Arsenic and Old Lace Movie Review 1944

Set-bound but energetic adaptation of the classic Joseph Kesselring play. Easy-going drama critic Mortimer Brewster (Grant) is caught in a sticky situation when he learns of his aunts' favorite pastime. Apparently the kind, sweet, lonely spinsters lure gentlemen to the house and serve them elderberry wine with a touch of arsenic, then they bury the bodies in the cellar--a cellar which also serves as the Panama Canal for Mortimer's cousin (who thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt). Massey, as Brewster cousin Jonathan, and Lorre, as his plastic surgeon, excel in their sinister roles. One of the best madcap comedies of all time--a must-see. Shot in 1941 and released a wee bit later.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 118 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Black Comedy, Adapted from a Play, Aunts & Uncles, Nieces & Nephews, Sanity Check, Poisons, Hide the Dead Guy, Cousins

Screenplay

Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein

Cast

Cary Grant, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Priscilla Lane, John Alexander, Edward Everett Horton, Peter Lorre, James Gleason, John Ridgely

Cinematography

Sol Polito

Director

Frank Capra

Music

Max Steiner

Other

Daniel Mandell

Producer

Warner Bros.