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To Be or Not to Be

Play trailer Poster for To Be or Not to Be PG Released Dec 16, 1983 1h 48m Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Frederick Bronski (Mel Brooks) and his adulterous wife, Anna (Anne Bancroft), are a pair of hammy actors running a low-rent theater in Warsaw, Poland. When the Nazis invade, the Bronskis find their theater becoming a makeshift refuge for local Jews and a gateway to the Polish underground. Using their limited acting skills, the members of the theater troupe attempt to deceive the Nazis and lead an escape. Meanwhile, a Polish pilot (Tim Matheson) thinks he has found a spy in England.

Critics Reviews

View All (22) Critics Reviews
Gary Arnold Washington Post A klunky, tacky-looking color reproduction of the original. Mar 3, 2019 Full Review Harry Haun New York Daily News Frills notwithstanding, the film is faithful in its frenetic fashion. Jan 18, 2018 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Bancroft's sustained delights are not matched by Brooks, who seems to be trying too hard. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Michael Lasky Bay Area Reporter To Be or Not To Be is not an unlikable film. It's just not a particularly good one. It's too self-conscious in its attempts at cheap laughs to be anything memorable. May 12, 2023 Full Review Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal The first feature doesn't cry out for a remake. The second doesn't justify it. May 12, 2023 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) Bad imitations are loathsome. [Full Review in Spanish] Feb 5, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (207) audience reviews
CodyZamboni Z Surprisingly half this movie is a musical, Overall amusing, With a few poignant moments, Mel and Anne are definately having fun, But alot of the German military buffoon schtick is overblown. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/11/25 Full Review Roger D Good film and faithful to the original 1942 Jack Benny/Carole Lombard film of the same name. It isn't as good, though, but it pays homage to the original. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review Michael L It's worth the watch... But the original in 1942 with Jack Benny and Carol Lombard is the gold standard for this movie But I especially liked Ann Bancroft in this remake She was incredibly talented Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/27/24 Full Review andy f Probably prefer it to the Jack Benny version (I love Jack Benny but he was just too hammy). Brooks adds a little more gravitas (and that's saying something for Mel Brooks!) but it's Anne Bancroft that steals the show - she's wonderful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review s r It seemed like they were trying too hard. It didn't measure up to the original. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Terry S Brooks and Bancroft are irresistible in another Mel slapstick extravaganza ! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/10/20 Full Review Read all reviews
To Be or Not to Be

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Cast & Crew

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Alan Johnson

Director

Mel Brooks

Dr. Frederick Bronski

Anne Bancroft

Anna Bronski

Charles Durning

Col. Erhardt

Tim Matheson

Lt. Andre Sobinski

José Ferrer

Prof. Siletski

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To Be or Not to Be

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Movie Info

Synopsis Frederick Bronski (Mel Brooks) and his adulterous wife, Anna (Anne Bancroft), are a pair of hammy actors running a low-rent theater in Warsaw, Poland. When the Nazis invade, the Bronskis find their theater becoming a makeshift refuge for local Jews and a gateway to the Polish underground. Using their limited acting skills, the members of the theater troupe attempt to deceive the Nazis and lead an escape. Meanwhile, a Polish pilot (Tim Matheson) thinks he has found a spy in England.
Director
Alan Johnson
Producer
Mel Brooks
Screenwriter
Thomas Meehan, Ronny Graham, Edwin Justus Mayer
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 16, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo