"The Picture Everyone Wants to See"
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Cast: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill
To Be or Not to Be — Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
So they call me Concentration Camp Ehrhardt?
Context
Ehrhardt is speaking to Joseph Tura (disguised as Siletsky) and chuckles at his own terrifying reputation.
Meaning
A dark, satirical jab at the regime's self-awareness (or lack thereof). It highlights how the Nazis were perceived by the outside world vs. their own internal logic.
What he did to Shakespeare we are doing now to Poland.
Context
Ehrhardt comments on Joseph Tura's "hammy" acting in Hamlet, unaware he is talking to the actor himself.
Meaning
One of the most biting lines in cinema history, equating cultural vandalism with military destruction.
Heil myself.
Context
During a rehearsal, an actor dressed as Hitler walks in and salutes himself to prove his costume's effectiveness.
Meaning
Reduces the cult of personality surrounding Hitler to a punchline, emphasizing the narcissism of the dictator.
I prefer a slow encirclement.
Context
Maria is flirting with Professor Siletsky to distract him and gain information.
Meaning
A masterful use of the "Lubitsch Touch," using military terminology as a sexual double entendre.
Explore More About This Movie
Dive deeper into specific aspects of the movie with our detailed analysis pages