To Be or Not to Be | 
| Director: Alan Johnson
Actors: Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Tim Matheson, Charles Durning, Christopher Lloyd
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.71
You Save: $8.27 (55%)
New (36) Used (15) from $6.71
Avg. Customer Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 12384
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 107
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 2226731
UPC: 024543167310
EAN: 0024543167310
ASIN: B000G6BLYC
Theatrical Release Date: 1983
Release Date: September 5, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
No filmmaker seems to take such glee at poking fun of the Nazis as Mel Brooks. In To Be or Not to Be, a remake of a 1942 Jack Benny comedy, Brooks and an all-star ensemble cast have a splendid time working as a makeshift Polish underground in World War II, using as their cover their theatrical company. Brooks stars as Frederick Bronski, a legend-in-his-own-mind leading man, and Anne Bancroft, Brooks' real-life wife, is his glamorous--and amorous--spouse. It's a joy to see the two spar, snuggle, and softshoe together. Bancroft, in her early '50s, is so gorgeous and seductive it's perfectly believable that she's beguiling to men of all ages--from a hunky young flier played by Tim Matheson to a wizened Nazi collaborator played by Mel Ferrer. As one would expect in a Brooks film, there's lots of silliness, but the script is leavened with real drama and fleshed out by a superb cast, including Charles Durning as a semi-clueless Nazi official. There are witty blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments, too; early in the film, Bronski is barking orders to his theater staff, including one crew member who's named Sondheim, apparently solely so that later Bronski can bark, "Sondheim, send in the clowns!" Also not to miss is the production number "Naughty Nazis," in which Bronski, as a misunderstood Hitler, sings, "All I vant is peace... a little piece of Poland, a little piece of France...." No wonder he's "world famous in Poland"! Extras include a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette, and interviews with Brooks, Durning, and the lovely Bancroft, all the more bittersweet viewed after her 2005 death. --A.T. Hurley
Product Description
Mel Brooks and his real-life wife Anne Bancroft play Frederick and Anna Bronski musical comedy stars in 1939 Poland. The highlight of the Bronskis' act is Frederick's imitation of Adolf Hitler but he is forced to eliminate this turn for fear of offending the Nazis. Meanwhile Anna enters into a harmless flirtation with Polish bomber pilot Andre Sobinski (Tim Matheson). The pilot's nightly signal to visit Anna in her dressing room is "To Be or Not to Be" spoken by Bronski during the Shakespearean portion of his act. When the Germans march into Warsaw the Bronskis and the rest of their troupe are forced into hiding (notably the homosexual Lupinski played by Lewis J. Stadlen who is forced to endure the humiliation of wearing a pink star). Flying for the Polish resistance in England Sobinski asks kindly Professor Seletzky (Jose Ferrer) to deliver his "To Be or Not to Be" message to Anna. When Seletzky doesn't seem to recognize the name of Anne Bronski Warsaw's biggest star Sobinski suspects that something is amiss. Sure enough Seletzky is a Nazi spy heading to Warsaw to help Col. "Concentration Camp" Ehrhardt (Oscar-nominated Charles Durning) destroy the underground movement. Parachuting into Poland Sobinski enlists the aid of the Bronski troupe to foil the Nazis. What follows is an uproarious series of disguises and deceptions capped by Bronski's impersonation of Der Fuhrer.System Requirements:Running Time: 107 MinutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG UPC: 024543167310 Manufacturer No: 2226731
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 To Be or Not To Be June 9, 2008
A very hard video to find, but Amazon had it, this is one of Mel Brooks best films, very funny.I reccomend it highly to everyone.
 To Be or Not To Be April 7, 2008
If you like Mel Brookes' quirky humour you'll love this. An extremely entertaining film with one liners by the dozen. A great performance from the late Ann Bancroft also; playing alongside her husband in a comedy role lets you see her in a different light. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and rate it one of my favourites.
Mr & Mrs Brooks April 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mrs. Robinson has grown up and turned to comedy. Anne Bancroft (Mrs. Mel Brooks) is an outstanding comedienne. Don't let the beginning put you off-stick with it. And Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Charles Durning. Mel for once in a STARRING role, although George Gaynes steals the show (Police Academy commandant Lazard). Wonderful musical, treats a serious subject with extreme slapstick and zaniness. Almost a visual political cartoon--dancing, singing, romance, mystery, spies, Nazis, Jews in hiding, clowns. Must see--must collect.
Mel the Man August 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a slightly more serious side of Mel, which is to say, madly funny; and I found it absolutely hilarious. Taking on a suspenseful WWII drama in Poland, probably the last thing you think of is slapstick. The comedy had its perhaps poignantly cheesy moments, which are the only detractors in the entire film, and I'm sure most viewers will recognize them, and yet also has some classic, mad hilarity.
Having not seen the original, I think I will have to now. Mel is surely one of the greatest American comedians, and I also agree with other reviewers here that he displays his acting skills more strongly than in other films. There is, BTW, no raunchy humor here, and some of the best slapstick I've seen for a while. From the first moment, Mel and the stunning Anne Bancroft as well as all supporting roles are well done and tasteful. Any references to or portrayal of homosexuality are well done and not lewd or offensive.
Because as you may well know, Bronski, played by Brooks, is a director determined to rescue family and friends from his theatre from certain death in the Nazi occupation, and at one point says, "without Jews, gypsies and qu66rs, there would be no theatre. [paraphrased, but very close]" I imagine this film is the inspiration of the 90s synth-pop band choosing the name "Bronski Beat." In this film one of Bronski's gay employees is forced to wear the imfamous pink triangle, and it is remarkable that Mel should portray that historical fact in this film.
But that is just a side-note, as the film is larger than that one issue, and Mel's taking on such a serious drama armed with slapstick, and one absolutely gorgeous co-star, is testimony to the power of humor, (And Anne's beauty) to redeem and enliven, and help us through moments too grim to bear otherwise. And because of that I'd recommend this film strongly. Mel is the man.
Great Movie February 11, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of Mel Brook's best movies ... a must have for any Eml Brooks fan
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