Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941 because of star cary grants availability, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had finished its run on broadway. Promotion of arsenic and old lace, the hollywood reporter, wed. Feb 27, 2015 photos of professional and semi pro sets for arsenic and old lace. With this in mind, please note that the interpretations of the theatrical work may differ from the original source content. The play was directed by bretaigne windust, and opened on broadway at the fulton theatre on january 10, 1941. With cary grant, priscilla lane, raymond massey, jack carson. The title arsenic and old lace comes from the term lavender and old lace. Frank capras arsenic and old lace see more filming locations. During 1943, the film was shown to the armed forces overseas. I lost a ten dollar bill on my way to see arsenic and old lace. The gazette the audience at the lon chaney theatre last friday night was the largest ive ever seen at a star bar players production and the lively rendition of joseph kesselrings arsenic and old lace did not disappoint. The other, more wellknown testament to sister amys crimes is arsenic and old lace. Theatre critic mortimer brewster doesnt realize it, but he is the most normal member of his family. Arsenic and old lace vhs, 1989 for sale online ebay.
Oddly, it was decided to present as a live production arsenic and old lace in front of a studio audience in new york, with a few filmed sequences used for quick cutaway shots. Oct 17, 2014 frank capras 1944 film version of arsenic and old lace, released 70 years ago and showing saturday oct. Because of strict movie censorship rules, the word bastard, which is used in the stage play in a key line at the end, was not included in the screenplay. Arsenic and old lace is a great funny movie from 1944 starring cary grant as mortimer brewster.
The story started out as a broadway play in the early 40s, but gained even more attention as a frank capra movie released in 1944 while sister amy was still alive and starring cary grant, peter lorre, and a boris karloff lookalike, a role boris karloff himself played for the stage. The story started out as a broadway play in the early 40s, but gained even more attention as a frank capra movie released in 1944 while sister amy was still alive and starring cary grant, peter lorre, and a boris karloff lookalike, a role boris karloff himself played for the stage version. It is an adaptation of joseph kesselrings 1939 play arsenic and old lace the story is a black comedy in which drama critic mortimer brewster randall discovers that his. Stage 19, warner brothers burbank studios 4000 warner boulevard, burbank, california, usa 1 of 1. Apr 03, 2018 promotion of arsenic and old lace, the hollywood reporter, wed.
Arsenic and old lace, while a favorite with critics maybe because a critic is the hero and played by handsome cary grant, two extreme unlikelihoods. Arsenic and old lace 1944 official trailer cary grant, peter lorre. Arsenic and old lace is director frank capras spin on the classic joseph kesselring stage comedy, which concerns the sweet old brewster sisters josephine hull, jean adair, beloved in. Bob crane, fred gwynne, helen hayes and others in arsenic and. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 american dark comedy film directed by frank capra, starring cary grant, and based on joseph kesselrings play arsenic and old lace. It was adapted for the big screen as a 1944 film directed by frank capra and starring cary grant theatre critic mortimer brewster doesnt realize it, but he is the most normal member of his family.
Though the movie rights for arsenic and old lace were set up so that the film could not be released until 1944, director capra shot the film. The slapstick film, with murderous aunts compassionately serving up elderberry wine to elderly gentlemen with their crazy nephew assisting by burying the unfortunate victims, is unlike most of the other reformminded capracorn films with a social conscience. The popular, classic comedy arsenic and old lace starring cary grant will have a onetime showing friday, oct. This time i was committed to go into this with an open mind and try my best to enjoy it for what it is, even if.
You can watch arsenic and old lace online on videoondemand services netflix, paytv or movie theatres with original audio in english. Arsenic and old lace film wikipedia republished wiki 2. Arsenic and old lace 1944 is a frenzied, hilarious, madcap black comedy from celebrated director frank capra. Frank capras 1944 film version of arsenic and old lace, released 70 years ago and showing saturday oct. Arsenic and old lace was kept in the vault and not released until late 1944 because of a clause in the film rights contract stipulating it could not open while the hit play was still running.
At the time, frank capra was one of hollywoods most successful directors. Oct 31, 2015 arsenic and old lace was directed by frank capra. Before leaving on their honeymoon, they stop to give the news to their respective families. Arsenic and old lace provides another opportunity for audiences to relive the magic of 1940s radio theatre, in the vein of the ghost train performed at the end of 2016. Mar 03, 2018 arsenic and old lace, 1944, warner bros.
I have watched it time and time again and it never fails to make me laugh. The contract with the plays producers stipulated that the film would not be released until the broadway run ended. Arsenic and old lace 1944 official trailer cary grant, peter lorre movie hd subscribe to classic trailers. When mortimer after got married to elaine they visit to his aunts house in brookyln just to visit and he found a dead body in the window sit and hes worry about gonna get his aunts in trouble and such. It was based on joseph kesselrings 1941 play arsenic and old lace. It was adapted for the big screen as a 1944 film directed by frank capra and starring cary grant.
Dark comedy classic arsenic and old lace comes to meadow. Mortimer brewster cary grant has just eloped with the girl next door, elaine harper priscilla lane. Lee library auditorium on level one as part of the brigham young university motion picture archive film series. This movie has been premiered in australian hd theatres in 1944 movies 1944. Dotty spinsters abby and martha brewster are pillars of the local community but theyre also serial killers who love nothing more than to. Bob crane, fred gwynne, helen hayes and others in arsenic. On the surface, the brewster sisters seem to fit a sweet little old lady stereotype that could have fit into any other capra picture. Grants role of mortimer brewster was originally intended for bob hope, but he could not be released from his contract with paramount pictures. It has become best known through the subsequent film adaptation. The film was shot between october 20 and december 16, 1941. This is without a doubt one of the actors best achievements in his long career in the movies.
The slapstick film, with murderous aunts compassionately serving up elderberry wine to elderly gentlemen with their crazy nephew assisting by burying the unfortunate victims, is unlike. He has two sweet old aunts, abby and martha, who like serving homemade wine. Oct 31, 20 based on the broadway play of the same name, arsenic and old lace was filmed in 1941. Two elderly women were convicted today over the killings of homeless men to collect. The second best reason for watching the film is cary grant. Arsenic and old lace is a play by american playwright joseph kesselring, written in 1939. Star bars arsenic triumphs with strong dose of manic activity, silliness. Arsenic and old lace is director frank capras spin on the classic joseph. Filmed in 1944, it starred cary grant and priscilla lane and was directed by the great frank capra 18971991.
Oct 18, 20 the popular, classic comedy arsenic and old lace starring cary grant will have a onetime showing friday, oct. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 american black comedy film directed by frank capra and starring cary grant. It was based on joseph kesselring s play arsenic and old lace. Based on the broadway play of the same name, arsenic and old lace was filmed in 1941. Filming locations 3 filming dates 1 production dates 1 filming locations. Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941 because of star cary grants availability, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had. The slapstick film, with murderous aunts compassionately serving up elderberry wine to elderly gentlemen with their crazy nephew assisting by burying the unfortunate victims, is unlike most of the other reformminded capracorn films with a social conscience that became his. The contract with the plays producers stipulated that the film would not be released until the. Oct 17, 20 the popular, classic comedy arsenic and old lace starring cary grant will have a onetime showing friday, oct. After secretly marrying elaine harper, his sweet old aunts nextdoor neighbor, cynical dramatic critic mortimer brewster accidentally discovers a dead body in his aunts window seat. Today, he is best known for directing another holiday film, its a wonderful life. Arsenic and old lace by joseph kesselring, was originally performed on stage in the early 40s, before being adapted for the silver screen in 1944 with cary grant in the lead role of mortimer brewster.
It has become best known through the subsequent film adaptation starring cary grant and directed by frank capra. When i first saw arsenic and old lace years ago, its overthetop zaniness caught me completely off guard and i absolutely, positively hated it. A season of dark tales blinn college division of visualperforming arts and kinesiology brenham campus. Arsenic and old lace arsenic and old lace, is a remarkable mix of comedy and horror. Stage 19, warner brothers burbank studios 4000 warner boulevard, burbank, california, usa see more. Arsenic and old lace 210 movie clip elderberry wine 1944. Arsenic and old lace starring cary grant at byu film. The classic comedydrama, arsenic and old lace, originally written for the stage by joseph kesselring, depicts a day in the life of television critic mortimer brewster, who has just become engaged to elaine harper. With helen hayes, bob crane, lillian gish, fred gwynne.
Joseph kesselrings arsenic and old lace 20172018 theatre season lights out. Arsenic and old lace is one of my absolute favourites. Jun 22, 2017 arsenic and old lace is a 1944 american dark comedy film directed by frank capra, starring cary grant, and based on joseph kesselrings play arsenic and old lace. The film was shot in hollywood in late 1941 but didnt premiere until sept. Starring cary grant, priscilla lane, josephine hull, jean adair. Though the movie rights for arsenic and old lace were set up so that the film could not be released until 1944, director capra shot the film quickly and inexpensively in 1941, so that his family. Eager to share this happy news with his somewhat offbeat and unbeknownst to him, occasionally murderous family, he introduces elaine to them. He subsequently learns his aunts have poisoned twelve men and buried them in the cellar. Cast arsenic and old lace 1944 cary grant filmography. Oct 26, 2011 the other, more wellknown testament to sister amys crimes is arsenic and old lace.
My daughter, who is now 24, has also watched this with me and my husband on countless occasions, as she too finds it hilarious and encourages her friends to watch it too. See more ideas about cary grant, classic movies and old movies. Arsenic and old lace posted on august 14, 2017 by the bardo group beguines this is a halloween tale of brooklyn, where anything can happen and usually does. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 film directed by frank capra based on joseph kesselrings play of the same name. Just getting to the play and sitting down ended up being a hefty process which left me agitated and exhausted. Stage 19, warner brothers burbank studios 4000 warner boulevard, burbank, california, usa. Arsenic and old lace starring cary grant at byu film series. One would assume the audience was not particularly amused, as the level of laughter often has an amplified quality that was typical of sitcoms saddled with laugh. See more ideas about cary grant, old movies and classic movies. The movie was actually filmed in 1941, however, it was not released until the play ended. Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had finished its run on broadway. After three best picture wins and numerous box office hits, capra could pretty much afford to make any movie he wanted to. A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family.
It is a story of one mans world being turned upside down and then right side up again in. Arsenic and old lace is director frank capras spin on the classic joseph kesselring stage comedy, which concerns the sweet old brewster sisters josephine hull, jean adair, beloved in their. Arsenic and old lace is a 1939 play by joseph kesselring, a black comedy parody of murder mysteries. Jul 21, 2017 oddly, it was decided to present as a live production arsenic and old lace in front of a studio audience in new york, with a few filmed sequences used for quick cutaway shots. It first aired during season 11 of the nbc anthology series hallmark hall of fame. Arsenic and old lace pair killed homeless men for insurance. When it finally went into release it was a commercial success. Mortimer brewster played by cary grant gets a nasty shock when he drops in on a pair of elderly aunts in this spooky but brilliantly funny black comedy. Capra filmed the movie in 1941 because of grants availability, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had finished its run on broadway. Im pretty sure that in about 90% of the screwball comedies made in the 40s there is a character named johnny.