Arsenic and Old Lace

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Arsenic and Old Lace

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Arsenic and Old Lace

Cary Grant, Edward Everett Horton, Jack Carson, James Gleason, Jean Adair

Frank Capra made this film in 1941 before he went off to make films for America's war effort, but it wasn't released until 1944. Adapted from the hit play by Joseph Kesselring, this frantic black come...( read more  read more... )dy shows Capra at his best as a master of mood and timing. Actresses Josephine Hull and Jean Adair reprise their Broadway performances as two gentle old ladies who poison men with elderberry wine to put them out of their misery. Cary Grant plays one nephew, a normal guy who just gets wind of their little hobby and tries to get them to stop, while Raymond Massey plays another, a villain just escaped from jail. Capra encourages the cast, especially Grant, to give a somewhat more outsized performance than one might expect. But made during the war years as it was, this overstated comic approach to killing was probably cathartic. --Tom Keogh

Id: 6575197

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Arsenic and Old Lace Recent Reviews
  • hypathio7
    October 1, 2009
    hypathio7
    I remember loving the zany physical humor when I saw it some Saturday afternoon when I was younger. I re-watched the DVD when I was preparing to act in the stage play recently, and was greatly disappointed. Cary Grant seemed way over the top! The stage play script is much bett...( read more)er than the movie adaptation. But then after completing my involvement in the community theater production, I happened to catch this on TV again. I sat through most of it again and my criticism lightened! It is an enjoyable comedy with a dark psych ward undertone.
  • moonrivers
    March 6, 2009
    moonrivers
    archie leach goes to doubletake heaven (eh? i didn't know there was one of those...there IS one of those!?!) as the nephew of two "pixelated" aunties with a peculiar solution to societal ills in their basement...it's madness, madness, madness and teddy roosevelt (of THE roosevelt...( read more)s, don't you know) to the rescue while lil ray massey and pete lorre drop by later on to even up ol' adolescent wrongs and do particularly sleazy enough to make robert blake blush.
  • evillincoln
    August 24, 2008
    evillincoln
    I didn't finish it totally yet, but it was awesome so far
  • PvtCaboose91
    May 17, 2008
    PvtCaboose91
    "Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops."


    Arsenic and Old Lace is a film for individuals who enjoy the absurd dark comedy genre. This film is indeed a number of decades old and consequently ruthlessly disregarded. Notwithstanding its age you'll b

    ...( read more)e hard-pressed to find a superior dark comedy that can match the genius of this: Frank Capra's 1944 film.


    Over 60 years on and this film is still one of history's greatest comedies. From its opening sequence until the closing titles it's simply impossible to feel bored in amidst the sparkling performances and the fast-paced string of events that incessantly unfold.


    Based on a hit Broadway play by Joseph Kesselring, this frenetic black comedy follows the central character Mortimer Brewster (Grant); a dramatic critic and an established bachelor. He has spent his career criticising marriage and making points about its futility...even in book form! As the film opens he is getting married to a woman named Elaine (Lane) which stirs a media frenzy. On his wedding day he learns that his two sweet aunts Abby (Hull) and Martha (Adair) have found a way to improve the lives of elderly people living in isolation without family or friends - by poisoning them! But they are both extremely nonchalant and calm about the situation: they have no problem with killing them and burying them in the cellar, nurturing the graves every week. On top of this, Mortimer's Uncle Teddy (Alexander) believes that he is in fact President Theodore Roosevelt. As Mortimer is still trying to come to terms with finding a way to prevent his crazy aunts from killing more people he also tries to get Uncle Teddy into a quality mental institution, tend to his new bride, keep a taxi driver waiting (for several hours), help a new police officer write a play and now also deal with the sudden reappearance of his insane brother Jonathan (Massey) with his personal plastic surgeon Dr. Einstein (Lorre).


    Arsenic and Old Lace is a beautifully conceived story that is handled wonderfully and is highlighted by the eccentric performances from everyone in the cast. Cary Grant is delightful in this form of humour. He is certainly a scene stealer for every second of his screen time. Grant's characterisation of an intriguing character is magnificent and enthralling. It's classic comedic genius as Grant tries his hardest to get out of the trickiest of situations. Credit must go to the screenwriter for developing the role perfectly suitable for Cary Grant to play. This could be his best performance to date!


    There's also an assortment of whacky co-stars who play their roles to perfection. Naturally, I must also mention the superb direction from Frank Capra. I cannot fault the composition of any scene in the film. Heck, even the opening title cards were enough to have me laughing uncontrollably. The rest of the film is thankfully graced with such genius.


    Arsenic and Old Lace is strictly for those who enjoy morbid humour. This film is the essential production from the works of Frank Capra. During his career he produced so many fantastic films like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life. You don't need to be a fan of the director to enjoy his work because of the versatile appeal. This is absurd dark comedy at its very best!


    The film takes off at lightning pace: after the opening at the marriage license agency, the film is then the story of the events that occur on a single night. With so much great humour, witty dialogue and interesting characters you will find it irresistibly tempting. It's over-the-top and cartoonish, but its faultless composition makes it very simple to suspend disbelief. Arsenic and Old Lace is light-hearted fun and still a classic romp to this very day.
  • AgentLexi2132
    February 3, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    Pending Review...

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  • MajorWhitlock
    November 30, 2009
    MajorWhitlock
    I ADORE Cary Grant. And this film only expanded that. Grant is a comedic genius. Confusing, loopy, scary and hilarious story, but rather delightful! I would totally watch this again!
  • ancestry80
    November 24, 2009
    ancestry80
    Cary Grant seemed to be great in just about every movie I've seen him in. This one is no exception. It's very funny, in a morbid sort of way.
  • whispersofecstacy
    November 9, 2009
    whispersofecstacy
    Another favorite. Cary Grant at his funniest.
  • Yelverton
    November 8, 2009
    Yelverton
    Funny but a little sick too.
  • jackamaku
    November 6, 2009
    jackamaku
    Great dark comedy with Cary Grant in an energetic, often slapstick, performance. Grant comes from a family of crazies, namely 2 aunts who like to put lonely old men out of their misery, a harmless brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt, and a homicidal brother who has escaped f...( read more)rom prison with Peter Lorre in tow. Based on a play, so most of the action takes place in one location, which I quite enjoy. There's some great banter in this, and Cary Grant is a lot of fun to watch....
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