arsenic and old lace

the year: 1944

the genre: comedy


the cast: Cary Grant (Mortimer Brewster); Priscilla Lane (Elaine Harper); Jack Carson (O'Hara); Peter Lorre (Dr. Einstein); Edward Everett Horton (Mr. Witherspoon); Raymond Massey (Jonathan Brewster)


the plot: A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family.


don't miss: when, near the end of the film, Edward Everett Horton (as Mr. Witherspoon) accidently addresses Cary Grant (as Mortimer) as Mr. Witherspoon. Cary Grant appears to be genuinely amused by his mistake, then corrects him and saves the scene.


listen for: "But Mortimer, you're going to love me for my mind, too." "One thing at a time, Baby!"


did you know: Some 20 years before filming this movie, actress Jean Adair had helped to nurse a very sick vaudeville performer named Archie Leach back to health; by the time she was asked to reprise her Broadway "Arsenic and Old Lace" role as Aunt Martha for this film, Adair and Leach, now known as Cary Grant, were old friends.


watch for: the name Archie Leach on one of the tombstones in the cemetary.