Arsenic and Old Lace (Warner 1944, Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane)

Beware nice old ladies offering elderberry wine! In Arsenic and Old Lace a mild-mannered drama critic discovers the shocking truth about his two elderly aunts: The seemingly harmless old ladies have the most disagreeable habit of poisoning their gentlemen callers and burying them in the cellar. One of the all-time great black comedies.

Director Frank Capra enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1941, during the filming of the movie. He received an extension of his order to report for active duty until late January 1942 so he could finish editing the picture.

production details
USA / Warner / 118 minutes / 1944

Director: Frank Capra
Screenplay: Russel Crouse, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Lindsay
Original Story: Joseph Kesselring

cast
Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster
Priscilla Lane as Elaine Harper
Raymond Massey as Jonathan Brewster
Jack Carson as O’Hara
Edward Everett Horton as Mr. Witherspoon
Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein
James Gleason as Lt. Rooney
Josephine Hull as Abby Brewster
Jean Adair as Martha Brewster
John Alexander as ‘Teddy Roosevelt’ Brewster
Grant Mitchell as Reverend Harper
Edward McNamara as Brophy
Garry Owen as Taxi Cab Driver
John Ridgely as Saunders
Vaughan Glaser as Judge Cullman