Famed theater critic and confirmed bachelor, Mortimer Brewster (Grant), just married the literal girl next door, Elaine Harper (Lane). They return home to tell their families the news. Mortimer lives with his Aunts Abby (Hull) and Martha (Adair), who are considered the sweetest ladies on the block, and brother Teddy (Alexander), who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt. Whenever he goes upstairs, Teddy shouts "charge" and charges the stairs, and digs the Panama Canal in the basement. While packing for his honeymoon, Mortimer discovers a dead body in the window seat and learns that his aunts have a new hobby: giving lonely old men without families wine laced with arsenic.
As he tries to sort out the mess with his aunts and get Teddy committed to a psychiatric hospital, his other brother, Jonathan (Massey), returns. Jonathan is a homicidal criminal in need of a hideout (and a new face) and ready to add to the chaos at home. Jonathan is accompanied by his plastic surgeon, Dr. Einstein (Lorre), who has a drinking problem. Dr. Einstein recently gave Jonathan the face of Boris Karloff, which is too easy to recognize for their purposes. Mortimer tries to maintain his sanity while juggling his wife, his aunts (and their plans), both his brothers, and the local police officer who keeps stopping by the house.
I love this film! It is based on Joseph Kesselring's play "Arsenic and Old Lace." The play was first produced in 1939 and was immediately successful.
The story centers around the Brewster home, with a few trips to the outside world. It is self-contained, which gives the eccentric characters the chance to shine.
Three actors from the play recreate their roles in the film: Josephine Hull as Abby, Jean Adair as Martha, and John Alexander as Teddy. Boris Karloff originated the role of Jonathan, which made the joke about the character looking like Karloff even funnier for the audience. The play was still being performed when the film was made, and he was unable to leave the play to appear in the film.
The aunts practically steal the show, keeping their innocent demeanor while stubbornly acting on their own. But Cary Grant's Mortimer is the star of the show and he doesn't disappoint. This is one of his funniest performances; his facial expressions alone are worth the price of admission. The rest of the cast is excellent, including the supporting players who only appear briefly.
I would love the chance to see the play and see how they compare (various details were changed due to the objections of the film censors). It is a little screwball comedy and a little macabre, and it works well. Props to director Frank Capra for staying true to his source, while still making a good adaptation.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) 118 minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster
Josephine Hull as Aunt Abby Brewster
Jean Adair as Aunt Martha Brewster
Raymond Massey as Jonathan Brewster
Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein
Priscilla Lane as Elaine Harper
John Alexander as Teddy Brewster
Jack Carson as Officer O'Hara
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