Synopsis
Joseph (Benny) and Maria Tura (Lombard), husband and wife, are famous Polish
actors. During a performance of Hamlet, a young and handsome officer,
Lieutenant Stanislav Sobinski (Stack), leaves just as Joseph begins the soliloquy,
to be or not to be,
and Joseph is outraged. But he would be even more
outraged if he knew that the officer was leaving to visit Maria in her dressing
room. A short time later, Nazi Germany invades Poland, and the theater is closed.
Sobinski has fled to England with other Polish pilots. They entrust a spy, who is
returning to Poland, with secret information. Sobinski realizes that the man is
actually a Nazi spy and follows him to Poland. The spy is killed before he can
contact the Nazis. Sobinski, endangered, contacts Maria, and she hides him. The
plot becomes complex with Joseph impersonating the Nazi spy, various Nazis trying
to seduce Maria, and the theater troop appearing as German soldiers. One member of
the company resembles Hitler. The resemblance is utilized in their schemes and,
ultimately, makes possible their escape to England.
Discussion
To Be or Not To Be, Ernst Lubitsch's final masterpiece, pairs comic absurdity with grim reality. Within the melancholic setting of occupied Poland, everybody, Poles and Nazis (except the traitorous Professor Siletsky), participates in the comedy. The cast was chosen flawlessly. On radio, Jack Benny achieved comic greatness; on film, however, he was generally no more than mildly amusing. The character of the Polish actor, tailored to his speaking and acting style, provided Benny with his only great role on the screen. Carole Lombard, whose part is also well-matched to her personality and style, is wonderful. Several character actors, such as Charles Halton, Felix Bressart, and Tom Dugan, have the most prominent and important roles of their careers.