Movie · 1983 · Comedy, War, Romance · 1h 47m · PG · English
Curator score: 4.3/10 (20.2K ratings)
THAT is the movie!
Overview
A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.3/10
IMDb: 6.9/10
Letterboxd: 3.48/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
Metacritic: 61
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Alan Johnson
Production
Brooksfilms
Cast
Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Tim Matheson, Charles Durning, José Ferrer, George Gaynes, Christopher Lloyd, George Wyner, Lewis J. Stadlen, Jack Riley, James "Gypsy" Haake, Ronny Graham, Estelle Reiner, Zale Kessler, Scamp, Earl Boen, Ivor Barry, William Glover, John H. Francis, Raymond Skipp
Curator Review
Verdict
A lively, often very funny wartime farce with a sharper melancholy edge than its premise suggests. It works best as a showcase for performance, timing, and the uneasy collision between comedy and occupation-era danger, though it inevitably lives in the shadow of the classic it remakes.
Best for
Mel Brooks fans
viewers who like war comedies with a darker undertow
fans of stagey farce and theatrical plotting
audiences interested in WWII-set satire
Skip if
you want the original Lubitsch film
you dislike broad comedy mixed with serious historical material
you prefer tightly modernized remakes
you are looking for a purely romantic or purely dramatic war story
Overview
This remake has the kind of big, confident comic energy you expect from Mel Brooks, but it is not just a gag machine. The best stretches balance absurdity with genuine wartime anxiety, letting the film feel playful without completely defanging the setting. That tonal tension is the movie’s main strength and also the reason it can feel uneven from scene to scene.
Worth noting
The cast helps a lot, especially in the relationship between the leads, which gives the film a warmer, more human center than a simple spoof would have. The production has a polished, old-school studio sheen, and the material is staged with enough theatricality to suit its premise. When the jokes land, they land hard; when they don’t, the film can feel a little too eager to prove its own cleverness.
Bottom line
As a remake, it is less essential than the original but still worthwhile on its own terms. If you enjoy comedies that treat performance itself as a survival skill, or war films that let satire cut through fear, this is an easy recommendation. If you are comparing versions or expecting a masterpiece, temper expectations and let it be a good, slightly uneven, very watchable farce.
Top Letterboxd reviews
pirateneckbeard (3★) · 147 likes
So this is a Lubitsch remake With Mel Brooks taking over the helm of Jack Benny and I would have to say it was enjoyable even though I wasn’t expecting too much from a remake. Solid cast and looked decent plus maybe I got carried away with my dad’s enthusiasm but maybe you will too. 😉👉
Vivian (4★) · 106 likes
men think they deserve a woman like anne bancroft. they're not mel brooks though.
📀 Cammmalot 📀 (4★) · 91 likes
Cinematic Time Capsule1983 Marathon - Film #129
C-3PO: ”Sir, the possibility of successfully remaking an Ernst Lubitsch picture is approximately 3,720 to 1”
Mel Brooks: ”Never tell me the odds!”
Long Live Physical Media
Cinematic Time Capsule - 1983 Ranked
theironcupcake (4★) · 71 likes
"Remember, Bronski, you're playing for our lives!""Relax! I'll give the greatest performance I've ever given!""Don't! Just be good."
It's not the original, but who says it needed to be? Some stories are just worth telling again!
If you asked me to name my favorite couples in Hollywood history, Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft are always at the top of the list. The most memorable part of their To Be or Not to Be remake is their Polish rendition… more
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (4.5★) · 57 likes
THIS MOVIE IS WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
But seriously, for those who were back on my journey throughout the 1001 Movies You Must Watch Before You Die list know I was completely hyped and happy with the end result that was Ernst Lubitsch's original version of this movie thanks to its great comedic line and great premise which I still believe Tarantino hardly borrow from for his "Inglorious Basterds" film. To this date, I think that movie (about two famous Polish actors who… more
1966 · Music, Comedy, Romance · 1h 37m · Curator 3.9/10 (18.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Stage-derived chaos, mistaken identity, and tightly choreographed comic timing make it a strong tonal cousin.
1926 · Action, Adventure, Comedy · 1h 19m · NR · Curator 9.1/10 (214.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection
A classic of comic survival under pressure, with physical ingenuity carrying the story through danger.