To Be or Not to Be (1942 film)

To Be or Not to Be is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Carole Lombard and Jack Benny, and featuring Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges and Sig Ruman. The plot concerns a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops. It was adapted by Lubitsch (uncredited) and Edwin Justus Mayer from the story by Melchior Lengyel.[6] The film was released one month after actress Carole Lombard was killed in an airplane crash.[7] In 1996, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[8][9]

Quick facts: To Be or Not to Be, Directed by, Screenplay b... ▼

To Be or Not to Be
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ernst Lubitsch
Screenplay by	Edwin Justus Mayer Ernst Lubitsch (uncredited)
Story by	Melchior Lengyel
Produced by	Ernst Lubitsch
Starring	Carole Lombard Jack Benny
Cinematography	Rudolph Maté
Edited by	Dorothy Spencer
Production company	Romaine Film Corp.[1]
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	February 19, 1942 (1942-02-19) (LA)[2][3]
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.2 million[4]
Box office	$1.5 million (US rentals)[5]