#to be or not to be
To Be or Not to Be(1983)
PG - 1h 47minGenres: Comedy, Drama, War
A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when what should intrude but World War II in the form of an invasion. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he’s on stage which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
Director:Alan Johnson
Writers:Thomas Meehan(screenplay),Ronny Graham (screenplay)
Stars:Mel Brooks,Anne Bancroft,Ronny Graham
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To Be or Not to Be (1983) -Charles Durning as Col. Erhardt
I just love that surprised look on his face.
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To Be or Not to Be(1983)
A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when what should intrude but World War II in the form of an invasion. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he’s on stage which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
Director:Alan Johnson
Writers:Thomas Meehan(screenplay),Ronny Graham(screenplay)
Stars:Mel Brooks,Anne Bancroft,Ronny Graham
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To Be or Not to Be (1983) - Charles Durningas Col. Erhardt
One of my favorite scenes in the movie. And of course it had Durning in it.
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Charles Durning Over the Years: The 80s
Durning reached a sort of career high in the early ‘80s, achieving a seeming ubiquity in film. He received nominations for his supporting performances in “Attica” (1980) and “Death of a Salesman” (1985), in which he starred as Willy Loman’s neighbor Charley. He earned two Oscar nods for a pair of full-bodied performances; the first, as the governor in the otherwise glum film version of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) and the other as a lustful Nazi officer in the Mel Brooks remake of “To Be or Not To Be”(1983). One role that should have brought him an Academy Award nomination was as Jessica Lange’s father, who falls for Dustin Hoffman’s female alter ego in “Tootsie” (1983). His response once he learns that Dorothy is, indeed, a man after putting his heart on the line was one of the most touching scenes in the film. But there were few, if any pictures in which Durning did not give a solid and entertaining performance. Indeed, his presence could be counted on to lend credence to projects like 1984’s “Mass Appeal,” the failed comedy “Big Trouble” (1986) and “Solarbabies” (1986).
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To Be or Not to Be (1983) - Charles Durning as Col. Erhardt
Great performance from the entire cast, but the real star for me is Durning of course. He snagged his second Oscar nod in a Supporting Role playing bumbling Col. Erhardt.
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To Be or Not to Be (1983) - Charles Durning as Col. Erhardt
Posing as the wily Nazi collaborator Professor Siletski, Frredrick Bronski (Mel Brooks) delivers perhaps his greatest performance by beguiling his bungling adversary, Colonel Erhardt (Charles Durning). Durning was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role playing Col. Erhardt.
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