Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Review: Cary Grant, Capra Comedy, and a House Full of Bodies

Debbie and Janna, the adorable mother-daughter-movie-duo, discuss Frank Capra’s 1944 classic - Arsenic and Old Lace - starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane, describing it as a hilarious mix of Halloween creepiness, romance, and farce.   They outline the premise: Grant’s character discovers his two aunts have been poisoning lonely old men with wine and hiding bodies in the cellar, while his brother believes he’s Teddy Roosevelt and another brother, Jonathan, is a psychopath who resembles Boris Karloff and arrives with Dr. Einstein for more face work.   They share favorite moments including the phone-booth scene, police saluting “Teddy Roosevelt,” near-misses with the poisoned wine, and Grant’s physical comedy. They note the Boris Karloff Broadway connection, discuss Lane’s grounding presence, and highlight the ending reveal that makes marriage acceptable for Grant’s character.   THINGS TO PONDER WITH YOUR POPCORN: Learn more about the movie Follow LGL in Classic Movies Hosts Debbie and Janna on Instagram Meet the Production Team - Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Meet the Hosts 00:14 Movie Setup and Premise 01:19 Murderous Aunts and Brothers 02:08 Post Movie Reactions 02:27 Getting Lost in the Opening 04:13 Cary Grant Comedy Style 05:11 The Aunts and the Bodies 07:15 Boris Karloff Connection 08:07 Priscilla Lane and Romance 09:57 Ending and Favorite Scenes 11:51 Martini Shot and Wrap Up