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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Mortimer Brewster
Jonathan Brewster
Elaine Harper
Dr. Einstein
Officer Patrick "Pat" O'Hara
Aunt Abby Brewster
Critic Reviews for Arsenic and Old Lace
All Critics (27) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (5)
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Cary Grant et al are on sparkling form in this classic darkly twisted comedy.
October 22, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Despite the fact that picture runs 118 minutes, Frank Capra has expanded on the original play [by Joseph Kesselring] to a sufficient extent to maintain a steady, consistent pace.
August 13, 2007 | Full Review… -
The timing is abysmal throughout, turning fast pace into numbing frenzy.
August 13, 2007 | Full Review… -
Good macabre fun.
August 8, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Dusty but gentle entertainment.
June 24, 2006 | Full Review… -
Quote not available.
July 29, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Audience Reviews for Arsenic and Old Lace
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Feb 01, 2017Cary Grant believes he overplayed his character in 'Arsenic and Old Lace', and I agree, he's over-the-top. At times his frantic jumping around and shocked facial expressions are funny, such as when he tells his aunts early on that they really oughtn't to be poisoning their visitors by saying "Look, you can't do things like that! Now, I don't know how I can explain this to you, but it's not only against the law, its wrong! It's not a nice thing to do. People wouldn't understand. He wouldn't understand. What I mean is, well, this is developing into a very bad habit!" ... all while hunched over and gesticulating. This is a loud movie, with one brother believing he's Teddy Roosevelt yelling 'Charge!' as he runs up the stairs and slams his bedroom door repeatedly, characters rapidly entering scenes in a pell-mell confusion of trying to hide bodies, threaten each other, commit others to mental institutions, etc etc. It's also all over the map. At first I thought Capra may have threaded the needle and been able to deliver both a dark comedy and a drama, since Raymond Massey's glowering and Peter Lorre's simpering are quite sinister, and a nice counterpart to Cary Grant and the sweet old ladies played so wonderfully by Josephine Hull and Jean Adair. However, the movie dragged on, and was far too long at 118 minutes. Some may like the madcap frenzy Capra created based on the stage play, and I have to say there are some nice moments and lines ("Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops."), but overall the movie gets to be a little much, and doesn't stand the test of time, at least for me.Antonius B Super Reviewer
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Oct 14, 2014Hilarious black comedy starring Cary Grant, based on the Broadway stage play of the same name. Mortimer is a successful man about to be married, he went home to visit his insane family and discovered his aunties are serial killers. A hide and seek ensures as Cary tried to prevent people from finding out about the murders even though everyone seemed oblivious to the situation. It's got excellent humour and performance thanks to Cary Grant. Though it may seem sligthly far fetched in the modern context, but lovers of classic Hollywood would not want to miss this masterpiece.Sylvester K Super Reviewer
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Jun 28, 2014Its a great adaptation of the play, and Capra finds lots of interesting visual choices without loosing the madcap theatricality that makes the source material so enduring. Grant's facial expressions are hilarious.Alec B Super Reviewer
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May 08, 2014While the first half hour is exceptionally hilarious (with Cary Grant displaying a perfect comic timing there), this madcap dark comedy soon resorts to irritating, over-the-top mass hysteria, with everyone yelling around without rest, killing what made it so funny in the beginning.Carlos M Super Reviewer
Arsenic and Old Lace Quotes
"Teddy Roosevelt" Brewster: | [Mr. Witherspoon has just met Teddy and Teddy pulls Mortimer aside] Is he trying to move into the White House before I've moved out? |
Mortimer Brewster: | Who? |
"Teddy Roosevelt" Brewster: | [points to Mr. Witherspoon] Taft! |
Dr. Einstein: | You shouldn't have killed him. Just because he know something about us, what happens? |
Jonathan Brewster: | We come to him for help, and he tries to shake us down. Besides, he said I looked like Boris Karloff! |
Mortimer Brewster: | [singing] There is a Happydale, far, far away... |
Martha Brewster: | For a gallon of elderberry wine, I take one teaspoon full of arsenic, then add half a teaspoon full of strychnine, and then just a pinch of cyanide. |
Mortimer Brewster: | Hmm. Should have quite a kick. |
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