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).

.

BlogHub Articles:

Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane in "Arsenic and Old Lace"

By Stephen Reginald on Oct 24, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

Cary 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 Master

Spine #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 Man

Screening 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 Pictures

The 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 Time

Arsenic 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


See all Arsenic and Old Lace articles

Quotes from

Jonathan Brewster: [to Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha] Dr. Einstein and I need a place to sleep. You remember that, as a boy, I could be disagreeable. It would not be pleasant for any of us if... I don't have to go into details, do I?


[speaking of a character in a play he has seen]
Mortimer Brewster: He sits there *waiting* to be tied up and gagged!
[laughs]
Mortimer Brewster: The big dope!


Dr. Einstein: [to Mortimer] Look, when Johnny's in that mood, he's a madman! He's a maniac! And then things happen. Horrible things...
[draws finger across throat]


read more quotes from Arsenic and Old Lace...

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!"
When Mortimer is sitting in the graveyard, one of the tombstones has the name Archie Leach on it. Archie Leach is Cary Grant's real name.
read more facts about Arsenic and Old Lace...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
book or play


See All Film Adaptations >>
Also directed by Frank Capra




More about Frank Capra >>
Also produced by Frank Capra




More about Frank Capra >>
Related Lists
Create a list




See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1944




See All 1944 films >>
More "Screwball Comedy" films



See All "Screwball Comedy" films >>
More "Sisters" films



See All "Sisters" films >>
More "Based on Play" films



See All "Based on Play" films >>
More "Alcohol" films



See All "Alcohol" films >>