Arsenic and Old Lace Details

There is a Happydale far far away!

Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant), a theatre critic & long time marriage-phobe marries sweetheart Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane). When he goes to his aunts, Abby (Hull) & Martha (Adair) to break the happy news, he discovers that

their hobby is poisoning depressed, old men & then getting their other nephew, Teddy (John Alexander), who thinks he is President Teddy Roosevelt, to bury the 'yellow fever victims' in the cellar (Panama Canal).

The third of the 3 nephews, is Jonathan (Raymond Massey), a mad psychotic killer with an unmistakable likeness to Boris Karloff & his accomplice,the sublime Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein. Unbelievably, it seems, Mortimer's aunts have 'given peace' to 12 gentlemen, the same number that Jonathan has 'offed'. The rest of the movie revolves around Mortimer trying to avoid his brother's clutches whilst putting other brother Teddy into Happydale Sanitarium to cover for his aunts antics.

I loved this movie. It's a classic, from start to finish. The direction

is impercetible & the work of one of the Hollywood Greats, Frank Capra.

Although essentially a one room drama, the impeccable Grant & excellent

supporting cast weave a magical, darkly funny comic spell. It manages to be both a sweet tale & yet have truly dark moments. Based on the long-running Broadway hit, Adair & Hull, reprising their roles, this was made in 1941 & released 3 years later, once the play had stopped running.

Everyone should discover this timeless classic!

'Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops!'

Cute film, very strange characters but presented well. Grant, lovely as per usual. Got a little too manic for me at the end, but on the whole amusing and nicely done. Many lovely aspects which made it feel warm and friendly regardless of the topics in question! Worth a viewing!