Time and distance have allowed its genius to be recognised.
Comment
05/24/03
To Be or Not to Be (1942)
97
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:34
Fresh:33
Rotten:1
Average Rating:8.7/10
Consensus: A complex and timely satire with as much darkness as slapstick, Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not To Be delicately balances humor and ethics.
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: A classic black comedy set in wartime Poland which deals with the members of an acting troupe who inadvertently become involved in the war effort. Academy Award Nominations: Best Scoring of a... [More]
Starring: Jack Benny, Carole Lombard, Robert Stack, Lionel Atwill
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Reviews for To Be or Not to Be
Top CriticIt's certainly one of the finest comedies ever to come out of Paramount.
06/24/06
Top CriticA masterpiece satire around the Second World War is more likely to be appreciated now after some distance.
08/20/08
Top CriticTo Be is a very funny comedy, salted to taste with melodrama and satire.
08/20/08
Top CriticAn obvious masterpiece and one of the more controversial films of its day, Ernst Lubitsch's brilliant satire is a great example of how comedy can raise social and political awareness while still providing great entertainment.
02/04/03
Top CriticA great anti-war satire; Benny's best movie; Lombard comic genius is ably displayed.
05/13/04
No review available.
11/07/03
Terribly funny.
01/01/00
simultaneously hilarious and chilling
03/01/05
Royalties from Springtime for Hitler in Germany outta be sent to Lubitsch's family.
05/01/06
One of the most profound, emotionally complex comedies ever made, covering a range of tones from satire to slapstick to shocking black humor.
01/01/00
One of film's great farces.
09/22/05
Lubitsch uses a myriad of hilarious situations and entertaining characters to provide the backdrop to his reflective meditation on the horrors of tyranny.
10/24/04
To Be or Not to Be’s wit continues to be overshadowed by its touchy plot.
02/23/05
No review available.
06/20/05
Jack Benny's best movie.
12/21/04
No review available.
07/24/04
Lubitsch carefully mixes his usual brand of sophisticated humor with a bit of bittersweet.
09/16/05
No review available.
07/26/02
To Be or Not to Be is a delightfully comic take on a dreadfully momentous topic.
03/08/05
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