Arsenic And Old Lace (1944) Instant

According to Rotten Tomatoes , the film is a "sparkling" example of dark comedy, maintaining a high fresh score. It is a perennial Halloween favorite due to its spooky setting, graveyard proximity, and "insouciant attitude" toward death.

Mortimer soon learns that his aunts have been "charitably" poisoning lonely old men with elderberry wine spiked with arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide. Matters escalate with the arrival of: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

The film features a mix of Hollywood stars and original Broadway cast members: According to Rotten Tomatoes , the film is

as Mortimer Brewster: Grant famously disliked his own performance, calling it "over-acting," though critics often cite it as a masterclass in physical comedy. Matters escalate with the arrival of: The film

: Based on the 1939 play by Joseph Kesselring, the film retains a fast-talking, door-slamming energy that keeps the 118-minute runtime moving at a breakneck pace.

: The film is a rare Capra project that avoids his usual "social consciousness" (as seen in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ) in favor of "good old-fashioned theater".