In this shot from Lubitsch’s To Be or Not to Be, the Polish protagonists are seen engaging in active resistance against Nazi occupation. Joseph Tura has disguised himself as SS Colonel Ehrhardt and is in the middle of finding the location of Nazi spy Professor Siletsky’s intelligence. Periodically, such as in the still above, Tura must retreat into the back of the theater where the rest of the production are standing by to give him further instructions, which he regularly needs.

This is a satirical take by Lubitsch on performers and actors. The actor playing the role of the Colonel may believe he plays his part well but struggles to perform outside of what has been given to him by the director waiting on the other side of the door. It is also important to note, however, that this gaffe does not in any way diminish the plight of the Polish people. The viewer understands the stakes of the mission they have given themselves, especially if they are found out, as well as the groups bravery for infiltrating the Nazi ranks and literally waiting on the other side of the door to assist their “agent”. The positioning of the actors behind the wall, Tura on the right with everyone else on the left, visually expresses the roles of each of these characters in that way. The scene perfectly highlights what I believe to be one of Lubitsch’s main themes: that anyone is capable of resisting tyranny and fascism, even if they are someone as unorthodox and silly as a stage actor putting on a performance.