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Arsenic and Old Lace

  • 1944
  • Approved
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
78K
YOUR RATING
Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:50
2 Videos
99+ Photos
FarceScrewball ComedyComedyCrimeThriller

Mortimer Brewster, a Brooklyn writer of books on the futility of marriage, risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Things grow complicated when he learns that his beloved maid... Read allMortimer Brewster, a Brooklyn writer of books on the futility of marriage, risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Things grow complicated when he learns that his beloved maiden aunts Abby and Martha are serial murderers.Mortimer Brewster, a Brooklyn writer of books on the futility of marriage, risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Things grow complicated when he learns that his beloved maiden aunts Abby and Martha are serial murderers.

  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Julius J. Epstein
    • Joseph Kesselring
  • Stars
    • Cary Grant
    • Priscilla Lane
    • Raymond Massey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    78K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Julius J. Epstein
      • Joseph Kesselring
    • Stars
      • Cary Grant
      • Priscilla Lane
      • Raymond Massey
    • 355User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:50
    Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:50
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:50
    Official Trailer

    Photos104

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    + 97
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    Top Cast35

    Cary Grant
    Cary Grant
    • Mortimer Brewster
    Priscilla Lane
    Priscilla Lane
    • Elaine Harper
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Jonathan Brewster
    Jack Carson
    Jack Carson
    • O'Hara
    Edward Everett Horton
    Edward Everett Horton
    • Mr. Witherspoon
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Dr. Einstein
    James Gleason
    James Gleason
    • Police Lt. Rooney
    Josephine Hull
    Josephine Hull
    • Abby Brewster
    Jean Adair
    Jean Adair
    • Martha Brewster
    John Alexander
    John Alexander
    • 'Teddy Roosevelt' Brewster
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Reverend Harper
    Edward McNamara
    • Brophy
    Garry Owen
    Garry Owen
    • Taxi Cab Driver
    John Ridgely
    John Ridgely
    • Saunders
    Vaughan Glaser
    Vaughan Glaser
    • Judge Cullman
    Chester Clute
    Chester Clute
    • Dr. Gilchrist
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Reporter
    Edward McWade
    Edward McWade
    • Gibbs
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Julius J. Epstein
      • Joseph Kesselring
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews355

    7.978K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lorna Patterson in Airplane! (1980)
    Farce
    Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal in What's Up, Doc? (1972)
    Screwball Comedy
    Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      At the time of production, Warner Bros. announced that the Brewster house was the largest set ever built at the studio. The house was complete, room by room, in every detail. Production records confirm that several scenes were shot in various rooms of the Brewster house. (Mortimer's grandfather's study, the aunts' bedroom, and the cellar were filmed, but not included in the final cut of the film).
    • Goofs
      The movie opens with the Brooklyn Dodgers winning a baseball game on Halloween, weeks after the end of baseball season. This is a gag to suggest that the only time the Brooklyn Dodgers could win is on Halloween, similar to saying when pigs fly.
    • Quotes
      • Mortimer Brewster: Look I probably should have told you this before but you see... well... insanity runs in my family...
      • [he hears Abby and Martha singing]
      • Mortimer Brewster: It practically gallops.
    • Crazy credits
      This is a Hallowe'en tale of Brooklyn, where anything can happen -- and it usually does. At 3 P.M. on this particular day, this was happening. [Scene of Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees baseball game, irate fans and brouhaha between teams on the field, then...] While at the same time across the river in the UNITED STATES PROPER there was romance in the air. [Scene of cruise ship on the river with NY City skyline in the background, then...] And now, back to one of Brooklyn's most charming residential districts -- [Scene of old gabled Brewster house next to a cemetery, then...] -- From here on you're on your own.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      There Is a Happy Land
      (uncredited)
      Music by Leonard P. Breedlove
      Arranged by Max Steiner
      [quoted in score]

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    FAQ9

    • Is 'Arsenic and Old Lace' based on a book?
    • Where does the title come from?
    • How closely does the movie follow the play?

    Details

    • Release date
      • September 21, 1944 (Uruguay)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Arsénico y encaje
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 19, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $1,164,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 58m(118 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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