[net.movies] To Be or Not to Be

hstrop@mhuxt.UUCP (trop) (12/21/83)

To Be or Not to Be

This is Mel Brook's latest film. I saw it last night and enjoyed it
a great deal. It is basically the story of an actor's troupe in
Poland during the early days of WWII. Anne Bancroft is simply
marvelous is the picture asthe theatre troupe leading lady and
wife of the head of the troupe, who is played by Mel Brooks.
There are a lot of familiar faces in the crowd and Charles
Durning gives a great comic performance as a Gestapo officer.
There is a good mix of comedy, slapstick and social commentary
thrown in. All in all, about on a level with Young Frankenstein,
below the Producers, in overall quality.
A couple of scenes to watch for:
	The opening number is in Polish.

	When the Polish gov't stops one number, listen for Mel's
	line. It's one of the best theatre puns I've heard.

				Check it out!
				Harvey S. Trop
				mhuxt!hstrop

jpg@sdchema.UUCP (12/23/83)

      This is a remake of a 1942 Jack Benny film of the same name.
It turns up on TV once in a while.