Rating: 
Summary: Grant+Capra=Serial Killer Comedy!?! Who'd have thunk it?
Review: The hype on the movie is that it is a screwball/black comedy. Those elements are certainly here, only not in the supply that the hype would have you believe. Rather, it is a goofy comedy tempered by some serious suspense elements. Scratch that; maybe it's a dark and twisted thriller, with some light comedic touches thrown in. An easier question: Is a zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes?The movie's first third concentrates on introducing the characters, comprised mainly of the eerily insane Brewster family. Spinster Aunts Abby and Martha live in a big old house with their nephew Teddy; he thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt ("Charge!" he yells, as he leads an imaginary brigade of Rough Riders up the staircase). Mortimer Brewster, respected critic (of both theatrical drama and marriage) is about to tie the knot with next door neighbour Elaine. So far so good. Nothing more than your average wacky film family. But Abby and Martha are hiding a secret. Well, it's not really a secret, and they're not trying to hide it at all. Mortimer finds out that they've been luring lonely old men to their house, in the guise of renting a room, only too euthanatize them with poisoned elderberry wine. Things pretty much get weird from there. All of this weirdness allows Cary Grant (Mortimer) to slowly dip into incredulous mania. I usually prefer Grant when his hair is slick and in place and his suit is pressed and neat. Here, his hair flops all over the place, his suit gets wrinkled and dirty, he emits frantic yelps, his eyes bug out with double-takes, his arms flail, and he does funny dances. Grant, the epitome of suave and sophisticated, proves that he plays mania quite well. It's an over-the-top but still entertaining performance. The supporting cast are little more than a collection of devices masquerading as characters. Raymond Massey, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, and John Alexander all do yeomen's work depicting slightly insane characters, but it's never anything to write home about. Basically, they do fine jobs giving Grant excuses to muss his hair. Even Peter Lorre -- an infinitely interesting actor to watch -- gets only a few juicy moments to strut his stuff. My favourite, him standing in front of a police officer who is on the phone reciting a description of a wanted suspect ("About 5'3", 140 lbs., popped-out eyes, speaks in a German accent..."), cringing as the description fits him perfectly, relieved when the officer fails to notice this fact too. Director Frank Capra does well shifting the film's tone more violently than any movie I can remember. One minute he's piling on the gags, the next he's setting a scene in pitch darkness except for tiny bits of revelatory light, as the audience wonders where the dead body is going to turn up next. And the story, which is essentially told in real time (we see the night sky intrude slowly upon the narrative), moves along at a brisk enough pace. However, I would have liked to see him take the action out of its one-location setting. When the play was on the stage, this makes sense. But a film is dynamic, it can move from setting to setting. There's a perfectly good cemetery next to the house. Why not set a scene or two there, and free up the action? Just a thought. "Arsenic and Old Lace" was a little darker and more suspenseful than I expected. Not that it wasn't a welcome surprise, mind you. Sometimes confounded expectations work in a movie's favour. This time, it did. An enjoyable flick, no matter what colour zebra it really is.
Rating: 
Summary: a traditional classic
Review: a great comedy-drama, directed by one of the all-time great directors: Frank Capra. this film has become one of my personal favorites and a traditional Halloween classic. the performances were excellent. it blends comedy and horror perfectly. i highly recommend it. as for the DVD, it has little to offer in terms of extras, offering only production notes. it is still worth the purchase price. the picture and sound are very good.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: For those of you only familiar with Frank Capra's more famous works such as "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", this movie will come as a pleasant surprise. Dispensing with most of his usual sentimentality, this movie is a pure dark comic romp about murder and insanity. It still is a great family movie and portrays an old-fashioned love of "small-town values" (in quotes because I grew up in a small town and know better), and the jokes aren't dependent upon references to sex or bodily functions. And unlike modern dark comedies, there isn't a single bit of gore. It is refreshing to watch a tightly plotted comedy where the situation itself is funny. The basic premise is that Cary Grant is an author famous for writing books denouncing the institution of marriage who has just gotten married and is now introducing his new bride to his family. We soon learn, however, that the reason why he was originally against marriage is that insanity runs deeply in his family and he is afraid of passing it on to a new generation. Much of the rest of the movie involves him trying to conceal this insanity from his new wife and the authorities, and to avoid having himself or anyone else killed in the process. It starts out a bit slow, but once the premise is set up, the pacing is absolutely relentless, and you'll be rolling around in your seat and crying with laughter until the end. And as other reviewers note, the performances and casting is superb. This is one of my all-time favourite movies and it should become one of yours as well. And, yes, despite the subject matter, it still has the old Frank Capra charm.
Rating:
Summary: FUNNY AND WACKY
Review: One of the funniest and wackiest black comedies of all time, with Cary Grant in top form!! Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre excellent too...and what can I say about those sweet old ladies, they're a joy to behold! a treat! A joy from start to finish, you must see this film. I think it's timeless entertainment for all the family, because although it's sort black humor, it's pretty harmless by today's standards.The DVD edition has got near perfection picture quality.
Rating:
Summary: A great oldie!
Review: Usually I don't like old movies, but this one is an exception! I happen to love Cary Grant, and I think this movie shows how good he is at comedy. (However, this was his leasr favorite "because of the overacting". But that's OK.) INTERESTING BIT OF INFORMATION: when this was a play, Boris Karloff actually did play Jonathan Brewster, so that made it even funnier. See this movie if you haven't!
Rating:
Summary: The ingredients of a great movie...
Review: This movie has 1 participant from North By Northwest, 4 from Casablanca, and 3 from It's a Wonderful Life, all of which are my favorite movies so this has to be a good movie right? Well, right! This is an entertaining and fun movie that is very enjoyable. The DVD transfer is unbelievably clear and looks nearly perfect. Recommended. (If you're wondering about my numbers, Cary Grant from NxNW, The Epsteins, Max Steiner, and Peter Lorre from Casablanca, and Frank Capra, the "bank examiner", and "the bouncer from Nick's" from IAWL)
Rating:
Summary: One of the First (and Best) Black Comedies.
Review: Cary Grant gives his most Hilarious (and Physically Demanding) Performance ever in this, one of the First, and Funniest, Black Comedies of All Time. Grant plays Mortimer Brewster, a Committed Bachelor who is about to get married (to the Wonderful Priscilla Lane) and jet off on a Blissful Honeymoon, but first he has a few "Family Problems" to contend with. Grant's Frantic Slapstick performance would make Jerry Lewis proud, he proves to the film world that he can do Whatever is put in front of him. His Natural Comic Flare and Timing have Never been so Evident. Grant Carries the film, but he is Well supported by Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre as the Villains. Priscilla Lane is Positively Adorable in a Loveable, Patient but Frustrated Role. (and quite rightly so) Frank Capra's Directing is at its Peek, the Pacing never lags and he brings out Top Notch performances from the Entire Cast. A Perfect Film, for Every Generation.
Rating:
Summary: The best "Dark Comedy" in the history of American film
Review: "Arsenic and Old Lace" is a film that requires a certain sense of humor. That said, if you have this sense of humor, you will never get enough of this film. It makes me laugh so hard in scenes that in another film would cause someone to jump out of his seat. The film is written beautifully and acted with perfection, particularly on the part of Grant and Josephine Hull. My recommendation: get this film.
Rating:
Summary: Can't get enough of Capra Commedies!
Review: One of cinema's greatest directors of all time adapting a hit play into a movie, sounds like ultimate disaster, right? Not when you have masters like Capra and Grant. This classic movie does a wonderfull job capturing the jokes that come from the dialogue in every scene. Grant's facial expressions give Jim Carrey a run for his money. He simply is the greatest commedian/dramatic actor that ever put his face on the big screen. It was such a pleasure to see Peter Lorre in a role that was made for him. The movie makes us look at how we try so hard to separate ourselves from our familly, and makes us laugh at Mortimer Brewster as he shows sighns of wear and tear. For those who do not know the play or have not seen the movie yet, I suggest you "CHAAAAARGE" to your amazon account,buy this movie, and see what you have been missing.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious fun!
Review: This is a funny film that stars Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster who finds out that his two sweet old aunts are killers. Things get complicated when Mortimer's brother shows up with a dead body of his own. Also stars Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre and the very pretty Priscilla Lane. This film moves at a very frantic pace, so frantic your head will spin. This would be a fun movie to watch on Halloween afternoon before going out to party. If you like screwball comedies that move a little bit slower try "The Awful Truth" starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, "My Man Godfrey" with William Powell & Carole Lombard "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert or "Theodora Goes Wild" starring Irene Dunne & Melvyn Douglas.
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