The play stars josef tura jack benny, in an absolutely brilliant. In jack benny s first film he starred along with conrad nagel as master of ceremonies in the hollywood revue of 1929, which was a big role for jack at the time. Jack benny is at his best in this comedy while carole lombard gets to play the femme fatale and the object of affection of a young admirer. To be or not to be mel brooks takes a side step from his usual burlesque to remake the classic that starred jack benny and carole lombard in her last gig. Starring carole lombard and jack benny no intended the rights to this video remain with the original creator, this is purely for educational and promotional purposes.
The narrator then brought the film fullcircle back to the beginning. The carol burnett show official recommended for you. When bill and connie fuller are forced to move out of their manhattan apartment because of their pet dog, connie persuades bill to buy a dilapidated old pennsylvania house that george washington allegedly slept in. To be or not to be is a 1942 american black comedy film directed by ernst lubitsch and starring carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart, lionel atwill, stanley ridges and sig ruman. To be or not to be is a 1942 american black comedy film directed by ernst lubitsch and starring carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart. Then, just earlier this year, i sought out the mel brooks version. Perhaps its because you both built this movie up so much, but i didnt find it quite so enjoyable as you did. Goodheart jose zeco koko the lord high executioner lem skinner mr. To be or not to be skips lightly over all of the minefield of a subject like this and it is difficult or impossible to think of any other filmmaker who might have managed it if you look at mel brooks limp remake, you can see why. I have seen the first two of the films in full lenght, and the last two only five. Barbara stanwyck guest stars on the jack benny program youtube.
To be or not to be has been available for many years on dvd and it was always a film which called for a commentary. In 1942, benny starred in one of his greatest movies to be or not to be, which was directed by the great ernest lubitsch. Jack is thrilled to introduce his guest, actor peter lorre, who seems very modest and timid until jack congratulates him on his ability to personify evil, spurring lorre to pull a knife from his jacket pocket. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. To be or not to be 1942 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
In to be or not to be, a remake of a 1942 jack benny comedy, brooks and an allstar ensemble cast have a splendid time working as a makeshift polish underground in world war ii, using as their cover their theatrical company. Feb 04, 2016 starring jack benny, martha raye, george burns, gracie allen. Benny is simply brilliant here whether he is in a barely contained panic attack or spouting out sarcastic wisecracks. In the original play, city dweller bill fuller, fired up. Ernst lubitschs superb satire with jack benny in great form as the hammy theatre actor and carole lombard as his sexy wife in war torn poland. The son of a saloon keeper, jack benny born benny kubelsky began to study the violin at the age six, and his ineptness at it, would later become his trademark in reality, he was a very accomplished player.
Benny s sponsors included chevrolet from 1933 to 1934, general tire in 1934, and jello from 1934 to 1942. When to be or not to be was originally made, by ernst lubitsch in 1942, the nazis were in poland, which gave a certain poignancy to every funny line. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The anarchist film archive presents to be or not to be 1942 ernst. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into. Suspiciously, both carole lombard and jack benny fired off almost identical cables describing the new title as suggestive and allowing that, as participants and investors in the film, they objected strongly to the change. The coffee cup dunking scene stood in my mind for years. If you do not like jack benny, this film is not for you. To be or not to be 1942 is berlin germanyborn director ernst lubitschs sophisticated screwball masterpiece, with satirical comedy, romance, and suspense. He also said that jack benny accidentally sneezed on him.
To be or not to be 1942 is berlin germanyborn director ernst lubitschs. He was known for his comic timing and the ability to cause laughter with a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature. To be or not to be, costarring carole lombard and jack benny, under expert guidance of ernst lubitsch, is absorbing drama with farcical trimmings. Mary livingstone, born sadie marks on june 23, 1905, was an american radio comedienne and the wife and radio partner of comedy great jack benny. The three stars pertain to the value of the purchase versus another product, not jack benny s humor.
In fact, the radio show was generally not announced as the jack benny program. Jack has a nightmare involving lorre, in which jack visits a new doctor, because the doctor. I have an idea for a show movie about jack benny, or want to use his image or recordings. Top 20 quotes of jack benny famous quotes and sayings. The films comedic skewering of nazis was particularly controversial at a time when. He left germany in the early 1920s for hollywood, and found great success crafting a personal brand with a number of hit screwball comedies and musicals. There are a lot of twist and turns and a little bit of romance that involves the to be or not to be speech in hamlet. Jun 24, 20 not only was he generous, but he always was married for many years to one woman who was his partner on and off the stage. Maltin writes that it is a scene for scene copy, but i am not reminded of any shots i saw in 1942.
Stanwyck and benny perform a very funny parody of the film gaslight, which they have named autolight. To be or not to be works as both comedy and thriller. The plot which takes in the polish underground,the nazi invasion,a hitler impersonater,the gestapo and various deceptions is too convoluted to go into but the plot is secondary to its nonstop gags and. Now we can learn about jack benny, carole lombard, ernst lubitsch and all the components that came together. Jack benny and ernst lubitsch share a laugh on the set of to be or not to be lubitsch himself was born to a jewish family in berlin. Josef tura and his wife maria are leading players in a theater company in poland. Its amusing enough and i agree that jack benny is terrific, but for me it only worked as a comedy and not as a drama or as any kind of adventure film.
On the may 15, 1974 episode of the tonight show starring johnny carson, robert blake said it was an unhappy set due to jack benny being at odds with warner brothers studio not accommodating his request for a different leading lady than alexis smith. Brooks and bancroft go in the opposite direction, cheerfully allowing farce, slapstick, pratfalls and puns. Benny s career lasted from the early 1900s until his death in 1974. No filmmaker seems to take such glee at poking fun of the nazis as mel brooks. To be or not to be 1942 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. To be or not to be, a 1942 wartime comedy directed by the great ernst lubitsch and adapted from a story by melchior lengyel the synopsis. They rehearse a satire about fascists in neighboring germany, unaware that the 1939 nazi invasion of poland is days away. The premise of george washington slept here of an urban couple, jack benny and ann sheridan, purchasing a dilapidated rural colonial farmhouse isnt the most original but put benny in full apoplexy mode you get movie magic. With carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart. Carole lombard, american actress who was known for her ability to combine elegance and zaniness in some of the most successful and popular film comedies of the 1930s. Yes some of the episodes are almost fifty years old and probably will never see the light of day again, but look at the dreck on tv right now. To be or not to be, with mel brooks the new york times. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production right before the u.
Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. There are so many public domain packs of 50s tv i can see why anyone would be confused as to which to buy. Jack benny, as the leader of the troupe, displays an acting talent never again demanded of him. With jack benny, ann sheridan, charles coburn, percy kilbride. The film is now available in a first rate print with a first rate commentary.
During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes. Carole lombard biography, movies, marriages, death. The son of a polish immigrant haberdasher, benny studied the violin from an early age he really could play, though he was certainly no virtuoso, and managed to find work in local theatre orchestras. The screenplay was written by ronny graham and thomas meehan, based on the original story by melchior lengyel, ernst lubitsch and edwin justus mayer. Ive been a big fan of the jack benny movie since i was 10 years old.
Every now and then on the criticwire network an older film gets singled out. He also appeared in 19 films between 1927 and 1945. As nervy as it is hilarious, this screwball masterpiece from ernst lubitsch stars jack benny and, in her final screen appearance, carole lombard as hu. Lubitschs stars were jack benny and carole lombard, both specialists in underplaying. Jack benny fancies himself a great hamlet, which is where the movie gets its title which the wily director turns into a ribald joke. The interrogator from the carol burnett show full sketch duration. Her bestknown movies included twentieth century, my man godfrey, and nothing sacred. The jack benny program jack benny self benny the louse district attorney zeke benny alexander hamilton alfalfa bruce fink buck charles manningham charleston t. Learn more about benny s life and career in this article. During the nazi occupation of poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a polish soldiers efforts to track down a german spy. When was the international jack benny fan club started and by whom. As nervy as it is hilarious, this screwball masterpiece from ernst lubitsch stars jack benny and, in her final screen appearance, carole lombard as husbandandwife thespians in nazioccupied warsaw who become caught up in a dangerous spy plot. In to be or not to be, josef tura jack benny and his charming wife maria carole lombard are selfabsorbed actors, the toasts of preworld war ii warsaw, poland.
This is a list of movies featuring comedian jack benny. Kaufman broadway hit george washington slept here has herein been tailored to the unique talents of jack benny. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be, starring jack benny and carole lombard, is a topnotch world war 2 satire taking place during the holocaust. To be or not to be is a hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went. To be or not to be 1942 synopsis in world war ii poland, the elaborately egotistical theatrical couple joseph and maria tura jack benny and carole lombard head a company that is forced by their occupiers to switch from antinazi propaganda to shakespeare, allowing maria to dally backstage with the young pilot sobinski robert stack while joseph hams it up as hamlet hence the title.
The jack benny program the peter lorrejoanie sommers show. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be is a black comedy about a polish theater companyled by joseph and maria tura jack benny and carole lombardthat turns to espionage after being shut down by. Brooks stars as the leader of a theatre troupe in warsaw at the time of the nazi invasion. Jack benny, entertainer whose unusual comedic method and expert timing made him a legendary success in u. However, benny s movies in the 1930s did not use him effectively.
Jack benny celebrity profile check out the latest jack benny photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The controversial antiwar comedy about espionage and politics from producer alexander korda marked by incisive black humor was a bold. Jack benny gives us his hamlet in to be or not to be. Mel brookss remake of ernst lubitschs 1942 classic, to be or not to be, is smashingly funny. I am so shocked that there were only two comments in your index about it. Benny wouldnt start getting well known until his own radio program in 1934. His most famous joke was as a man confronted by a robber who demands your money or your life. Feb 19, 2014 in this clip, barbara stanwyck guest stars on the jack benny program. With jack benny, peter lorre, joanie sommers, don wilson. Benny s first sponsor was canada dry ginger ale from 1932 to 1933. Born benjamin kubelsky in chicago, illinois, he was raised in waukegan, illinois, the jack benny middle schools football team is called the 39ers, in his honor. Warsaw stage star maria tura carole lombard with dresser maude eburne, receives a note from a fan, hammy husband joseph jack benny beginning his soliloquy, handsome lieutenant stanislav robert stack paying his first visit, in ernst lubitschs to be or not to be, 1942.
Jack benny biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. Carole lombard, jack benny, robert stack, felix bressart. February 14, 1894 december 26, 1974 was an american entertainer, who transitioned from modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to a highly popular comedic career in radio, television, and film. The 1940s saw benny making some excellent contributions to film. Why jack is not going to appear on the show live radio jack benny, barbara. Im not at all sure that its a classic, but its so good in its own right. Acting couple joseph jack benny and maria tura carole lombard are managing a theatrical troupe when the nazis invade poland. February 14, 1894 december 26, 1974 was an american comedian, vaudevillian, radio, television and film actor, and violinist recognized as a leading 20thcentury american entertainer, benny often portrayed his character as a miser, who obliviously played his violin badly, and ridiculously claimed to be 39 years of age, regardless of his act. To be or not to be 1942 movie clip while hes still. Jack benny full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Actor jack benny, born on feb 14, 1894 and died on dec 26, 1974 starred in to be or not to be, george washington slept here, charleys aunt 1941, beau james, broadway melody of 1936, a guide for the married man, college holiday, hollywood canteen, gypsy, the horn blows at midnight. Though born in a chicago hospital, entertainer jack benny was a waukegan boy through and through. Ernst lubitschs to be or not to be is a black comedy about a polish theater companyled by joseph and maria tura jack benny and carole.
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