To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Excellent!

To Be or Not to Be by Mel Brooks is a classic. Worth the money. September 3, 2008

To Be or Not To Be

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. June 9, 2008

To Be or Not To Be

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. April 7, 2008

Mr & Mrs Brooks

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. April 6, 2008

Mel the Man

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. August 6, 2007

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