TO BE OR NOT TO BE

TO BE OR NOT TO BE is a remake of Ernst Lubitsch's classic wartime comedy of the same name. This version, spearheaded by comedian Mel Brooks, stands up well in comparison to its forebear and is a deft and funny comedy in its own right. Mel Brooks and his real-life wife, Anne Bancroft, star as the Bronskis, a Warsaw theatrical duo who are the toast of Poland and "artistic directors" of a theater named in their honor (by themselves, as a matter of fact). When World War II breaks out, the Bronskis provide shelter and chicken soup to an ever-growing community of Jewish refugees while they stay one step ahead of the Nazis. Brooks and Bancroft are wonderful in the roles of the battling Bronskis. Mel Brooks in particular seems to have reached deep within himself to find a touching level of vulnerability beneath the bombast and bluster of Frederick Bronski. Despite the farcical and improbable plot twists, the narrative is sound and genuine pathos registers throughout the film. Those with fond memories of Jack Benny and Carole Lombard in the lead roles will equally enjoy this rare treat: a sure-footed and genuinely entertaining film.