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Arsenic and Old Lace

Arsenic and Old Lace

List Price: $19.97
Your Price: $14.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You must own this!
Review: This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. There is nothing fancy, no foul language, just good old fashioned laughs. You can get no better than Cary Grant as your leading man- charm, with sophistication. Perfect comic timing, incredible instinct for soring out what's funny- great physical movements and dead-on facial expressions.

It's the story of a marriage phobic writer who finally decides to tie the knot, and he goes to Brooklyn to tell his elderly aunts the news. When there, he finds out about their hobby, his brother the escaped killer comes home, his other brother is still charging up San Juan Hill, there's a new cop on the beat... you get the idea.

The writing in this movie was brilliant- everything is obviously outlandish, but Capra knows exactly when to reel it back in a little.

I bought this in VHS, then I bought the DVD- I watch it all the time.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good film, but....
Review: Good film, but the violence against men perpetrated by women in this flick is just outrageous and unacceptable to anyone concerned about mens' rights and violence against men (if you don't know over 50% of all family related violence is women against men). Imagine the outcry by the feminists if the killers were men and the victims women!!

As for the acting, it is WAY over the top, but good, and the direction by Capra is flawless.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Halloween Classic!
Review: It has become a tradition in my house to watch ARSENIC AND OLD LACE every Halloween. The tale of the two Miss Brewsters who poison lonely old men as a charity act is so familiar that I don't need to summarize it again. The movie is a typical fast, funny 1940's comedy (it is based on the play by Joseph Kesselring, which I've also had the pleasure of seeing). Though some claim that Cary Grant overacts in this movie, I think that his over-the-top comedic style is ideally suited to this "screwball" farce. The rest of the cast, including Raymond Massey as an escaped convict in disguise ("He said I looked like Boris Karloff"), Peter Lorre as his cowardly little assistant, and especially Jack Carson as the hilariously clueless Officer O'Hara, is perfect. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention John Alexander as "Teddy" (he really DOES look like Teddy Roosevelt).
There is also a welcome appearance by the inimitable Edward Everett Horton as Mr. Witherspoon, the head of Happydale Insane Asylum, where some of the characters eventually end up! Halloween is over, but rent (or buy!) ARSENIC AND OLD LACE anyway. Be prepared to laugh!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Yes Dear, We Know...
Review: "But there's a body in the windowseat!"
"Yes dear, we know"

AWESOME! I love this movie. I loved acting in the play, and I love watching the movie every weekend. Nothing cheers you up like watching two litle old ladies poisoning people. It does differ a bit from the stage show, but not so it really matters. In fact, it may be a little better. I have but one complaint-Jonathon should have been played by Boris Karloff, and then the jokes about the two looking alike would have been much funnier...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Fun!
Review: This is one of my favorite old comedies. The first time you see it, you will probably be in pain from laughing so much. Two serial killer spinster aunts (hull & adair) who knock of old lonely men (to be nice), a nustsy brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and Cary Grant in the middle as the nephew who literally stumbles upon everything - all add up to a great comic romp. Grant is in fine rubber-faced form here and there is a lot of physical comedy. ( nice butt, cary). The two aunts are delightful in their sheer sweet insanity and Teddy is a laugh-out-loud punchline. Great fun!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My Favorite.
Review: I think this is one of Cary Grants Best movies. If you're watching this for the first time, you better watch out because you'll be laughing your head off. Cary Grant (Mortimer Brooster) is my favorite actor. The scene where he just finds out that there is a body in the window seat, is just priceless. The expressions on his face are just so funny. You can't set through that movie with a straight face. And his aunts don't think they've done anything wrong and without Teddy in this movie, half the laughs would be gone.

It's so good.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Morally Bankrupt
Review: Arsenic and Old Lace has a problem. On the one hand, it is an absolutely an A team effort. It stars two of the best in Cary Grant and Raymond Massey. Priscilla Lane as Cary Grant's wife is cute and much put upon. Then with Frank Capra directing, Max Steiner' music and lush photography by Sol Polito, the result is a very attractive to look at production.

On the other hand, no matter how it is dressed up, the story is about a family of serial murderers. The requirement for a suspension of critical review (the aunts are stone killers; the Raymond Massey character is a murderer and torturer; the Cary Grant character has been a torture victim) is too great for me. Since none of the killers ever say or do anything that is funny (all those lines belong to other characters) watching this movie becomes an exercise in holding down the gag/revulsion reflex.

If I were to look at the stylishness of the production it would rate 4 or 5 stars. My policy is to try to accept a movie based upon its own premises. However in this instance, the story is so unremittingly morally bankrupt, that to overlook this lack of principles is to not see the movie before you. I would not recommend this movie to anybody except those interested in the technical aspects of the production.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: HAHAHAHAHAHILARIOUS!
Review: If you are some morbid, overly-depressed, lonely person who has absolutely no meaning in your life, try watching this movie! Just kidding! But really, I would rate this in my Top 5 most hilarious movies. I seriously could not stop laughing! I mean, who comes up with this stuff? A brother who thinks he's Teddy Rooselveldt? Another who is a criminal and looks like Frankenstein? Two little old aunts who poison then bury lonely old men???? Any comedy lover, or any movie lover for that matter, would consider this a jewel in their collection. if you haven't seen Arsenic and Old Lace, you are really missing out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Oldie but Goodie
Review: I watched this film for the first time with my history teacher and a few of my other friends on the last day of school. I absolutely loved this movie, and so did my teacher. Every year he would watch Arsenic and Old Lace, and laugh at the same spots, like when Teddy charges up the stairs, and when Cary Grant's character just finds out his aunts are murderers. I wouldn't want to spoil the movie for you by telling you everything about it, but I will tell you that this movie is one that I will remember for the rest of my life. But don't take my word for it, watch it for yourself.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of Carey Grant's Best Movies!
Review: Arsenic and Old Lace is one of my favorite movies and is in my opinion one of Carey Grants best movies, it is so hilarious, Carey Grant was very funny and so were the two sweet but crazy aunts Abbey and Martha and the crazy brothers especially the one who thought he was Teddy Roosevelt but also great were Peter Lorre who played crazy Dr. Einstein and Jack Carson as officer O'Hara.

A recent review stated that Carey Grant hated this movie and his performance and that may be true but I kind of chalk that up as the insecurities of an actor not realizing how wonderful his over the top performance really is and I think that if were around today and knew how many people actually loved his performance he would be pleased!

I recommend this movie but only the black and white version not the colorised one.


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