Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)

Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)

Though you may tire of Cary Grant’s frenetic behavior and exasperated exclamations ("ow"’s and "oh dear"’s) while watching it this is a very funny Frank Capra (produced & directed) film starring Grant as famous writer-critic Mortimer Brewster formerly a confirmed bachelor and his newlywed wife Priscilla Lane. It features an excellent supporting cast that includes Raymond Massey (playing the ‘inside-joke’ role that Boris Karloff originated on Broadway) & Peter Lorre and Josephine Hull (known best for her Oscar winning role in Harvey (1950)) & Jean Adair. Additionally Jack Carson John Ridgely Edward McNamara and James Gleason play police officers; Grant Mitchell Edward Everett Horton and Charles Lane also appear.

Just after Grant marries Lane he discovers that his sweet ole Aunts (Hull & Adair) have been bumping off unsuspecting lonely old gentlemen with elderberry wine and burying them in their basement (!) to which he later remarks: "Insanity runs in my family … it practically gallops." John Alexander plays another Brewster residing in the otherwise quiet (next to a cemetary) residence; convinced that he’s President Teddy Roosevelt he runs up the stairs (e.g. San Juan Hill) yelling "Charge!" every 15 minutes or so throughout the movie. Massey plays Mortimer’s long lost crazed and murderous brother Jonathan; Lorre is "Johnny’s" accomplice and plastic surgeon Dr. Einstein. Scripted by Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein (Casablanca (1942)) from the successful (and long-running) stage play written by Joseph Kesselring this comedy was completely ignored by the Academy (in part because it was released in theaters almost 3 years after it was filmed per contract until the play had closed) though it’s 30th on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

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