Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) | |
| Director(s) | Frank Capra |
| Producer(s) | Jack L. Warner (executive), Frank Capra (associate uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Comedy, Crime, Mystery |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Based on Play, Marriage, Reporters, Screwball Comedy, Sisters, Weddings |
Featured Cast:
Arsenic and Old Lace Overview:
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) was a Comedy - Crime Film directed by Frank Capra and produced by Frank Capra and Jack L. Warner.
The film was based on the play of the same name written by Joseph Kesselring performed at the Fulton Theatre, NY & Hudson Theatre, NY from Jan 10, 1941 - Jun 17, 1944.
SYNOPSIS
Beware nice old ladies offering elderberry wine! A mild-mannered drama critic discovers the shocking truth about his two elderly aunts: The seemingly harmless old ladies have the most disagreeable habit of poisoning their gentlemen callers and burying them in the cellar. One of the all-time great black comedies.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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BlogHub Articles:
Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane in "Arsenic and Old Lace"
By Stephen Reginald on Oct 24, 2022 From Classic Movie ManCary Grant and Priscilla Lane in "Arsenic and Old Lace" Arsenic and Old Lace is an American black comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane. The excellent supporting cast includes Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Jack Carson, James Gleason, and Edward Everett Horton.... Read full article
Offbeat Blu-ray Review: Arsenic and Old Lace ? The Criterion Collection
By Devon Powell on Oct 13, 2022 From Hitchcock MasterSpine #1153 Distributor: Criterion Collection (USA) Release Date: October 11, 2022 Region: Region A Length: 01:58:15 Video: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC) Main Audio: 1.0 English Linear PCM Audio (48 kHz, 1152 kbps, 24-bit) Subtitles: English (SDH) Ratio: 1.37:1 Bitrate: 35.92?Mbps Notes: This is the film?s Bl... Read full article
Screening of "Arsenic and Old Lace" October 28 at the Daystar Center
By Stephen Reginald on Oct 23, 2017 From Classic Movie ManScreening of "Arsenic and Old Lace" October 28 at the Daystar Center “Halloween” Series: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: October 28, 2017 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) is the screen adaptation of... Read full article
Favorite things about… Arsenic and Old Lace
By Lindsey on Jun 24, 2015 From The Motion PicturesThe favorite film: Arsenic and Old Lace, a 1944 black comedy directed by Frank Capra (Image via Happy Otter) The synopsis: Mortimer Brewster is a soon-to-be-married drama critic. He’s “sneered at every love scene in every play.” His reputation is one of a permanent bachelor, and he... Read full article
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
By Beatrice on Nov 11, 2014 From Flickers in TimeArsenic and Old Lace Directed by Frank Capra Written by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein from the play by Joseph Kesselring 1944/USA Warner Bros. Repeat viewing/Netflix rental I hate to say it but Cary Grant is way too frenetic for my tastes in this wacky comedy. ?The supporting players ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Abby Brewster: Oh, really?
Mortimer Brewster: Yeah, a honey of a lunatic. One of those whodunits called "Murder Will Out".
Abby Brewster: Oh, dear!
Mortimer Brewster: Yeah, what a play. When the curtain goes up the first thing you see is a dead body. The next thing...
[opens the window seat and finds a dead body]
Jonathan Brewster: [to Dr. Einstein] This time, I want the face of an absolute non-enity!
[discussing the body count]
Dr. Einstein: You got twelve, they got twelve.
[angrily grabs Dr. Einstein's necktie]
Jonathan Brewster: I've got thirteen!
Dr. Einstein: No, Johnny, twelve - don't brag.
Jonathan Brewster: Thirteen! There's Mr. Spinalzo and the first one in London, two in Johannesburg, one in Sydney, one in Melbourne, two in San Francisco, one in Phoenix, Arizona...
Dr. Einstein: Phoenix?
Jonathan Brewster: The filling station...
Dr. Einstein: Filling station? Oh!
[slits throat]
Dr. Einstein: Yes.
Jonathan Brewster: Then three in Chicago and one in South Bend. That makes thirteen.
Dr. Einstein: You cannot count the one in South Bend. He died of pneumonia!
Jonathan Brewster: He wouldn't have died of pneumonia if I hadn't shot him!
Dr. Einstein: No, no, Johnny. You cannot count him. You got twelve, they got twelve. The old ladies is just as good as you are!
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Facts about
The Broadway comedy opened at the Fulton Theatre on January 10, 1941 and ran for 1,444 performances, closing on June 17, 1944. Repeating their stage roles in the movie were "Brewster siblings" Josephine Hull, Jean Adair and John Alexander, all three getting time off from the New York play. Boris Karloff was denied permission to go by the play's producers, fearing that the absence of their main star would adversely affect the play's attendance.
Mortimer's repeated phrase at the end of the film declaring the secret of his birth was originally "I'm not a Brewster - I'm a bastard!" However, the censors demanded that it be changed, resulting in the phrase "I'm the son of a sea cook!"
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