ARSENIC & OLD LACE (1944)

Studio: Warner Brothers

Producer: Frank Capra & Jack L. Warner

Director: Frank Capra

Music: Max Steiner

Release Date: September 23rd, 1944

Awards: None

Origination: Based on the Joseph Kesselring's Broadway play and adapted by the twin brothers, Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, to the screen. The film was shot in 1941, but could not be released until the Broadway show had finished it's run on June 17th, 1944.

Interesting Fact: The first to be invited when casting the play was Boris Karloff. He was invited to lunch and declined their offer right away. Near the end of their visit he asked what his character would be like, of which, they responded "Boris Karloff." With that, he took the role on the condition that it would not be the lead character. He would have been in the films as well, but was busy doing the play and could not participate.

Mortimer Brewster: "When you say 'others,' do you mean others? More than one others?"



This movie is as shocking as it is realistic and is very entertaining. Not only is this movie a Halloween favorite among my brothers & sisters, but it has become one of the most quoted movies in my family as well. In fact, it is so popular with my family that even a proposal has occurred while they were watching it.

The story is very well written with strong characters that interact with each other in unique ways. You come to understand each one as if they were sane, but of course they are not. My favorite character is Aunt Abby, from her hopping around the house, to her content explanations. I must admit that she reminds me a lot of my mom. Don't worry, she doesn't even have wine in the home.

I would like to see the stage version someday and compare it to Capra's shortened screen version. Rumor has it, that Bob Hope was asked to be the lead, but was unable to break his contract with Paramount. I can't imagine anyone else, other than Cary Grant, as the lead and that the rest of the cast were perfect choices. Each actor uses their own recognizable traits as if they were made for that role. You have to see this movie.