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Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
23 September 1944 (USA) moreTagline:
She Passed Out On Cary ! No Wonder . . . She's just discovered his favorite aunts have poisoned their 13th gentleman friend !Plot:
A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family. full summary | full synopsisUser Comments:
Completely Hilarious Dark Comedy moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Cary Grant | ... | Mortimer Brewster | |
| Priscilla Lane | ... | Elaine Harper | |
| Raymond Massey | ... | Jonathan Brewster | |
| Jack Carson | ... | O'Hara | |
| Edward Everett Horton | ... | Mr. Witherspoon | |
| Peter Lorre | ... | Dr. Einstein | |
| James Gleason | ... | Lt. Rooney | |
| Josephine Hull | ... | Abby Brewster | |
| Jean Adair | ... | Martha Brewster | |
| John Alexander | ... | 'Teddy Roosevelt' Brewster | |
| Grant Mitchell | ... | Reverend Harper | |
| Edward McNamara | ... | Brophy | |
| Garry Owen | ... | Taxi Cab Driver | |
| John Ridgely | ... | Saunders | |
| Vaughan Glaser | ... | Judge Cullman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
118 minCountry:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Certification:
Argentina:Atp | UK:A (1944) | UK:PG (1990) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #7855) | Australia:G (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Germany:12 | Sweden:15Filming Locations:
City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USAFun Stuff
Trivia:
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. moreGoofs:
Continuity: Just before Jonathan and Dr. Einstein show up, Aunt Abby arranges the two candelabras so that they are both facing forward. After Jonathan and Dr. Einstein enter, one of the candelabras is facing sideways. moreSoundtrack:
Funeral March (Marche Funèbre) moreFAQ
Any recommendations for other comedies similar to "Arsenic and Old Lace"?What does Dr Einstein say in German when he slams the door?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
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| Over the top? | ImOkayLarry |
| Cary Grant and Groucho Marx. | wickerboy |
| A Remake? | amurphy2 |
| Doesn't anyone else think | zena-1 |
| Hymn | bookwoman53 |
| Just a few things | PinkandGreen |
Recommendations
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For those who enjoy dark comedy, it's hard to see how anything could be funnier than "Arsenic and Old Lace". With Cary Grant's talent for madcap comedy, with hilariously sinister performances by Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre, with two adorable old ladies who have a very dark secret, plus half-a-dozen other eccentric characters, all involved in a complicated and unpredictable plot, this is a comic masterpiece. Director Frank Capra keeps everything moving and adds his own touch, keeping some dark material entirely light-hearted.
This is the kind of movie for which mere analysis cannot do justice to how well everything fits together. The characters, cast, and writing are all perfect, and the crazy story gives every character some great moments. There is plenty of witty dialogue, lots of funny slapstick and physical humor, and quite a few wild plot developments. None of it is meant to be plausible, but it is all hugely entertaining, and done with such skill that it is easy to suspend disbelief. If you happen not to have seen this before, stick with it for the first few minutes, until you arrive at the home of Cary Grant's two aunts, and then things will take off quickly.
If you enjoy morbid humor, "Arsenic and Old Lace" is an absolute must-see.