A masterpiece satire around the Second World War is more likely to be appreciated now after some distance.
Comment
08/20/08
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 CriticTime and distance have allowed its genius to be recognised.
05/24/03
Top CriticIt's certainly one of the finest comedies ever to come out of Paramount.
06/24/06
Top CriticLubitsch carefully mixes his usual brand of sophisticated humor with a bit of bittersweet.
09/16/05
simultaneously hilarious and chilling
03/01/05
Like Chaplin before him in The Great Dictator, Lubitsch aimed a wet raspberry in Der Fuhrer's face.
04/04/06
It's held up marvelously over the years, hurtling forward with its dizzying blend of laughs and intrigue.
03/18/05
To say it is callous and macabre is understating the case.
05/20/03
Top CriticTo Be or Not to Be’s wit continues to be overshadowed by its touchy plot.
02/23/05
The famed "Lubitsch touch," whatever it really was, was never put to a more formidable test… the last hour is satiric perfection.
05/02/05
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
To Be or Not to Be is a delightfully comic take on a dreadfully momentous topic.
03/08/05
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
Lubitsch's guidance provides a tense dramatic pace with events developed deftly and logically throughout.
08/20/08
Top CriticTerribly funny.
01/01/00
To 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 CriticClick to read the article
06/13/03
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube 
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds