Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (screenplay) and
Philip G. Epstein (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 September 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Cellar | Critic | Insanity | Murder | Cemetery

Cast

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
Chester Clute	...	Dr. Gilchrist
Charles Lane	...	Reporter
Edward McWade	...	Gibbs
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Spencer Charters	...	Marriage License Clerk (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	New York Pitcher (uncredited)
Herbert Gunn	...	Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
Roland Jones	...	Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	Photographer at Marriage License Office (uncredited)
Spec O'Donnell	...	Young Man in Line (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Umpire (uncredited)
Don Phillips	...	Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Jean Wong	...	Young Woman in Line (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Julius J. Epstein		(screenplay) (as Julius J.) and
Philip G. Epstein		(screenplay)
Joseph Kesselring		(play)

Produced by
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer
Frank Capra	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Max Steiner		(music by)

Cinematography by
Sol Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell

Art Direction by
Max Parker

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
George Bau	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Anita De Beltrand	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
John Wallace	....	makeup man (uncredited)

Production Management
Eric Stacey	....	unit manager (uncredited)
Steve Trilling	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Archer	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Lou Hafley	....	props (uncredited)
Keefe Maley	....	second propman (uncredited)
Al Williams	....	assistant propman (uncredited)
Levi C. Williams	....	assistant propman (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.A. Riggs	....	sound
Everett A. Brown	....	mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert Burks	....	special effects
Byron Haskin	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Wesley Anderson	....	second camera (uncredited)
Joe Cramer	....	best boy (uncredited)
Frank Evans	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mickey Marigold	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Harold Noyes	....	grip (uncredited)
Charles O'Bannon	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cora Lobb	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Leon Roberts	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
Russel Crouse	....	producer: stage play
Howard Lindsay	....	producer: stage play
Harold Winston	....	dialogue director
Bob Fender	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Dr. Herman Lissauer	....	researcher (uncredited)
Mal Merrihugh	....	stand-in: Cary Grant (uncredited)
Wandra Ramsey	....	script clerk (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture) (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1946) (UK) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• First Trading (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• GP Museum Soft (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• Junes Planning (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• Keep (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Tone (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Frank Capra's 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound 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:15

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

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.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Dr. Einstein stumbles and falls into the window seat in the dark. He strikes a match, and the wire that is powering the flickering light in the palm of his hand is clearly visible trailing out from his sleeve.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Baseball Fan: I'll knock your block off, you big stiff! You're a bum!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Roseanne: Arsenic and Old Mom (#9.22)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

The Sidewalks of New York

What A Nut House

A presumably sane young drama critic (Cary Grant) visits the home of his two elderly aunts. Upon arrival, he finds that his two dear, sweet, lovable aunts have embarked on what they see as their mission of mercy ... killing lonely old men, by giving them arsenic-laced wine. Our sane young drama critic soon learns that insanity runs in the family.

Five years ago, the American Film Institute selected America's 100 funniest movies. "Arsenic And Old Lace" (1944) came in at Number 30. And that's not surprising. A lot of people enjoy this dark, screwball comedy, with its slapstick, its fast pace, its sharp dialogue, and its engaging characters. A lot of viewers like it simply because of Cary Grant.

The film's underlying premise is really great. And I must confess that Aunt Abby (Josephine Hull) and Aunt Martha (Jean Adair) are cute and entertaining. (Interestingly, the film portrays them as usually together and almost always in agreement with each other. It's like they function as a single entity). And the other denizen of the house, Uncle Teddy (John Alexander) is also a hoot.

But I'm not a big fan of Cary Grant. His performance here is exaggerated. His hyper and jerky behavior is distracting and grating. The plot gets ever sillier as it moves along, and downright tedious toward the end. Lastly, I have never cared much for films that are so top heavy with dialogue.

The best part of the film is the cinematography. Most of the scenes take place in a big living room, at times with lights out. The B&W lighting is very stark with high contrast, which renders a suitably sinister atmosphere.

"Arsenic ..." is not my cup of tea. But, for viewers who like talky stage plays with an accent on macabre humor, this film is a fine choice. Could I interest you in a glass of elderberry wine, perhaps?