'To Be or Not to Be' & Ernest Lubitsch

First declared as Europe’s answer to D.W. Griffith, later (after emigrating to Hollywood) credited as the creator of the modern musical and, as Jean Renoir said, the creator of modern Hollywood, Ernst Lubitsch was also one of the first celebrity directors. And while the “Lubitsch touch” started as a piece of marketing, its influence is still felt over 100 years later. On today’s episode I’m joined by writer/director/author Nicholas Meyer, no stranger himself to classy, erudite wit, to discuss Lubitsch’s fiercely felt WWII take on Hitler. On this episode, we talk:

- how is it that Lubitsch’s 100 year old movies are more adult and modern than many current Hollywood movies;
- why is someone who never took a writers’ credit known for some of Hollywood’s best post-talkies writing;
- and the brilliance of the “heist” in the Lubitsch-produced, Frank Borzage-directed Desire.

Also:

- how the Mel Brooks-produced remake, along with popular Shop Around the Corner remake You Got Mail, are as good of illustrations to be found of the “Lubitsch touch”;
- why many modern viewers come to Lubitsch through filmmakers he’s influenced, from Billy Wilder to Wes Anderson;
- and which famous French filmmaker told Meyer that To Be or Not to Be was his favorite film.

Nicholas Meyer is a director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter. He’s written over 11 books, including his Sherlock Holmes novels, the most recent of which is The Return of the Pharaoh, from the Reminiscences of John H.Watson, M.D.  His films as director include Time After Time, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Day After, and Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country. He lives in Santa Monica, California; more information can be found at his website.

To Be or Not to Be is streaming on both Max and the Criterion Channel, and is available on Blu-ray from Criterion.