24 September 2006

To Be or Not to Be (1983)








































unusual movie stills - screenshots - captures - photo gallery plus dvd covers and or posters of:

To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Also known as:
Soy o No Soy

Directed by

Alan Johnson

Plot description:
Mel Brooks and his real-life wife Anne Bancroft play Frederick and Anna Bronski, musical comedy stars in 1939 Poland. The highlight of the Bronskis' act is Frederick's imitation of Adolf Hitler, but he is forced to eliminate this turn for fear of offending the Nazis. Meanwhile, Anna enters into a harmless flirtation with Polish bomber pilot Andre Sobinski (Tim Matheson). The pilot's nightly signal to visit Anna in her dressing room is "To Be or Not to Be," spoken by Bronski during the Shakespearean portion of his act. When the Germans march into Warsaw, the Bronskis and the rest of their troupe are forced into hiding (notably the homosexual Lupinski, played by Lewis J. Stadlen, who is forced to endure the humiliation of wearing a pink star). Flying for the Polish resistance in England, Sobinski asks kindly Professor Seletzky (Jose Ferrer) to deliver his "To Be or Not to Be" message to Anna. When Seletzky doesn't seem to recognize the name of Anne Bronski, Warsaw's biggest star, Sobinski suspects that something is amiss. Sure enough, Seletzky is a Nazi spy, heading to Warsaw to help Col. "Concentration Camp" Ehrhardt (Oscar-nominated Charles Durning) destroy the underground movement. Parachuting into Poland, Sobinski enlists the aid of the Bronski troupe to foil the Nazis. What follows is an uproarious series of disguises and deceptions, capped by Bronski's impersonation of Der Fuhrer. [source: Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide]

Cast:

Mel Brooks .... Dr. Frederick Bronski

Anne Bancroft .... Anna Bronski

Tim Matheson .... Lt. Andre Sobinski
Charles Durning .... Col. Erhardt

Christopher Lloyd .... Capt. Schultz
José Ferrer .... Prof. Siletski
Ronny Graham .... Sondheim
Estelle Reiner .... Gruba
Zale Kessler .... Bieler
Jack Riley .... Dobish
Lewis J. Stadlen .... Lupinsky
George Gaynes .... Ravitch
George Wyner .... Ratkowski
James 'Gypsy' Haake .... Sasha (as James Haake)
Earl Boen .... Dr. Boyarski
Ivor Barry .... Gen. Hobbs
William Glover .... Maj. Cunningham
John Francis .... British intelligence agent
Raymond Skipp .... RAF flight sergeant
Marley Sims .... Rifka, Gruba's Niece
Larry Rosenberg .... Rifka's husband
Max Brooks .... Rifka's son
Henry Kaiser .... Gestapo officer
Milt Jamin .... Gestapo soldier
George Caldwell .... Gestapo guard
Wolf Muser .... Desk sergeant
Henry Brandon .... Nazi officer #1
Lee E. Stevens .... Nazi officer #2
Frank Lester .... Officer in command car
Roy Goldman .... Adolf Hitler
Robert Goldberg .... Hitler Adjutant
John McKinney .... Elite Guard officer
Eda Reiss Merin .... Frightened Jewish woman
Manny Kleinmuntz .... Frightened Jewish woman's husband
Phil Adams .... Airport sentry
Curt Lowens .... Airport officer
Robin Haynes .... Polish Flier
Ron Kuhlman .... Polish Flier
John Otrin .... Polish Flier
Blane Savage .... Polish Flier
Joey Sheck .... Polish Flier
Ron Diamond .... Pub Bartender
Gillian Eaton .... Pub Barmaid
Paddi Edwards .... Pub Waitress
Terence Marsh .... Startled British Officer
Winnie McCarthy .... Picadilly Usherette
Paul Ratliff .... Naval Officer
Scott Beach .... Narrator
Sandra Gray .... Lady
Clare Culhane .... Lady
Laurie Manning .... Lady
Leeyan Granger .... Lady
Stephanie Wingate .... Lady
Ian Bruce .... Klotskis Klowns
John Frayer .... Klotskis Klowns
Edward J. Heim .... Klotskis Klowns
Spencer Henderson .... Klotskis Klowns
George Jayne .... Klotskis Klowns
Bill K. Richards .... Klotskis Klowns
Neil J. Schwartz .... Klotskis Klowns

Tucker Smith .... Klotskis Klowns
Ted Sprague .... Klotskis Klowns