrude but World War II in the form of an invasion. His wife has the habit... Read more
User Reviews
an error in the song " I want peace" Over all grad
Jul 23, 2008
smmathur5 - yahoo.com
Jul 23, 2008smmathur5 - yahoo.com
I saw the movie To be or not to be'recently.It is a wonderful movie with supreb acting by the entire cast.however in the song which shows hitler proclaiming that he wants peace,There is a reference to India and Pakistan.The film is... Full review
Homage to Jack Benny
Dec 24, 2006
kb2uoe - imdb.com
Dec 24, 2006kb2uoe - imdb.com
Actually, when interviewed about this movie, Mel Brooks said it was an homage to Jack Benny. And if you look, the Bronskis live on Kubelsky Street, Benny Kubelsky is Jack Benny's real name. There are many other touches that also show... Full review
Witty, and classic humour
Jul 11, 2006
systemseditor - yahoo.com
Jul 11, 2006systemseditor - yahoo.com
Set in the beginging of the Nazi invasion of Poland, the lives of stage actors are revealed to embark on a humours escape of Poland and Hitler himself. The movie has an entertaing plot and captivating scenes evoked by great acting... Full review
The most under rated Brooks film
Jan 06, 2006
thebulfrog - imdb.com
Jan 06, 2006thebulfrog - imdb.com
When I saw this I had no idea it was a remake. I didn't know the original had been rated the 49th best comedy of all time by the AFI or that Brooks neither wrote nor directed it. What I knew... Full review
A Classic Satire
Dec 15, 2005
Sylvia Marciniak - imdb.com
Dec 15, 2005Sylvia Marciniak - imdb.com
This remake could not have had a finer cast led the magnificent Mel Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft. I remembered him saying once that he loved singing and dancing Polish with his wife and now I can see why. They... Full review
Light comedy also respectful of history
Jan 20, 2005
Libretio - imdb.com
Jan 20, 2005Libretio - imdb.com
TO BE OR NOT TO BE Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Sound format: Dolby Stereo 1939: As the Nazi's invade their homeland, a humble Warsaw theatre troupe stages a daring escape after stumbling on a Gestapo plot to kill members of the Polish... Full review
See this movie
Dec 24, 2003
filmrun1938 - yahoo.com
Dec 24, 2003filmrun1938 - yahoo.com
I love this movie. The funniest Mel Brookes movie ever.Funnier than Blazing Saddles, funnier than History part one, funnier than Young Frankenstein. See this movie... Full review
To watch or not to watch?
Dec 18, 2003
covergirl4403 - yahoo.com
Dec 18, 2003covergirl4403 - yahoo.com
Oh my gosh! Watch! You will be laughing your butt off the whole time! So funny! A comedy to watch again and again! So clever! Watch!... Full review
Delightful slapstick at its best
Jun 05, 2002
lora64 - imdb.com
Jun 05, 2002lora64 - imdb.com
I was so pleased to come across this movie on tv, and found it delightful every step of the way even though it does go "over the top" in its script. I could almost sense Sid Caesar's presence in the group... Full review
The Mel Brooks way!
Aug 18, 2001
Ferran Gimenez - imdb.com
Aug 18, 2001Ferran Gimenez - imdb.com
This is the great Mel Brooks at his best!. He revisits this classic film and makes it even crazier than the original, adding a lot of new stuff... (there are 3 numbers where Mel dances and sings, there are clowns, jews... Full review
Critics Reviews
No critics reviews
News
All My Sons Gets Gimmicky, To Be or Not to Be Goes Flat, and Kindness Rides the Downbeat
villagevoice.com –
2008-10-21
Festival News: THERON, JOAQUIN , BRODERICK AND SARANDON TO BE HONORED AT HOLLYWOOD FILM FEST
ifmagazine.com –
2005-09-27
The awards will be bestowed upon the honorees as part of the Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony on Monday evening, October 24, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. ... Full Article
Jokes about Hitler are not funny, Frederick Bronski (Mel Brooks, who also produced the picture and co-wrote some of the songs), pretending to be Nazi spy Professor Siletski, reproves Gestapo Colonel Erhardt (Charles Durning), especially Polish pickle japes. ... Full Article


Film ReVision #3 - To Be or Not to Be
To Be or Not To Be (Scene in the Gestapo)
To Be or Not to Be
to be or not to be, Mel Brooks
