Arsenic And Old Lace (1944) Apr 2026

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

as Dr. Einstein: Jonathan’s nervous, enabling companion. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

: 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". The film features a mix of Hollywood stars

According to Rotten Tomatoes , the film is a "sparkling" example of dark comedy, maintaining a high fresh score. It is a perennial Halloween favorite due to its spooky setting, graveyard proximity, and "insouciant attitude" toward death. Smith Goes to Washington ) in favor of

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

: Mortimer’s sociopathic, escaped-convict brother who has undergone botch plastic surgery (by the alcoholic Dr. Einstein ) that makes him look like horror icon Boris Karloff. Cast and Characters

: Mortimer’s brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and is busy "digging the Panama Canal" (burying the aunts' victims) in the cellar.