Ben's Top Pick for March
To Be or Not To Be (1942) - March 1
It's impossible to discuss To Be or Not To Be without establishing its historical context. And it's a sad history. Producer and director Ernst Lubitsch put the film into production in late 1941, but by the time the movie hit theaters in February 1942, the world was a very different place and the cast had violently lost one of its own.
The movie blends satire and drama throughout, often within the same scene. It's the story of a troupe of Polish actors--led by Jack Benny--trying to foil a Nazi plot to expose the underground in Warsaw. Though Europe was obviously at war during production, the United States was not. But after the events of December 7, 1941, American audiences--and many critics--were less willing to embrace a movie portraying the Nazis as wacky, comic foils. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Lubitsch "callous and tasteless" for trying to "find fun in the bombing of Warsaw." Then, just about a month before the film's L.A. premiere, Carole Lombard died in a plane crash returning home from a war bond rally.
But none of the dour gloom surrounding the film in 1942 exists today. The movie is typical Lubitsch--tension and intrigue together in harmony. It's neither callous, tasteless nor "macabre" (The New York Times' word). Rather, it's a fitting final film for Lombard, who manages to be sparkling and thrilling at the same time--the ideal Lubitsch leading lady.
Within 60 seconds, you'll realize two things about the picture: one, it's quite funny. Two, of course it fell flat in 1942. The movie opens with an announcer setting up the story, showing residents of Warsaw slack-jawed as Adolph Hitler walks alone along the streets of their city. "Is he by any chance interested in Mr. Maslowski's delicatessen? Impossible," says the announcer, "he's a vegetarian."
The good news is it's 2013, not 1942. You're free to experience the movie as Lubitsch intended. He said it should be seen as either a "farcical tragedy" or a "tragical farce." He didn't care which, as long you laughed. You will.
by Ben Mankiewicz
It's impossible to discuss To Be or Not To Be without establishing its historical context. And it's a sad history. Producer and director Ernst Lubitsch put the film into production in late 1941, but by the time the movie hit theaters in February 1942, the world was a very different place and the cast had violently lost one of its own.
The movie blends satire and drama throughout, often within the same scene. It's the story of a troupe of Polish actors--led by Jack Benny--trying to foil a Nazi plot to expose the underground in Warsaw. Though Europe was obviously at war during production, the United States was not. But after the events of December 7, 1941, American audiences--and many critics--were less willing to embrace a movie portraying the Nazis as wacky, comic foils. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Lubitsch "callous and tasteless" for trying to "find fun in the bombing of Warsaw." Then, just about a month before the film's L.A. premiere, Carole Lombard died in a plane crash returning home from a war bond rally.
But none of the dour gloom surrounding the film in 1942 exists today. The movie is typical Lubitsch--tension and intrigue together in harmony. It's neither callous, tasteless nor "macabre" (The New York Times' word). Rather, it's a fitting final film for Lombard, who manages to be sparkling and thrilling at the same time--the ideal Lubitsch leading lady.
Within 60 seconds, you'll realize two things about the picture: one, it's quite funny. Two, of course it fell flat in 1942. The movie opens with an announcer setting up the story, showing residents of Warsaw slack-jawed as Adolph Hitler walks alone along the streets of their city. "Is he by any chance interested in Mr. Maslowski's delicatessen? Impossible," says the announcer, "he's a vegetarian."
The good news is it's 2013, not 1942. You're free to experience the movie as Lubitsch intended. He said it should be seen as either a "farcical tragedy" or a "tragical farce." He didn't care which, as long you laughed. You will.
by Ben Mankiewicz
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