I recommended this movie to you as another example of Lubitsch’s directing excellence in the comments of your analysis of “The Shop Around The Corner”. Glad you enjoyed it. Benny’s dryness of humour and simplicity of comedy acting is always a treat.
Nearly 40 years later Mel Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft remade the film scene by scene. Sort of a valentine to the memory of Jack Benny. It's the only film he didn't direct. Unfortunately, like the original, it was a flop. But those who've seen it as part of the Brooks collection like it.
It's not TOO bad, although it's nowhere near Lubitsch--Brooks plays the Jack Benny role, but changes the character to Bronski, so that he can wear the Hitler costume for a laugh. Also, the play at the theater is slightly different: th-cam.com/video/ocA1CTH3rIM/w-d-xo.html
To Be Or Not To Be is my fav Mel Brooks movie. Hands down. I love seeing him with his wife. I think that is where I fell in love with him. Charles Durning was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Great ensemble cast. All his usual buddy actors. Even Jose Ferrer had some fun.
This reaction should lead into another war time movie... Stalag 17 (1953) Directed by Billy Wilder with William Holden & a loaded cast ! Absolutely one of my favorite war movies 🎥 Thank you Mia... love the old Hollywood classic movies 😎
The 'V' they scrawl on Nazi posters was for Victory - in fact they even wrote it in Morse code (dot dot dot dash) - which happens to be the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth symphony, which was broadcast before the BBC news from England every evening.
i saw Mel Brooks' version of this (co-starring his real life wife, Anne Bancroft) as a kid and adored it. Through time, I fell in love with Jack Benny and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw he was in the ORIGINAL TBONTB. I thought it was risky to make this film in the 80s but, like you said, it really took some balls to make this back THEN!
@26:57 - shows "Adolf" parachuting into a haystack in Scotland. The year previous to this movie (1941) a top Nazi named Rudolph Hess parachuted into England. He was confined to a prison for the mentally disturbed. He was transferred to the German authorities after the war and remained a prisoner until his death in 1987. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Hess
Sig Ruman was a great heavy for Groucho in A Night at the Opera, but he was especially effective as the sneaky, two-faced Sgt Schulz in Billy Wilder's Stalag 17.
Mel Brooks redid this movie int he 80s - didn't direct it though, did star in the lead with his wife Anne Bancroft. Most popular scenes from it being him singing 'A Little Piece of Poland' dressed up as Hitler, and him and Anne singing 'Sweet Georgia Brown' in Polish at the beginning of the movie.
When Ernst Lubitsch died in 1947, it was a shock to most of Hollywood. After the funeral service ended, Billy Wilder was walking out with another Hollywood director, who then exclaimed "Well, that's a tragedy, no more Ernst Lubitsch". Billy Wilder responded: " It's worse, no more Lubitsch pictures".
@@MoviesWithMia I didn't realize it, the first time I saw it until I saw the credit and in rewatch, I can see it in his face but thw voice sounds totally different
To Be or Not to Be is genius and even the remake by Mel Brooks was great fun. The fact that Lubitsch made this during the war which is mine blowing. I would love for you to look at Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait his only technicolor film. This film marked an upward turn in Gene Tierney’s career she got top billing and got wonderful reviews. But I will tell you the reviews for this movie over the years have gotten better and better when they reevaluated it. Even Gene Tierney has been reevaluated as the most underrated actress of the Hollywood Golden Era by Martin Scorsese. But this is fascinating to see Lubitsch only film in Technicolor. Gene Tierney was in a disproportionate amount of movies in Technicolor Zunack love her in color. This is an excerpt from Gene Tierney’s autobiography It’s quite amusing take “Lubitsch was a tyrant on the set, the most demanding of directors. After one scene, which took from noon until five to get, I was almost in tears from listening to Lubitsch shout at me. The next day I sought him out, looked him in the eye, and said, 'Mr. Lubitsch, I'm willing to do my best but I just can't go on working on this picture if you're going to keep shouting at me.' 'I'm paid to shout at you', he bellowed. 'Yes', I said, 'and I'm paid to take it - but not enough.' After a tense pause, Lubitsch broke out laughing. From then on we got along famously.” - Gene Tierney from her autobiography Self-Portrait th-cam.com/video/66yMA8xWCH4/w-d-xo.html
Felix Bressart's character keeps reciting that line (If you prick us do we not bleed? etc) from The Merchant of Venice, spoken by Shylock in the play (Shylock was Jewish).
Famously, Benny's father walked out on the film at the sight of his son in a Nazi uniform (They were Jewish). Apparently, years later he finally saw the film and liked it.
I love this movie with the chemistry of Benny and Lombard. Carole Lombard was a well known comedic actress, but Benny whose greatest success was on radio (and later television) made his best movie performance in this role. The movie was patriotic and idealistic in everything from Chopin's theme to the favor of the performance .
The film was released March 16 1942. Carole died shortly before, not after. She died January 16 1942 along with her mother. She was on a warbond tour and was in a rush to get back to Clark Gable and switched from railroad to plane . She was one of the first to cable President Roosevelt when war was declared on Dec 8th so she died only 5 weeks later.
Mia Tiffany Great choice Ernst Lubitsch is a genius when it comes to directing. The actress in the film died in a plane crash during post production unfortunately. Another great Lubitsch film is Trouble in Paradise.
I enjoy this version of the film but I also love Mel Brooks' version as well. There are just enough differences that you don't have to compare the two as the same film. Perhaps you could do a compare and contrast segment to see which film is better or how they compare to one another.
I’m a big fan of Jack Benny. His radio and tv shows were some of the funniest and wittiest comedies you’ll ever hear. He was famous for two things, butchering a violin and being cheap.
I LOVE Carole Lombard's first GORGEOUS dress! I'd like to wear that to my high school reunion and wow everybody, but I don't think it will look the same on me. :(
I definitely recommend: Pickup on South Street, for the chemistry between Richard Widmark and Jean Peters Gun Crazy, for the chemistry between John Dall and Peggy Cummins
Ernst Lubitsch was Jewish so he hated the Nazi's. The " V" on the window stood for Victory which was used by all the allies in WW2. Carole used it in the warbond rallys in Indiana her home state.
Sorry, I'm only two minutes in and I try not to comment before the video is over, but your eyeshadow looks so good. Okay, video's over. I LOVE this move. My boyfriend will still sometimes walk into the room, say, "So! They call me Concentration Camp Ehrhardt!" and then he walks out.
Omg I love this movie! Carole Lombard was great in this and looked luminous. It was way ahead of its time because no one was in the mood to mock Hitler when it came out. Lombard died shortly before it was released, not after.
There wasn't anything "ballsy" about ridiculing Nazis in 1940-41. This was the period of "Popular Front" influence in Hollywood and anti Fascism was a staple of Hollywood films. Some contemporary critics disliked this movie because they felt it was making light of the 1939 invasion of Poland and all the ensuing suffering.
I think you would enjoy the mortal storm (1940) another WWII movie, starring jimmy stewart and margaret sullavan, directed by frank bozarge and ti's simply wonderful and so so real considering it was mad in the middle of the war! one of my favorites
I know a few people have mentioned it already, but I highly recommend you take a look at the remake starring real life couple Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. It's one of the few examples where I think the remake is better. Mainly because the remake just feels more Jewish. The original emphasizes the Polish aspect more, but it feels like they had to shy away from anything too Jewish, even giving the lead characters Italian sounding names. (And, of course, coming from a culturally Jewish Polish Italian with a very Italian last name, I know it's not impossible for these characters to be Jews.) But the level of danger they put themselves in just feels even more palpable in the remake where the are so many prominent Jewish actors, headed up by Brooks himself.
Jack Benny did few films but I enjoy every one of them. Buck Benny Rides Again... good grief. And his radio show is a wonderful series, and I greatly prefer it to the TV show - both of which are available on ARCHIVE ORG.
Would absolutely love if you would react to Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in For Me and My Gal (1942) for your Couples Chemistry series. Their other movies together, The Pirate (1948) and Summer Stock (1950), are also great. Thank you so much for keeping these old films alive. Love your channel.
I love this movie ( not so much the remake). I first saw it staying up to watch the late movie on TV when I was ten. I loved the idea of a troupe of actors trying and succeeding in thwarting the Nazis. My biggest problem was trying to hold in my giggles so that my parents wouldn't hear me. Carole Lombard was so luminous and still so funny. It was gutsy of Lubitsch to make a black comedy about the invasion of Poland and release it so soon after the US entered WWII; good for him and for all the actors. The famous "Lubitsch touch" is very present here. Thank you for reacting to it.
I'm so glad you did this movie--I watched it as a kid with my parents on our tiny black and white TV. As a pianist who adored the music of Chopin m y mother had a special feeling for Polish culture and even taught herself the language. She grew up in Maine and listened to Polish broadcasts on her shortwave radio--and she heard the final broadcast from Warsaw as the Nazis occupied the city. I can't tell from your reaction whether you recognize the ",if you prick us do we not bleed" as the famous Shylock soliloquy from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
This is starring my favorite comedian Jack Benny (a radio and tv star-one of the greatest comedians that ever lived) and one of my favorite actresses. Jack was completely shattered after her death
Apparently the film was doing well in preview UNTIL the line "What he did to Shakespeare, we are doing to Poland," at which point the audience crew their breath in with horror and the laughter died. Friends urged Lubitsch to cut the line, but he angrily refused. I guess because it's central to the film's comic mission. I find the film increasingly moving each time I see it. Something about the fate of the nation being in the hands of silly, vain, bickering people full of human weakness, but fundamentally positive -- the actors.
Although Benny's "ahem...yes" reaction to his acting critique is a gag that could have come straight off of his radio show. Benny always seemed to get the worst of it.
26:57 This scene is a reference to Rudolph Hess (2nd most powerful Nazi) who flew to Scotland in 1941 to negotiate peace. He was arrested and died in prison. I think there is still doubt on whether he did it on his own or Hitler knew about it. I believe some Scottish farmers initially apprehended him.
1:33 I like "That Uncertain Feeling," also. Merle Oberon was so pretty. Burgess Meredith as a temperamental artist-pianist maybe. Melvin Douglas as the calm Husband. Douglas is always worth a watch. He's always subtly funny.
I know you loved Rosalind Russel in "Auntie Mame". I would love to see your reaction to the 1939, "The Women". An all female cast. They had to tone it down for the code, but it is stiil deliciously witty. I found Norma Shearer, beautiful but bland and a little cringey, as the main character, but the rest of the cast was golden.
Jack Benny himself considered this his one great picture. His other movies certainly pale by comparison! And yet, he didn't ride much publicity from this film because of Carole Lombard's death. The week she died he cancelled his radio show and aired music in its place - he was very broken up. After that, although he was proud of the movie and wrote about it in his incomplete memoir, he seldom brought it up in his comedy career (unlike his other movies, such as how he turned The Horn Blows at Midnight into a punchline).
I finally have seen this fantastic reaction! Love your righteous indignation! Damn right! It's been so long since I've seen this that you reminded me of two things: a.) how suspenseful it was and b.) how ballsy! I don't think I appreciated that last part until now, I always sort of took it for granted. Fantastic reaction, as always.
Mia, hearing you sing Maria, made me realize that we need to get back to classic Hollywood musicals. We needs some Fred & Ginger and some Fred & Cyd, , and some Fred & Judy, and some Judy & Gene and some Gene & Frank, and some Frank & Doris, and some Doris & James Cagney.
I only found out this film even existed when I saw the Mel Brooks film of the same name referred to as "a remake"; naturally I had to find out about the original, and I'm so glad I did. Brook's version makes points, but to put this film out while the topic was still very relevant is to make points that are needle-sharp - especially the "Do we not ---?"
Sharing with my friend Joseph McBride who wrote the excellent How Did Lubitsch Do It? , a critical biography. I think he'll really appreciate it. Cool?
Mia, here's Joe's reply: It's sweet how she reacts to scenes as they play -- her enthusiasm is infectious. I am happy to see a smart young reviewer and podcaster appreciating Lubitsch's masterful and unusual black comedy.
This is Jack Benny's greatest film performance. He really only came alive in front of a live audience, so he wasn't at his best on a film set. As an aside, look for perennial Laurel and Hardy foil James Finlayson in the plane crash set in Scotland.
Apparently most directors assumed Benny just knew how to be funny and would under-direct him. Lubitsch really worked with him and thus got a great performance out of him.
Love it. Like I mentioned in one of your questioners, I'd catch my parents, aunt, uncle's stories watching movies about that time and place. Pointing something out, then a story. They were taken to Germany to forced labor camps, where they eventually all met. The only other Jack Benny movie I can think of is The Horn Blows At Midnight. Loved it as a kid.
Loved watching your reaction. One of my favourite movies of all time. This is probably the last movie to take, like chaplin before it in "the great dictator", the ridiculing hitler approach in a comedies made during (early) ww2. By december 1941, the united states declared war on germany and this, alongside the slowly unveiled information regarding the true horrors commited by the nazi regim, meant that "making fun of hitler" was "going out of fashion" and deemed improper. Anyway, i can't tell you the number of times that the cry "schultz!" was heard at my house...
Dear Mia, It's vital that U must do IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN 🌟 This March 10th will mark its 75th anniversary 💖 And there's a mystery 2 that movie that has gone unsolved ever since 🌠 I need U 2 please comment on it before the 10th 🙏 Please do so 🤩 Thank U 💖
I am very found of Maude Eburne, Carole Lombard’s maid. I highly recommend you to watch a movie where she is outstanding : Ruggles of Red Gap, a brilliant Leo Mac Carey’s comedy starring Charles Laughton, Roland Young, Zasu Pitt’s, Mary Boland … and Charles Ruggles. Hilarious ! Speaking of Mac Carey I offer you a challenge : make a video of his « Love Affair » (1939 - Irene Dunne / Charles Boyer) and the remake he did « An Affair to Remember » (1957 - Deborah Kerr / Cary Grant). I would be glad to have your opinion because I like the two versions with a little preference for … guess ?
Lombard was returning home from a war-bond tour across the country when their plane crashed into a mountain in Nevada. Her husband Clark Gable was broken. Pres. Roosevelt awarded Lombard the Medal of Freedom as the first woman to die in the line of duty in WWII. I adore her and find it hard to watch this film. "My Man Godfrey" and "Nothing Sacred" are 2 funnier films she starred in. William Powell also starred in the former film, he was her ex-husband at the time.
I don't think audiences didn't like the movie because of the war theme, it didn't catch on because its humor was very sophisticated and risqué. Same thing with "That Uncertain Feeling." You have to have a certain level of intelligence to appreciate Lubitsch.
This is one of the greatest satires. Incredibly sharp writing. Still hilarious.
I recommended this movie to you as another example of Lubitsch’s directing excellence in the comments of your analysis of “The Shop Around The Corner”. Glad you enjoyed it. Benny’s dryness of humour and simplicity of comedy acting is always a treat.
Nearly 40 years later Mel Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft remade the film scene by scene. Sort of a valentine to the memory of Jack Benny. It's the only film he didn't direct. Unfortunately, like the original, it was a flop. But those who've seen it as part of the Brooks collection like it.
It's not TOO bad, although it's nowhere near Lubitsch--Brooks plays the Jack Benny role, but changes the character to Bronski, so that he can wear the Hitler costume for a laugh.
Also, the play at the theater is slightly different: th-cam.com/video/ocA1CTH3rIM/w-d-xo.html
One of the few remakes that is even remotely watchable. Well, it would take a Mel Brooks to get a remake right.
To Be Or Not To Be is my fav Mel Brooks movie. Hands down. I love seeing him with his wife. I think that is where I fell in love with him. Charles Durning was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Great ensemble cast. All his usual buddy actors. Even Jose Ferrer had some fun.
Every time I watch a movie with Carole Lombard, my heart breaks.
Another gem with Lombard is Nothing Sacred!
This reaction should lead into another war time movie...
Stalag 17 (1953)
Directed by Billy Wilder with William Holden & a loaded cast !
Absolutely one of my favorite war movies 🎥
Thank you Mia... love the old Hollywood classic movies 😎
Yes yes yes!!! One of the best movies ever!
The 'V' they scrawl on Nazi posters was for Victory - in fact they even wrote it in Morse code (dot dot dot dash) - which happens to be the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth symphony, which was broadcast before the BBC news from England every evening.
I can't believe younger people don't know that!
i saw Mel Brooks' version of this (co-starring his real life wife, Anne Bancroft) as a kid and adored it. Through time, I fell in love with Jack Benny and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw he was in the ORIGINAL TBONTB. I thought it was risky to make this film in the 80s but, like you said, it really took some balls to make this back THEN!
@26:57 - shows "Adolf" parachuting into a haystack in Scotland. The year previous to this movie (1941) a top Nazi named Rudolph Hess parachuted into England. He was confined to a prison for the mentally disturbed. He was transferred to the German authorities after the war and remained a prisoner until his death in 1987.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Hess
Another great movie, next try "We're No Angels" 1955
Sig Ruman was a great heavy for Groucho in A Night at the Opera, but he was especially effective as the sneaky, two-faced Sgt Schulz in Billy Wilder's Stalag 17.
Also brilliant in The Marx Brothers “A Night In Casablanca” (1946)
My war film podcast just covered this one! Not many people out here reacting to it, so thank you for this.
Mel Brooks redid this movie int he 80s - didn't direct it though, did star in the lead with his wife Anne Bancroft. Most popular scenes from it being him singing 'A Little Piece of Poland' dressed up as Hitler, and him and Anne singing 'Sweet Georgia Brown' in Polish at the beginning of the movie.
And don't forget the late, great Charles Durning as "Concentration Camp" Erhardt
Now catch Jack Benny in "George Washington Slept Here" with a fantastic cast!
... and don't forget The Horn Blows At Midnight ... another great Jack Benny comedy.
Great Satire! Jack Beeny was brilliant!!
Before "V For Vendetta" there was "V For Victory".
Carole Lombard sure did rock that dress! Wow! She filled it out in all the right places.
Since you love a spy story, you must see my favourite, Five Fingers, with the wonderful James Mason at his best.
I will definitely have to check it out!!
When Ernst Lubitsch died in 1947, it was a shock to most of Hollywood. After the funeral service ended, Billy Wilder was walking out with another Hollywood director, who then exclaimed "Well, that's a tragedy, no more Ernst Lubitsch". Billy Wilder responded:
" It's worse, no more Lubitsch pictures".
I don't know if noticed the lovestruck pilot was a young Robert Stack before his voice deepened and became famous as the host of Unsolved Mysteries.
OMG! How did I not recognize!?! I used to watch Unsolved Mysteries religiously!!!
@@MoviesWithMia I didn't realize it, the first time I saw it until I saw the credit and in rewatch, I can see it in his face but thw voice sounds totally different
OMG, whereas for me he'll always be the hard-ass veteran from Airplane! Excellent.
It's kind of a comedy. I recommend The Women starring Norma Shearer. I think you'd enjoy it.
When i was young this kind of film was on tv all the time.
To Be or Not to Be is genius and even the remake by Mel Brooks was great fun. The fact that Lubitsch made this during the war which is mine blowing.
I would love for you to look at Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait his only technicolor film. This film marked an upward turn in Gene Tierney’s career she got top billing and got wonderful reviews. But I will tell you the reviews for this movie over the years have gotten better and better when they reevaluated it. Even Gene Tierney has been reevaluated as the most underrated actress of the Hollywood Golden Era by Martin Scorsese. But this is fascinating to see Lubitsch only film in Technicolor. Gene Tierney was in a disproportionate amount of movies in Technicolor Zunack love her in color.
This is an excerpt from Gene Tierney’s autobiography It’s quite amusing take
“Lubitsch was a tyrant on the set, the most demanding of directors. After one scene, which took from noon until five to get, I was almost in tears from listening to Lubitsch shout at me. The next day I sought him out, looked him in the eye, and said, 'Mr. Lubitsch, I'm willing to do my best but I just can't go on working on this picture if you're going to keep shouting at me.' 'I'm paid to shout at you', he bellowed. 'Yes', I said, 'and I'm paid to take it - but not enough.' After a tense pause, Lubitsch broke out laughing. From then on we got along famously.” - Gene Tierney from her autobiography Self-Portrait
th-cam.com/video/66yMA8xWCH4/w-d-xo.html
So good! Carole was fantastic, what a loss...Thank you for another great reaction, Mia. I can't wait to see what movies we will be seeing next.
Felix Bressart's character keeps reciting that line (If you prick us do we not bleed? etc) from The Merchant of Venice, spoken by Shylock in the play (Shylock was Jewish).
Famously, Benny's father walked out on the film at the sight of his son in a Nazi uniform (They were Jewish). Apparently, years later he finally saw the film and liked it.
Amazing that Robert Stack would play an Air Force general nearly 20 years later.
16:35 The guy on the right is Lionel Atwill. A staple in all those horror movies of the 30's and 40's.
The Mortal Storm is in my opinion an INCREDIBLE movie.James Stewart, Robert Young
I love this movie with the chemistry of Benny and Lombard. Carole Lombard was a well known comedic actress, but Benny whose greatest success was on radio (and later television) made his best movie performance in this role. The movie was patriotic and idealistic in everything from Chopin's theme to the favor of the performance .
The film was released March 16 1942. Carole died shortly before, not after. She died January 16 1942 along with her mother. She was on a warbond tour and was in a rush to get back to Clark Gable and switched from railroad to plane . She was one of the first to cable President Roosevelt when war was declared on Dec 8th so she died only 5 weeks later.
Tracy and Hepburn especially Woman of the Year their first movie of 9. The chemistry jumped off the screen. Adam's Rib is another great.
7:43 That's the bit, why it's funny. That's the signal for him to meet her.
For more Carole Lombard: MY MAN GODFREY.
Mia Tiffany Great choice Ernst Lubitsch is a genius when it comes to directing. The actress in the film died in a plane crash during post production unfortunately. Another great Lubitsch film is Trouble in Paradise.
A brilliantly acted witty film will we never see from Hollywood these days
I enjoy this version of the film but I also love Mel Brooks' version as well. There are just enough differences that you don't have to compare the two as the same film. Perhaps you could do a compare and contrast segment to see which film is better or how they compare to one another.
I’m a big fan of Jack Benny. His radio and tv shows were some of the funniest and wittiest comedies you’ll ever hear. He was famous for two things, butchering a violin and being cheap.
Biggest punchline in the movie: what he did the Shakespeare we are doing now to Poland.😆
RIP CAROLE LOMBARD😥
I LOVE Carole Lombard's first GORGEOUS dress! I'd like to wear that to my high school reunion and wow everybody, but I don't think it will look the same on me. :(
I definitely recommend:
Pickup on South Street, for the chemistry between Richard Widmark and Jean Peters
Gun Crazy, for the chemistry between John Dall and Peggy Cummins
THELMA RITTER!!!
Ernst Lubitsch was Jewish so he hated the Nazi's. The " V" on the window stood for Victory which was used by all the allies in WW2. Carole used it in the warbond rallys in Indiana her home state.
"There's not one but in his house I keep a servant fee'd"...... Macbeth; also what the Gestapo tried to do.
Sorry, I'm only two minutes in and I try not to comment before the video is over, but your eyeshadow looks so good.
Okay, video's over. I LOVE this move. My boyfriend will still sometimes walk into the room, say, "So! They call me Concentration Camp Ehrhardt!" and then he walks out.
Omg I love this movie! Carole Lombard was great in this and looked luminous.
It was way ahead of its time because no one was in the mood to mock Hitler when it came out. Lombard died shortly before it was released, not after.
It would be fun if she also reacted to The Great Dictator (1940) starring Charlie Chaplin. Brilliant satire!
George Washington Slept Here - Jack Benny/Ann Sheridan
There wasn't anything "ballsy" about ridiculing Nazis in 1940-41. This was the period of "Popular Front" influence in Hollywood and anti Fascism was a staple of Hollywood films. Some contemporary critics disliked this movie because they felt it was making light of the 1939 invasion of Poland and all the ensuing suffering.
I think you would enjoy the mortal storm (1940) another WWII movie, starring jimmy stewart and margaret sullavan, directed by frank bozarge and ti's simply wonderful and so so real considering it was mad in the middle of the war! one of my favorites
I know a few people have mentioned it already, but I highly recommend you take a look at the remake starring real life couple Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. It's one of the few examples where I think the remake is better. Mainly because the remake just feels more Jewish. The original emphasizes the Polish aspect more, but it feels like they had to shy away from anything too Jewish, even giving the lead characters Italian sounding names. (And, of course, coming from a culturally Jewish Polish Italian with a very Italian last name, I know it's not impossible for these characters to be Jews.) But the level of danger they put themselves in just feels even more palpable in the remake where the are so many prominent Jewish actors, headed up by Brooks himself.
See the 1983 remake with mel brooks
I love both To Be or Not to Be and The Shop Around the Corner, but I still feel his greatest masterpieces are Trouble in Paradise and Cluny Brown.
Jack Benny did few films but I enjoy every one of them. Buck Benny Rides Again... good grief. And his radio show is a wonderful series, and I greatly prefer it to the TV show - both of which are available on ARCHIVE ORG.
By the way, there's a Lubitsch film collection and every one is a gem in its own right.
Would absolutely love if you would react to Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in For Me and My Gal (1942) for your Couples Chemistry series. Their other movies together, The Pirate (1948) and Summer Stock (1950), are also great. Thank you so much for keeping these old films alive. Love your channel.
I've never heard of Maria Tuna, but I've heard of Charlie Tuna....sorry Charlie...
I love this movie ( not so much the remake). I first saw it staying up to watch the late movie on TV when I was ten. I loved the idea of a troupe of actors trying and succeeding in thwarting the Nazis. My biggest problem was trying to hold in my giggles so that my parents wouldn't hear me. Carole Lombard was so luminous and still so funny. It was gutsy of Lubitsch to make a black comedy about the invasion of Poland and release it so soon after the US entered WWII; good for him and for all the actors. The famous "Lubitsch touch" is very present here. Thank you for reacting to it.
Another great commentary! If you get the chance, see the remake with Mel Brookes and Anne Bancroft. It's great and even zanier.
The Mortal Storm with James Stewart is a great film.
At that time, the "V" was for "Victory" (not for "Vendetta")
I'm so glad you did this movie--I watched it as a kid with my parents on our tiny black and white TV. As a pianist who adored the music of Chopin m y mother had a special feeling for Polish culture and even taught herself the language. She grew up in Maine and listened to Polish broadcasts on her shortwave radio--and she heard the final broadcast from Warsaw as the Nazis occupied the city. I can't tell from your reaction whether you recognize the ",if you prick us do we not bleed" as the famous Shylock soliloquy from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
And Shylock was Jewish and being discriminated against by the Venetians. So it's very fitting for this film!
Wow! That is wonderful! And I had no idea that that line was from The Merchant of Venice!!
This is starring my favorite comedian Jack Benny (a radio and tv star-one of the greatest comedians that ever lived) and one of my favorite actresses. Jack was completely shattered after her death
Apparently the film was doing well in preview UNTIL the line "What he did to Shakespeare, we are doing to Poland," at which point the audience crew their breath in with horror and the laughter died. Friends urged Lubitsch to cut the line, but he angrily refused. I guess because it's central to the film's comic mission. I find the film increasingly moving each time I see it. Something about the fate of the nation being in the hands of silly, vain, bickering people full of human weakness, but fundamentally positive -- the actors.
Although Benny's "ahem...yes" reaction to his acting critique is a gag that could have come straight off of his radio show.
Benny always seemed to get the worst of it.
Great reaction! Such good writing in this movie.
26:57 This scene is a reference to Rudolph Hess (2nd most powerful Nazi) who flew to Scotland in 1941 to negotiate peace. He was arrested and died in prison. I think there is still doubt on whether he did it on his own or Hitler knew about it. I believe some Scottish farmers initially apprehended him.
Have you seen "The Country Girl" starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and William Holden?
1:33 I like "That Uncertain Feeling," also. Merle Oberon was so pretty. Burgess Meredith as a temperamental artist-pianist maybe. Melvin Douglas as the calm Husband. Douglas is always worth a watch. He's always subtly funny.
I know you loved Rosalind Russel in "Auntie Mame". I would love to see your reaction to the 1939, "The Women". An all female cast. They had to tone it down for the code, but it is stiil deliciously witty. I found Norma Shearer, beautiful but bland and a little cringey, as the main character, but the rest of the cast was golden.
A wonderful film that mixes comedy and suspense in such a political film.
Please do Ninotchka.
22:01 Sig Ruman great character actor.
Jack Benny himself considered this his one great picture. His other movies certainly pale by comparison! And yet, he didn't ride much publicity from this film because of Carole Lombard's death. The week she died he cancelled his radio show and aired music in its place - he was very broken up. After that, although he was proud of the movie and wrote about it in his incomplete memoir, he seldom brought it up in his comedy career (unlike his other movies, such as how he turned The Horn Blows at Midnight into a punchline).
A Favorite! And an enduring line. Heil Myself!
Right call- 10/10👍
If I could recommend a movie, I’d recommend Friendly Persuasion. Was a favorite of my mom’s.
I finally have seen this fantastic reaction! Love your righteous indignation! Damn right! It's been so long since I've seen this that you reminded me of two things: a.) how suspenseful it was and b.) how ballsy! I don't think I appreciated that last part until now, I always sort of took it for granted. Fantastic reaction, as always.
Gotta watch TROUBLE IN PARADISE. Lubitsch’s masterpiece.
Mia, hearing you sing Maria, made me realize that we need to get back to classic Hollywood musicals. We needs some Fred & Ginger and some Fred & Cyd, , and some Fred & Judy, and some Judy & Gene and some Gene & Frank, and some Frank & Doris, and some Doris & James Cagney.
This one was a goodie 😀
The Great Dictator was probably just as controversial as this film, maybe even more because the US hadn't entered the war yet.
Also the remake with Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks is worth a viewing
I only found out this film even existed when I saw the Mel Brooks film of the same name referred to as "a remake"; naturally I had to find out about the original, and I'm so glad I did.
Brook's version makes points, but to put this film out while the topic was still very relevant is to make points that are needle-sharp - especially the "Do we not ---?"
Sharing with my friend Joseph McBride who wrote the excellent How Did Lubitsch Do It? , a critical biography. I think he'll really appreciate it. Cool?
That's great!!!
Mia, here's Joe's reply:
It's sweet how she reacts to scenes as they play -- her enthusiasm is infectious. I am happy to see a smart young reviewer and podcaster appreciating Lubitsch's masterful and unusual black comedy.
Wow! This is amazing. I had next to no idea about this film, but it's just fantastic.
"What a husband doesn't know won't hurt his wife!"
Mia, if you liked Jack Benny you should watch "Charley's Aunt" (1941).
This is Jack Benny's greatest film performance. He really only came alive in front of a live audience, so he wasn't at his best on a film set. As an aside, look for perennial Laurel and Hardy foil James Finlayson in the plane crash set in Scotland.
Apparently most directors assumed Benny just knew how to be funny and would under-direct him. Lubitsch really worked with him and thus got a great performance out of him.
Mel brooks did a remake as I recall.
I can recommend two movies from this era with simiular war themes... 'Address Unknown' and 'Since You Went Away' both from 1944
Love it. Like I mentioned in one of your questioners, I'd catch my parents, aunt, uncle's stories watching movies about that time and place. Pointing something out, then a story. They were taken to Germany to forced labor camps, where they eventually all met.
The only other Jack Benny movie I can think of is The Horn Blows At Midnight. Loved it as a kid.
Jack Benny was great in "Charley's Aunt."
The Marlene Dietrich directed by Von Sternberg Films
Loved watching your reaction. One of my favourite movies of all time. This is probably the last movie to take, like chaplin before it in "the great dictator", the ridiculing hitler approach in a comedies made during (early) ww2. By december 1941, the united states declared war on germany and this, alongside the slowly unveiled information regarding the true horrors commited by the nazi regim, meant that "making fun of hitler" was "going out of fashion" and deemed improper. Anyway, i can't tell you the number of times that the cry "schultz!" was heard at my house...
Dear Mia,
It's vital that U must do IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN 🌟
This March 10th will mark its 75th anniversary 💖
And there's a mystery 2 that movie that has gone unsolved ever since 🌠
I need U 2 please comment on it before the 10th 🙏 Please do so 🤩 Thank U 💖
I am very found of Maude Eburne, Carole Lombard’s maid. I highly recommend you to watch a movie where she is outstanding : Ruggles of Red Gap, a brilliant Leo Mac Carey’s comedy starring Charles Laughton, Roland Young, Zasu Pitt’s, Mary Boland … and Charles Ruggles. Hilarious !
Speaking of Mac Carey I offer you a challenge : make a video of his « Love Affair » (1939 - Irene Dunne / Charles Boyer) and the remake he did « An Affair to Remember » (1957 - Deborah Kerr / Cary Grant). I would be glad to have your opinion because I like the two versions with a little preference for … guess ?
This great movie love your channel
Please watch Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, starring acting powerhouse, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It's a camp horror cult classic!
Such a great movie.
Lombard was returning home from a war-bond tour across the country when their plane crashed into a mountain in Nevada. Her husband Clark Gable was broken. Pres. Roosevelt awarded Lombard the Medal of Freedom as the first woman to die in the line of duty in WWII. I adore her and find it hard to watch this film. "My Man Godfrey" and "Nothing Sacred" are 2 funnier films she starred in. William Powell also starred in the former film, he was her ex-husband at the time.
This is one of my favorite movies. There aren't a lot of Benny films.
I do like to suggest watching Val Lewton's B-horror films, they are quite good and kinda noirish.
Great Film
I don't think audiences didn't like the movie because of the war theme, it didn't catch on because its humor was very sophisticated and risqué. Same thing with "That Uncertain Feeling." You have to have a certain level of intelligence to appreciate Lubitsch.