Arsenic and Old Movies
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Others? More than one others?
The day is finally upon us, and per my agreement with The Holiday and my promise to keep it holy, I’ll be watching and reviewing three movies today. The first of the bunch, and probably the most entertaining is Frank Capra’s unfailingly fantastic classic Arsenic and Old Lace. But you may ask, why would I review a comedy on a day seemingly designated for horror? Not so fast…there’s plenty of horror going on here!
The film is set on Halloween, and for good reason, though in it’s beginnings, you wouldn’t have any idea. Mortimer (played by the ever classy, but here, strung out Cary Grant) has just married his Brooklyn sweetheart Elaine (The heartmelting Priscilla Lane) and brought her home to gather her stuff before their honeymoon. Elaine lives next door to Mortimer’s aunts Abby (academy award winner Josephine Hull) and Martha (Wonderfully nervous Jean Adair), and his brother Teddy (Nutball John Alexander). From the first, you know you’re in for something wonderful because not only does Teddy look like president Theodore Roosevelt, he’s convinced that he actually IS Teddy Roosevelt, and announces it by charging San Juan Hill (the stairs to his room), and blowing a bugle occasionally while signing presidential decrees.
Which is not to say that Aunts Abby and Martha are totally sane either. See, here’s the problem I have writing a review for this film. I get asked from time to time by people who want to get into old black and white movies where they should start. This is always the one I pick. Mostly because by the time they figure out what the aunts are up to in this movie, their jaws are on the floor in shock! So, I’m going to try to write around it. See, the aunts…well they…they really…You know what, stop reading this, go HERE, and watch the movie. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. What they’re up to sends Mortimer into a frenzy of activity and near nervous breakdown that’s an absolute pleasure to watch. With each minute and each new revelation, he gets more and more unhinged!
It would be lacking of me not to mention Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre in the review either. Massey plays Mortimer’s other brother Jonathan, who’s been away on business. What’s his business you ask? Crime, and lots of it. So much, in fact that he carries around a plastic surgeon to change his face from time to time. Dr. Einstein is played by Lorre as a suggestible alcoholic. Also, he apparently watched Frankenstein before Jonathan’s last operation, as he turns Jonathan into a scarred up version of Boris Karloff. Something to which Jonathan takes much offense, and of course, every character in the movie must comment on.
The aunts in the movie are so sweet, and devoted to their family that you have a hard time believing that they’re up to no good, but trust me, almost everyone in this movie is doing something wrong. And, what can I say about Cary Grant’s performance? Well, I can tell you that it was his personal least favorite of all the ones he played because he thought it was so over the top. It is, to be honest, but, just how many times do you get to see Mr. Suave and Class himself unhinged? Not to mention that almost everything he says in the movie is a quotable line! Check it out:
“No, I’m not drunk, madam, but you’ve given me an idea!”
“Sanitarium! Sanitarium, sanitarium, sanitarium! YES, LIKE A BROKEN RECORD!”
“Let everyone in Brooklyn over 16 look.”
“Look, I don’t know how I can explain this to you, but not only is it against the law…it’s wrong! It’s not a nice thing to do! People wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t understand!”
And so on and so on. I’m telling you, you’ve got to see this movie, and trust me when I say, you’ll love it. I’ve seen it several dozen times, and it never gets old to me. Also, it deserves to be watched on Halloween. So do what you have to…hell, use the Melbourne Method if need be, but find a copy of this movie and check it out!
Also, be careful what you drink while watching it. CHAAAAARGE!!!
(And, in a personal note, I’d like to thank my father for insisting I watch this movie when I was a bratty little kid who hated black and white movies. He touched off my love of old movies, and there really aren’t words enough. Thanks Dad.)
Leave a Comment