Ep. 15: ‘To Be Or Not To Be (1942)’ or ‘The Legend of Joseph Tura… Whom You’ve Probably Heard Of…

On a very special episode, Zach welcomes back Ryan Frost to examine satire amidst wartime in Ernst Lubitsch’s 1942 masterpiece, TO BE OR NOT TO BE. Brace yourselves for an uproarious and thought provoking chat as the boys discuss the importance of the Lubitsch touch, the concerns surrounding the script, marvel at the way the script tows the line of comedy and suspense, revel the bountiful brilliance of the films supporting players, dig into the controversies that surrounded the preview screenings and promotion of the picture, dissect Carole Lombard’s role as the “straight man” in the film, and find out just how Mr. Lubitsch got the best film performance out of Jack Benny. Things do get serious as the boys talk about how challenging art and satire is received then and today, the fine line dark comedy possesses, and about the tragic death of Carole Lombard. But like the film itself, there is silly to pair with sincerity as the guys gab a bit about Cary Grants early years, help Robert Stack solve the mystery of Robert Stack’s legacy, and get a brief visit from Mr. Hitchcock. Be sure to check out Ryan each week on Reel Nerds Podcast: https://reelnerdspodcast.com/ and look out for his article series deeper dive into the world of Cary Grant! For the origal piece, go here: https://reelnerdspodcast.com/2019/12/03/classic-cool-the-films-of-cary-grant/