Get ready to buckle up for a comedic rollercoaster through history as Natey and Katy tackle the audacious 1942 satire "To Be or Not To Be." This isn't just your ordinary movie review; we're peeling back layers of humor that dared to mock Hitler at the height of World War II. Our chat unpacks the film's clever blend of laughs and grave undertones, with standout performances from Jack Benny and Carole Lombard lighting up our conversation. Discover how this brave piece of cinema balanced its dark comedy within a concentration camp backdrop, a risky endeavor that could easily have stirred controversy.
We're connecting the dots between Shakespearean twists in "To Be or Not To Be" and the stamp historical events leave on storytelling. Join us as we continue to explore the complexities of film, from the comedic gems that challenge the status quo to the animated adventures that reimagine family dynamics. And don't forget to hit us up on social media—your movie musings and critiques are the secret sauce to our cinematic journey.
Get ready to buckle up for a comedic rollercoaster through history as Natey and Katy tackle the audacious 1942 satire "To Be or Not To Be." This isn't just your ordinary movie review; we're peeling back layers of humor that dared to mock Hitler at the height of World War II. Our chat unpacks the film's clever blend of laughs and grave undertones, with standout performances from Jack Benny and Carole Lombard lighting up our conversation. Discover how this brave piece of cinema balanced its dark comedy within a concentration camp backdrop, a risky endeavor that could easily have stirred controversy.
We're connecting the dots between Shakespearean twists in "To Be or Not To Be" and the stamp historical events leave on storytelling. Join us as we continue to explore the complexities of film, from the comedic gems that challenge the status quo to the animated adventures that reimagine family dynamics. And don't forget to hit us up on social media—your movie musings and critiques are the secret sauce to our cinematic journey.
One's a movie buff, one watches movies, just enough. Together, fun will be had by all. This is Nady and Katie at the Movies. Hello everyone, and welcome to another brand new episode of Nady and Katie at the Movies. I'm your host, nathan, aka Nady, of course, and with me on today's episode is my good friend Katie. Hi, katie, how are you?
Speaker 2:I'm doing so well, so incredibly well, because I'm excited to talk about this movie today and I want to. I don't know if you would say this because you're not going to brag on yourself, but I want to brag on my friend Nady here that just got to help to lead a show tonight. You're recording after two productions back to back. It's exciting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, two productions back to back and then two more tomorrow when we're recording this. My school is doing Finding Nemo Junior and the kids are incredible and it's just. It's really cool to see how a show comes together Because, just like with any theater experience, you always have those moments where, like how in the world is this going to come together? And then it does. And, speaking of theater, this movie that we're about to talk about has something to do with a theater troop.
Speaker 1:So this movie is called to be or not to be, and all those theater Shakespeare people out there will know the famous line from Hamlet, which this movie kind of deals with a little bit. So let's get right into the synopsis. During the German occupation of Poland, an acting troop becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy. To be or not to be stars Carol Lombard, jack Benny, robert Stack and Felix Pressart. Now, if two of those names sound familiar, actually probably only one of those names sounds familiar to most people. Robert Stack was actually the host of Unsolved Mysteries I don't know if you ever watched that show and Jack Benny was known as a famous radio comedian back in the day, and this movie was kind of one of those more serious.
Speaker 1:I mean there were some funny moments in it but this was a pretty, for the most part pretty serious movie with like little drops of humor throughout. Thank you, katie. I'm just gonna ask you right ahead because you know I'm more of like the classic movie actor, like I like the classic movies, like you know, turner classic movies and American movie classics, even though nowadays AMC is what I like to call American movie crap, because the journey, the movies on there are not that good.
Speaker 2:So what did you think of this Classic movie has been pretty classic, it's it's classic, it's black and white, it came out in 1942, which is probably, before I even get into my review, probably one of the most interesting things that I was realizing. This is a movie kind of spoofing, like making fun of Hitler, poking it fun at the Nazis Created in the middle of World War. I mean, I've off Hitler. Adolf Hitler is alive at this point when this movie comes out, which just blew my mind, because we've seen all kinds of stuff like that, like in glorious bastards the movie, some of these that highlight and almost poke fun at the Nazis. But Wow, I was like hold on a second. These people not fear for their life when they made this movie. So there's backstory on that too. I mean, they definitely got some flak for doing that. But it's definitely a classic, pretty old movie and I I really, really liked it. Nathan, I was a huge fan.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was. It was a very good movie. I was confused a little bit by it because, again, I knew Jack Benny as a comedian. You know he had his own radio show. He was very funny. He always played the violin or the One of those string instruments, but that's what he was known for.
Speaker 1:And so when I started watching this movie I was kind of like waiting for the the laugh out loud moments, and then for me there weren't that many laugh out loud loud moments, mostly like towards the beginning, when they're putting on a play basically about Hitler, and then it's kind of foreshadowing what's gonna happen later in the movie, because they kind of use that bit in Real life with real Nazi people, which I thought was kind of funny.
Speaker 1:Because in the beginning of the movie the guy who's supposed to be playing Hitler comes in and kind of ad libs align and he says you know everyone's saying you know how Hitler and all this stuff, and he comes in he says hi, all myself. Which I don't know if you caught that, katie, I don't know if you are a fan of the Mel Brooks movie, the producers or the musical, and they kind of take that from, I'm assuming from this, because another. Did you know there's actually a remake of this movie to be or not to be Starring Mel Brooks and his wife? So I'm assuming that's a big assumption, but I'm pretty sure this is what he got it from. He got the the whole springtime for Hitler idea From this movie itself, which he also started a remake of.
Speaker 1:So I thought that was kind of cool and I thought that was funny, because that's the first thing I thought of when the guy comes in, he goes Hiled myself, because that's exactly what they use in the movie.
Speaker 2:And, to be fair, like I had no idea what I'm getting into, right, like no back story. So when you're watching it, like I don't know if this is the real Hitler or not, so you're like, wait what he wouldn't? Hitler wouldn't say that. If you're listening and you haven't watched yet, please stop and go and go watch it, because there may be some spoilers. But I really really enjoyed this movie. Just, it's so Wrapped up and almost confusing. But it's like a theater troupe pretending to be Nazis, like putting on a show, but then they really have to put on a show and they kind of use some of what they acted in their show it's in real life to get them out of being attacked by real Nazis. It's happening in Warsaw, poland.
Speaker 2:I Know you said it's dark. I think it is very dark content, but to me I felt like the comedy still stayed through most of it. Like I feel like Jack Benny. At no point did he get serious, like even in the moments where he's fearing death. It's still comical. It's still that I love Lucy, kind of slapstick comedy. So that would be if I had to get my number one like it was. I think this movie was comedy genius. So many clever lines like I was laughing out loud, and even the parts I wasn't laughing. I was smiling because I was like that's a clever joke. That's a clever joke. Lots of callbacks, lots of repeated lines, lots of connections, jokes that you know take, start at the beginning and then end at the end of the movie like a that long of a joke. The guy that keeps repeating the another line from, I think, shakespeare, like when we were hungry, did you not feed us? Oh, the murderous yes.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay, yeah, and he just he keeps repeating it and then somehow it kind of he ends up needing to use that in the Saving everyone's life. So yeah, I thought it was comedic genius. I'm not living back in 1942. We're obviously giving a review in 2024, so another positive I like again, I didn't live back then but to me I think is impressive like a bold take, like I think it was pretty impressive to take that stance, to have a movie like this. It was very Bold and I think it was a gamble that worked out for them. I know they caught flak like a.
Speaker 2:Jen Benny's dad was supposedly like Did not want to watch this because he's like I had a hard time seeing my son wearing a Nazi uniform. Well, the Nazis are currently like putting people in concentration camps like this is not, it's too real. So yeah, that's kind of like an. It is like I think it was a bold choice. But again, I could see that being really offensive at the time that this is Trying to poke fun and be silly about people who are really living in Poland. So when you see the scenes where, like everything was destroyed in the movie, you're almost still like in such a funny laughing mood, it doesn't hit. You know, I'm not like looking at all all the stuff destroyed and being like, oh man, like their whole town is destroyed.
Speaker 1:Well, and I think Jack Benny's dad ended up Actually watching the movie, even though he's hesitant at first, and he ended up loving it. He thought it was a great movie and I think Jack Benny, from what I researched I actually did research this time because I was interested, because I like Jack Benny this is this was Jack Benny's favorite movie to make, because I think of the material and the seriousness of it. Even though the yes, it was still a comedy, there were still comedic moments. I think he probably saw the seriousness of the message that they were trying to present and and and speaking of seriousness, there is some some sad behind-the-scenes stuff with this movie. I mentioned before that this movie stars Carol Lombard. She was, you know, a famous actress back in the day and just she was learning to.
Speaker 2:She was married to Clark Gable. Did you know that he was?
Speaker 1:married to Clark Gable and Clark Gable actually did not want her to make this movie. I don't know why, but he did not. But the sad part about it was is that this was her final movie and I believe she was only in her 30s and she did not live to see the premiere of this film. She died in a plane accident and there's actually an original line in this movie that her character said that they actually cut out because of that and the line was something like what can happen in a plane and so they cut that line out because obviously it would not have gone over well with some curl Lombard fans.
Speaker 1:So there's a little behind the scenes sad, did you know, for this film. My only dislike I don't even think I said my like my only like really was Jack Benny. I thought he was because I knew him as the comedian that he was and I do, and I did see a lot of comedic timing with him, even though still I think it it, it I'm not saying it did a bad job of balancing the comedy and drama with it. But I just wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a straight comedy sometimes or if it was supposed to be a dramedy or a dramedy or something. But my only dislike is, again, it wasn't what I expected and I didn't know what I was expecting.
Speaker 1:Kind of like you, I went into this movie never really hearing about it. I didn't know that there was a remake with Mel Brooks and so I didn't know the relation between the producers and you know how, how myself and all that stuff. And so I say all of it to say I don't necessarily think I didn't like it. I just I didn't know what I thought about it after I watched it, like it wasn't bad, but it was just confusing to me about if it was supposed to be a straight comedy or whatever.
Speaker 2:So those are my. I would say I would put it in the dark comedy category.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean.
Speaker 2:I don't feel like we have any time recently of a dark comedy.
Speaker 1:I'm thinking like, like almost horror, but with some humor in it. That's what I think of dark comedy.
Speaker 2:Oh, like what was that one get out?
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what I think of dark comedy, because it was like borderline horror. But it also had some fun kind of funny moments and I wouldn't say this, that's what this was. I wouldn't say like had a horror, it was just it had heavy, heavy content because, especially since it was taking place during that time and so to, it was kind of hard to separate the content of what they were talking about and still think it was funny, even though there were funny parts. Again, there were funny parts, there were parts that I chuckled at, but I think, because I knew Jack Benny from his radio stuff, I guess I was expecting more comedy.
Speaker 2:I think that's what I'm trying to say Well, and I also think, as much as it was probably hard to watch in that time, I also think that the jokes probably did land earlier, like one of the running gags is he's like oh, concentration camp, what does he call him?
Speaker 1:A concentration camp, carl or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's like oh, concentration camp carl. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they do the concentrating and we do the camping. Like you know, it's like oh, concentration camp. Jokes don't really land the same now. But again, I felt like it was still comedic genius. You know, there is also like a dead person that shows up like a dead body that they're pretending I don't know.
Speaker 2:I just thought it was so clever. I also feel like my other big addition, so comedic genius. That goes completely to the director. But the other thing would be the acting like back Benny, of course, Incredible. But I think all the supporting actors were great and actresses Carol was incredible. I think their chemistry was really good and I liked that. I thought everybody had a fantastic role and played their part very well. And I'm just really I want to tell more people about this movie because, like you, I had never heard of this at all and I do think it is a comedic gold piece of art. But again, I don't know if maybe I have a dark sense of humor sometimes, so maybe things I find funny other people would not.
Speaker 1:I mean, yeah, I would definitely recommend it, just because it is on the top 250 movies of all time. So I mean it's obviously on there for a reason. And again, I'm not saying I didn't like it, it just was confused. It confused me at times. So that is to be or not to be, and that is not the question. The question now is what are we gonna rate this movie? You see what I did there some Shakespeare.
Speaker 2:So Katie, what would you rate?
Speaker 1:to be or not to be.
Speaker 2:I would rate to be or not to be this version a six out of six actually, and again, maybe because it's my genre. I know you ranked recently you ranked one that because it wasn't your genre I think it was Dune you didn't rank Dune very high because it's just not your type of movie. I love comedy. So six out of six for me. The only critique I could think of was it may have been offensive at the time and also that I'm offended that they made a remake. I can't imagine liking it. I don't even really want to watch it Because I can't imagine anyone else playing these characters Like it would take away from it.
Speaker 1:I mean I can imagine Mel Brooks playing this character, just because based off of the producers and the genius that that movie is. So I'm gonna go ahead and give to be or not to be a low 4.5 out of six, because I just wasn't sure how much of a comedy it was and I love the I thought you'd find it funny, because you're a theater guy, like I would assume there's even more like inside jokes.
Speaker 1:I thought so too, but when I started watching it it just wasn't what I thought it was gonna be, and so I guess that's why I was kind of disappointed. So that is our rating of to be or not to be, and that will do it for the month of March. We're already done with the month of March and we're going right into April with this little ditty. Take a listen, this is someone that's fine. I mean, I can break through walls.
Speaker 2:I just can't get this She'll die, no matter how many times you save the world it always manages to get back in jeopardy again.
Speaker 1:I feel like the maid. I just cleaned up this mess. Can we keep it clean for for 10?
Speaker 2:minutes. I'm at the top of my game. I'm right up there with the big dogs. Girls, come on, leave the second of the world to the men? I don't think so, super ladies.
Speaker 1:They're always trying to tell you their secret identity. They can strengthen the relationship, or something like that.
Speaker 2:Etna Maul, your sword can stretch as far as you can and still retain its shape Virtually indestructible and machine-washable darling.
Speaker 1:That's a no-fit job.
Speaker 2:Message complete Stand back.
Speaker 1:That's right. We're taking on Disney once again with the super movie, the Incredibles, so I'm excited to talk about that, because I, of course, this is one we've probably both seen before, but it's not something we've seen in a while, so I'm interested to talk about what our thoughts are now. So, katie, do you have anything you'd like to end this episode with?
Speaker 2:That man did to Hamlet what Hitler did to Poland.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Nadie and Katie at the Movies. Feel free to leave us a review so people can find the show. Follow us on all our social media platforms and if there's a movie that you want us to watch, feel free to contact us at nadieandkateyatgmailcom. Thanks for listening and have a great day.