Arsenic And Old Lace (1944) May 2026

The film features a mix of Hollywood stars and original Broadway cast members:

as Abby and Martha: Both actresses reprised their roles from the smash-hit Broadway play. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

as Mortimer Brewster: Grant famously disliked his own performance, calling it "over-acting," though critics often cite it as a masterclass in physical comedy. The film features a mix of Hollywood stars

Released in 1944 and directed by , Arsenic and Old Lace is a definitive dark comedy and screwball classic. Though filmed in late 1941, its release was delayed for three years due to a contract with the original Broadway production. The film is celebrated for its macabre humor, frantic pacing, and a career-high (if eccentric) performance by Cary Grant. Plot Overview Though filmed in late 1941, its release was

Mortimer soon learns that his aunts have been "charitably" poisoning lonely old men with elderberry wine spiked with arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide. Matters escalate with the arrival of:

: The film is a rare Capra project that avoids his usual "social consciousness" (as seen in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ) in favor of "good old-fashioned theater".