In the original play, Jonathan was actually played by Boris Karloff himself. Unfortunately, the film was put into production so hard on its heels that Karloff still had commitments to it and couldn't do the role there. So they compromised by getting Raymond Massey, who had some resemblance to him (increased further with makeup), even though his acting persona was very different. He was best known for playing Abraham Lincoln in several plays and films.
omg you are the 1st to view this madcap comedy, Cary Grant thought he was way over the top playing his character but i think it just makes it that much funnier. That scene when the cops come in and Massey is ready to confess and then all hell breaks loose is still a riot to me. I saw this on the late show one summer during my time off from high school when we had a channel that exclusively played these classics after midnight ,and I laughed so much until 230 am
@@michaelceraso1977 2nd one to react to this movie. Mia Tiffany who only reacts to older movies including some silent ones like Wings reviewed this movie over a year ago. If you like older movies check out her channel. Before she watches the movie she gives you some background on it. Excellent reactor with content very few have if any have done. One being the original The Magnificent Seven which no one else has reacted to.
@@cathleencooks748 oh ive seen lots of her reviews of the old time classics, she has started to do the jeremy brett old PBS SHerlock holmes shows, but I just happened to see she posted her reaction to Butch & sundance so I will check that out today
I think many young folks have no clue that movies from the 30s and 40s can be so delightfully twisted. They often think that that morbid humor started in the 1980s. While this may be the darkest comedy of them all, the amount of total bonkers of the era is completely missed. I'm not even going to list all the great films of the era. They need to be seen to be believed,
The average moviegoer today has the attention span of an ADD crackhead. They generally don’t tend to appreciate good acting, good dialogue, and good storytelling and are only entertained by explosions, toilet humor, graphic violence, and tits.
This is an awsome film, another great example of a very funny much older film with a twisted sense of humour is Kind Hearts and Coranets by ealing studios.
A billion thanks for reacting to this classical movie. It holds a special place in my heart as I share a birthday with Teddy Roosevelt. A great follow up movie to this one would be His Girl Friday another Cary Grant screwball comedy with Rosalind Russell. It has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomato so please consider watching it.
When this play is produced on the stage, some theater companies have the 12 "corpses" come up from the cellar to take their bows during the curtain call instead of the cast.
Cary Grant's face as the aunties retell what they're doing is just gold. A classically handsome man throwing the best WTF face in existence is just perfectly distilled comedy.
Mortimer's plan was to blame all the murders on Teddy. In theory, if Teddy was already committed to an asylum, a soft insanity plea would be a natural conclusion. His aunts commiting themselves as well was a happy accident.
If that line "I'm the son of a sea cook" feels a little awkward, it's because the original play ends with Mortimer gleefully shouting "I'm a bastard!" But of course that would never fly in the era of the Hays Code.
The fact that Mortimer was illegitimate child was already barely passable for the censors. Medical law of Holywood at the time: illegitimate children die at birth. Preferably with their mothers.
For another classic light comedy try "Harvey" starring Jimmy Stewart. It is also a slightly wacky farce with some excellent actors and actresses outdoing themselves.
I really appreciate you reacting to these classics. Far too many people for some reason have some kind of weird prejudice against old black and white films.
So glad you have gotten around to seeing this absolute classic of a film. Next up should be Harvey, a much lighter comedy. I love that no one reacts to the name Dr. Einstein in the movie. Jack Carter is such a good character actor - he's splendid in pretty much anything he is in.
As a second-generation Brooklynite, I am, of course, obligated to love this movie and the play it comes from. No hardship for me! The author of this piece of madness, Joseph Kesselring, started out writing a serious thriller, but as you can see, it ended up just a little differently. Notice that the movie is filled with bodies but, except for a silhouette, we never see one. This was a rush job, as many of the people involved in the production were more anxious to start service of one kind or another in the war. Frank Capra and Cary Grant both ended up disappointed in the final product. Josephine Hull (Aunt Abby), Jean Adair (Aunt Martha) and Johh Alexander (Teddy) were all from the original stage production on Broadway, accompanied by the actual Boris Karloff as Jonathan. Karloff was obligated to remain in NYC for the play and the movie was made during its run, hence the reason he is replaced by the remarkable Raymond Massey. You owe it to yourself to watch Josephine Hull in a very different role in "Harvey", with James Stewart. Aside from these, the cast is filled with greats: Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein, Priscilla Lane as Elaine (one of a family of acting sisters), Jack Carson as O'Hara (you don't know him yet, I'm sure, but you will love him in everything he's in). Edward Everett Horton as Dr. Witherspoon, who acted with Grant in "Holiday", and who you may know from many animation voice-overs; and James Gleason as the Lieutenant who's "been without sleep for forty-eight hours", who shines in his small space on screen, and who also acted with Grant in "The Bishop's Wife". This movie was my introduction to both Gleason and Carson.
Oh Sam Thank you for this reaction. This film is one of my favorites of all time. The hysterical story, editing and lighting are perfection. Of course Cary Grant 💖 No actor like him. You laughed a lot 😆 The aunties. 🤣
We quote this movie in our home. When we go down to the basement, we're going down to Panama. When we head to the attic, we call "Charge!" We even sing the little "there is a Happy Dale" ditty when we mess something up in a weird way. It's such a classic!
I NEVER tire of watching ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. I have seen it SO MANY TIMES in my life (I am 75 now) and it STILL makes me laugh! I LOVE Carey Grant and THIS is my favorite role of all the Carey Grant movies I have watched. His reactions and facial expressions are absolutely HILARIOUS!! EVERY one in this film give a GREAT performance, but Grant is the BEST!!
When the original Broadway production was in rehearsals, it was supposed to be a dramatic thriller. As rehearsals were progressing it became clear it was so ridiculously funny it was turned into a comedy.
I love Cary Grant. He's one of my favorite actors. I Love all his movies but 'Arsenic & Old Lace' is one of my favorites. Other Cary Grant movies I love. 'The Philadelphia Story' with Jimmy Stewart & Katharine Hepburn "His Girl Friday" with Rosalind Russell. "To Catch a Thief" Hitchcock movie with Grace Kelly.
Ironically, Grant hated his performance because it was too over the top, IHO. I couldn’t disagree more. He never went to that extreme in anything else, that I know of and that’s why I love it.
The happy dance I just did when I got the notification lol. This is my favorite movie. I have watched this movie so many times I know line for line lol.
Welcome to screwball comedy. The 30’s and 40’s were rife with them. Some good. Some bad. They were the precursor of Naked Gun, Airplane, etc, etc. May I recommend some of the following for your enjoyment; Bringing up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), The Thin Man (1934), The Lady Eve (1941) and A Night at the Opera (1935).
The 2 ladies had never been in a film before, they were stage actresses. But they were so good in the roles of the Brewster sisters that the producers never considered anyone else in those roles.
Great when You find how Ridiculously Funny Films could be Long Ago... With this in mind... 1940s "His Girl Friday" is another Cary Grant Comedy You'll almost certainly Enjoy...
Thank you for reacting to his great film, Sam!!! If you can get a chance, check out Holiday (1938), The Bishop's Wife (1947), His Girl Friday (1940), and Mr. Blandings Builds Hs Dream House (1948). They's all great too.
_His Girl Friday_ is one of the finest of the screwball comedies. It also has among the fastest dialogue of all American movies. Howard Hawks, the director wanted it to have the fastest dialogue of any film made up until that time, and specifically faster than _The Front Page_ (1931), the first adaptation of the 1928 Broadway comedy of the same title. ( _His Girl Friday_ was the second adaptation of the _The Front Page._ )
And The Awful Truth and Topper (both 1937), Bringing Up Baby (1938), My Favorite Wife (1940), The Talk of the Town (1942) and I Was A Male War Bride (1949). All comedy gems with Grant.
I loved this movie as a kid. One of theater teachers wanted to do this play and I expressed how much I loved the movie and he looked at my with such a strange face. I was such an odd teenager I suppose.
10:36 Yes but as they pointed out in the play, 12 bodies would mean a lot of paperwork and they know from their friends in the police force how much they hate to go through that paperwork. So they figure the police won't want to do anything. Plus as far as they're concerned what they're doing is a charity so they assume everyone else will view it the same way, that's why they can't understand why Mortimer is reacting the way he is.
I did this play in high school, and got to change some of the lines. One I changed was "he looks like boris karloff" to the name of our principal. The audience/parents loved it. Fun times.
Dr. Einstein? Another great choice! I didn't know the President had specific signing clothes. Love it when James Gleason (Police Captain) is in a comedy movie.
Some other Cary Grant films you should check out.... Topper His Girl Friday Penny Seranade The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (with Shirley Temple) Amazing Adventure But I will always love Arsenic and Old Lace. Amazing cast, well acted. Funny in spite of the obvious dark elements and even with the Brewster family being insane, you feel like they would be good friends. At least the aunts and Teddy. Which is hard to pull off with being serial killers. But they do have that sweetness and gentleness that makes you think they would be good people. Just don't drink the wine. Lol.
Born and bred in Brooklyn, I have always LOVED this movie, especially where it says, "meanwhile, across the bridge in mainland USA" Of course that's the Brooklyn Bridge. Great fun film. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
1:51 "Good morning, children. Your name, please?" "Elaine Harper." "Speak a little louder." "Elaine Harper." "Thank you. Yours?" "Mortimer Brewster." "How's that?" "Mortimer Brewster." "Speak up, sonny. There's nothing to be afraid of." Oh, come on, Mortimer. You want to keep it quiet, write it down for him.
@@audraross3012 I've been in two stage productions of this play, the first as Officer O'Hara and the second as Dr. Einstein, whom I would dearly love to play again. It's such a fun role.
My high school also did "Arsenic and Old Lace" in 1963. I wasn't in it, but I went each night that it ran. My classmates did a PHENOMENAL job on it. It turnes out that this is a popular play for high schools to do.
I played Dr. Einstein in high school. I loved it! The director pointed to the kid who played Mortimer and to me and said, "I feel sorry for you because everyone in the audience has seen Cary Grant play your part and everyone it the audience has seen Peter Lorre play your part." Tough acts to follow.
It really is bizarre that Frank Capra did a black comedy like this, when his typical work was sentimental verging on corny movies like It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I have no idea what put this one on his radar, but I'm so glad it got there, because he nails it.
A lot of Capras early films were more dark and risqué for their time. For example, The Bitter Tea of General Yen in 1933 starring Barbara Stanwyck, is about an American missionary abducted by a Chinese warlord and fall in love.
I hadn't heard a lot about the movie before I watched it a year ago, but it's so insane in the best way 😆 Definitely the wildest I've seen Cary Grant. I really want to watch a stage version of it at some point.
The whole Boris Karloff angle was apparently much funnier when when Boris would do it live on stage.. his intro would get a HUGE laugh.. the man was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time.
I first saw this as a play, then the movie when I was a little kid, loved it, always remembered it fondly. Cary Grant has starred in so many delightful movies over a long career, one of my favorites is Charade (1963).
8’m really glad you liked it. I remember watching this when I was a kid. It was a late night showing on PBS (back in the 80’s when PBS used to do that), it was already in progress so I didn’t know what the title of the movie was, but I really enjoyed it. A few years later my Grandparents watched to show me movie that they thought I’d enjoy. As we started watching it I looked kinda familiar but I couldn’t place it. Then Johnathan and Dr Einstein showed up and BOOM I recognized it immediately as the movie I really liked but didn’t know the title of, and from that day forward I knew this movie by title and plot; and anytime some one says that classic movies can’t be good I tell them about Arsenic & Old Lace.
One of my favorite movies. Have watched many times and never tire of it. He wanted Teddy put away so the murders could be pinned on him. Then he would figure out what to do RE the aunts. Enjoyed your reaction.
The first time I ever heard of Arsenic and Old Lace was my high school drama department’s production of it. For high school students, they were superb. Of course Teddy got a lot of laughs. I never saw the movie until I was an adult. In the high school production, they changed the ending. A new tenant is sitting at the table and one of the aunties is serving him some elderberry wine. He says “I thought I had my last drink of elderberry wine”. As she is pouring the wine, she says “no, this is” then the curtains closes.
FIRST COMMENT!!! LOL Thanks for watching this. Another wonderful Carry Grant he is in is Topper and Topper 2. Both are great and hilarious. Carry and his girlfriend become ghosts.
"Madcap comedy" is a great thing--it's never truly dated. The original Broadway show starred Boris Karloff (Frankenstein) as Johnathan. This play is still widely performed in community/regional theaters and schools.
I can't remember when I first watched this (either high school or college), but it was for a class, and I ended up loving it. So glad you reacted to it! If you want another crazy comedy, one which is also a musical, try 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' (that one was definitely in college, for my Latin class).
I've only reacted to two movies on my channel and this is one of them!! Not many reactions to it on RUclips. I picked it because it was the oldest movie I owned besides Disney movies and other kid like movies like maybe "The Wizard of Oz." I'm divorced now but when I got married it was in a bed and breakfast called Arsenic and Old Lace in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They had several copies of this movie lying around. My mom bought us the movie at Christmas but I never got around to watching it and it was just on my shelf for a few years. So that's why I picked it for my first movie reaction. It took me about 6 months to edit it and many many uploads to try to get past copyright issues.
This play was so much fun in high school. I did it twice once as Teddy and then as Mortimer. Probably my favorite Cary Grant role. His faces are so amazing.
Great reaction! You took it just the way you should have. Couple of interesting facts....this was filmed in 1941, but they waited to release it until the Broadway run of the play was over. Grant hated his performance and thought Jimmy Stewart would have been a better fit. I don't agree...his manic performance was just what was called for. I've watched many performances of the play on RUclips (mostly high school) and none are as fast paced as the movie and that kind of ruins it a bit. The only thing about slowing it down is you get some of the funnier lines where in the movie they might slip by. This is a movie I used to set the alarm for and get up and watch at 1am or 2am (before VCRs.) Have loved it since I first saw it. My favorite Cary Grant film and he has made a bunch of classics. Glad you enjoyed it!
There's so much screaming and chaos, running around. I hated it at first but now I think its pretty good. Mortimer drove me crazy though. Love the aunts and Teddy.
This one's a great classic. Definitely in my top three list of Cary Grant films, with Hitchcock's North by Northwest being another one. I was actually in a local production of the stage play years ago. I played the Reverend who delivered the commitment papers for Uncle Teddy in act one (The play starts with the two old ladies and my character actually.) and I return as a cop in act 2. I actually have a funny story about that stage show. One night I went onstage in Act one, scene one and when I got to the part where I'm supposed to hand the two old ladies the commitment papers. I reached into my coat pocket and my fingers closed on nothing! The papers were not there! The papers would be scrutinized and discussed by the ladies in the next scene after I leave, so they had to be there. What to do? I ad libbed "Oh dear I seem to have left the commitment papers in the car. Sorry ladies I'll be right back!" And with that, I ran offstage and scoured the prop table for the missing papers. The two actresses playing the aunts were top notch players and I knew they'd be able to hold their own ad libbing some dialog until I returned. What felt like an eternity later (to me at the time anyway) I finally located the offending papers, grabbed them up and ran back onstage. I waved the papers aloft, saying something like: "Here they are ladies! Oh dear, I don't know where my head is today. I'm not sure how I could have misplaced them. Oh well." ...and the scene continued. Needless to say, I double and triple checked that I had the papers in my pocket every performance night after that!
_Arsenic and Old Lace_ (the play) is a perennial favorite of high school drama departments, or at least it used to be. As staged it is a one-set interior, which is good for high school stages, and there are usually enough old furnishings kicking about in prop rooms to dress the set pretty easily. And, of course, it is an hysterically funny script.
I have read that one of your followers asked you to watch Harvey, I also think you would appreciate it, Harvey is starring James Stewart AND Josephine Hull (aunt Abby) who won an Oscar for this performance (best supporting actress). Delightful movie and Jimmy Stewart’s favourite, too. Salute from France 🇫🇷
This is not a criticism of your channel, but you must have the most eclectic subscribers/paetrons cause you have the most wide range of movie reactions I've seen on any channel. You have expected classics, but for the most part, you have outside out the box classics. Glad you enjoyed it. Another Cary Grant Screwball Comedy that I'd really recommend is His Girl Friday. If it hasn't been recommended already. It's another fast paced what the f**k is going on good time. Much love
My community is a bunch of lovely folks and I appreciate them and all of their requests and recommendations! On this channel, Tuesday videos are Patron requests, while Friday videos are of movies that I put on a poll and folks choose one for that upcoming Friday. So many people have been wanting me to watch this, so I put it on last weeks poll and it won! I'm genuinely always trying to see what people are wanting, and whatever I hear the most noise about it terms of what people are looking for, I put it on the polls, while also including films I've been genuinely wanting to watch as well!
23:59 "Tell the lieutenant he can call off the big _manhunt._ We've _found_ him." 😆😆😆 You've _got_ to love the misunderstanding you see, shaping up here.
9:38 Oh, I remember back when I was a child and saw this movie for the first time, at that yelp I burst out in laughter so that I couldn't breathe anymore.
I'm not a Brewster! I'm a son of a sea cook! 🤣😂🤣 Really enjoyed watching you go almost as crazy as the Brewsters. You really should check out *The Thin Man* from 1934. It's a murder mystery with humor. Not as nuts as this but fun nonetheless.
Love that you finally got around to this one - I adore it! Cary Grant has so many great films (I saw recommendations for _His Girl Friday_ and _Holiday_ already; great picks, and I'd add _The Philadelphia Story_ and his Alfred Hitchcock films, among others). That man is just delightful, you probably wouldn't go wrong exploring his filmography.
This is the prime example of a 'screwball comedy'. The story was originally a play performed on Broadway, with the role of the criminally-insane brother (who 'looks like Boris Karloff') actually played by Boris Karloff. In the film, that role was played by Raymond Massey, who starred earlier in a biopic about Abraham Lincoln. The doctor who accompanied him was played by Peter Lorre. The sanitarium director was played by famous character actor Edward Everett Horton, who did a lot of 30s & 40s comedies and a bunch of voicework the following decades.
I love this definition of a madcap comedy. And Cary Grant! Another of his Wacky comedies that I absolutely love is Bringing Up Baby with Katherine Hepburn. Hilarious and crazy!
One of my absolute favorites from the 40s. Like many good movie of that era, this was based on a play. They even referenced it when saying Jonathan Brewster looks like Frankenstein's monster or Boris Karloff. Karloff used to play Jonathan on Broadway. If you enjoy Cary Grant delivering snappy dialogue, you should watch the screwball comedy His Girl Friday (1940).
Great reaction! This is the movie that introduced me to Cary Grant, so it holds a special place in my heart. For another screwball comedy, try Philadelphia Story (with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart). Which reminds me, you should also consider watching Rear Window. It's very different from this one, except that it also has legendary leads (Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart), but with a tense, mysterious atmosphere and it's just sooo good!
In the original play, Jonathan was actually played by Boris Karloff himself. Unfortunately, the film was put into production so hard on its heels that Karloff still had commitments to it and couldn't do the role there. So they compromised by getting Raymond Massey, who had some resemblance to him (increased further with makeup), even though his acting persona was very different. He was best known for playing Abraham Lincoln in several plays and films.
omg you are the 1st to view this madcap comedy, Cary Grant thought he was way over the top playing his character but i think it just makes it that much funnier. That scene when the cops come in and Massey is ready to confess and then all hell breaks loose is still a riot to me. I saw this on the late show one summer during my time off from high school when we had a channel that exclusively played these classics after midnight ,and I laughed so much until 230 am
@@michaelceraso1977 2nd one to react to this movie. Mia Tiffany who only reacts to older movies including some silent ones like Wings reviewed this movie over a year ago. If you like older movies check out her channel. Before she watches the movie she gives you some background on it. Excellent reactor with content very few have if any have done. One being the original The Magnificent Seven which no one else has reacted to.
@@cathleencooks748 oh ive seen lots of her reviews of the old time classics, she has started to do the jeremy brett old PBS SHerlock holmes shows, but I just happened to see she posted her reaction to Butch & sundance so I will check that out today
@@cathleencooks748 Mia is great.
I think many young folks have no clue that movies from the 30s and 40s can be so delightfully twisted. They often think that that morbid humor started in the 1980s. While this may be the darkest comedy of them all, the amount of total bonkers of the era is completely missed. I'm not even going to list all the great films of the era. They need to be seen to be believed,
The average moviegoer today has the attention span of an ADD crackhead. They generally don’t tend to appreciate good acting, good dialogue, and good storytelling and are only entertained by explosions, toilet humor, graphic violence, and tits.
When I worked as a caregiver I got introduced to TCM (turner classic movies). LoL
This is an awsome film, another great example of a very funny much older film with a twisted sense of humour is Kind Hearts and Coranets by ealing studios.
Movies made before the Hays code was created are particularly dark. That is part of the reason the Hays code was created.
A billion thanks for reacting to this classical movie. It holds a special place in my heart as I share a birthday with Teddy Roosevelt. A great follow up movie to this one would be His Girl Friday another Cary Grant screwball comedy with Rosalind Russell. It has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomato so please consider watching it.
I hope you don't tackle stairs like That particular 'Teddy' did.
When this play is produced on the stage, some theater companies have the 12 "corpses" come up from the cellar to take their bows during the curtain call instead of the cast.
*BEST* serial killer movie - for ever and ever and ever.
This is a hilarious dark comedy, and Cary Grant tries to not lose his sanity throughout! Lol!!
Cary Grant's face as the aunties retell what they're doing is just gold. A classically handsome man throwing the best WTF face in existence is just perfectly distilled comedy.
Mortimer's plan was to blame all the murders on Teddy. In theory, if Teddy was already committed to an asylum, a soft insanity plea would be a natural conclusion. His aunts commiting themselves as well was a happy accident.
I always saw it he wanted Teddy out of the house so he couldn't dig any more graves for the ladies.
@@maximax7056 not at all. Dunno how you got to that conclusion. They'd still keep killing even if he didn't dig the graves.
If that line "I'm the son of a sea cook" feels a little awkward, it's because the original play ends with Mortimer gleefully shouting "I'm a bastard!" But of course that would never fly in the era of the Hays Code.
"Son of a sea cook" is a sailing ship euphemism for bastard.
good ol Hays Code ruining things wherever it goes!
Damn, I would have loved to hear Cary Grant read the original line
The fact that Mortimer was illegitimate child was already barely passable for the censors. Medical law of Holywood at the time: illegitimate children die at birth. Preferably with their mothers.
For another classic light comedy try "Harvey" starring Jimmy Stewart. It is also a slightly wacky farce with some excellent actors and actresses outdoing themselves.
Yes!
Josephine Hull who plays one of the aunts in this movie plays Jimmy Stewart's sister in Harvey. It is one of my favorite movies.
Harvey is referenced in "Who Framed Rodger Rabbit"
I really appreciate you reacting to these classics. Far too many people for some reason have some kind of weird prejudice against old black and white films.
4:49 "He really... dresses the _part."_
He looks the part, _too,_ doesn't he? John Alexander was _incredibly_ well casted.
So glad you have gotten around to seeing this absolute classic of a film. Next up should be Harvey, a much lighter comedy. I love that no one reacts to the name Dr. Einstein in the movie. Jack Carter is such a good character actor - he's splendid in pretty much anything he is in.
Jack Carson
CHARRRRRRRRRRGE! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm so glad that you were able to watch this hilarious comedy! It's one of my favorite Cary Grant films. 📽❤
The very definition of a screwball comedy. Packed with a good cast of established leads, and character actors. Keep up the good work of old classics!
Missing words at the end: "also watching". Oh, the travails of battling slight dyslexia...
I've played three different characters on stage from this play. Teddy, Officer Brophy and Mr. Gibbs. Lots of fun.
As a second-generation Brooklynite, I am, of course, obligated to love this movie and the play it comes from. No hardship for me!
The author of this piece of madness, Joseph Kesselring, started out writing a serious thriller, but as you can see, it ended up just a little differently.
Notice that the movie is filled with bodies but, except for a silhouette, we never see one.
This was a rush job, as many of the people involved in the production were more anxious to start service of one kind or another in the war. Frank Capra and Cary Grant both ended up disappointed in the final product.
Josephine Hull (Aunt Abby), Jean Adair (Aunt Martha) and Johh Alexander (Teddy) were all from the original stage production on Broadway, accompanied by the actual Boris Karloff as Jonathan. Karloff was obligated to remain in NYC for the play and the movie was made during its run, hence the reason he is replaced by the remarkable Raymond Massey.
You owe it to yourself to watch Josephine Hull in a very different role in "Harvey", with James Stewart.
Aside from these, the cast is filled with greats: Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein, Priscilla Lane as Elaine (one of a family of acting sisters), Jack Carson as O'Hara (you don't know him yet, I'm sure, but you will love him in everything he's in). Edward Everett Horton as Dr. Witherspoon, who acted with Grant in "Holiday", and who you may know from many animation voice-overs; and James Gleason as the Lieutenant who's "been without sleep for forty-eight hours", who shines in his small space on screen, and who also acted with Grant in "The Bishop's Wife". This movie was my introduction to both Gleason and Carson.
Comedies from this era is the best, i can't remember the last comedy released that was funny
Oh Sam Thank you for this reaction. This film is one of my favorites of all time. The hysterical story, editing and lighting are perfection. Of course Cary Grant 💖 No actor like him. You laughed a lot 😆 The aunties. 🤣
I love Peter Lorre. Drama, comedy, and of course, horror. LoL
We quote this movie in our home. When we go down to the basement, we're going down to Panama. When we head to the attic, we call "Charge!" We even sing the little "there is a Happy Dale" ditty when we mess something up in a weird way. It's such a classic!
The Aunts killed 11. The first was a heart attack.
True true
I NEVER tire of watching ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. I have seen it SO MANY TIMES in my life (I am 75 now) and it STILL makes me laugh! I LOVE Carey Grant and THIS is my favorite role of all the Carey Grant movies I have watched. His reactions and facial expressions are absolutely HILARIOUS!! EVERY one in this film give a GREAT performance, but Grant is the BEST!!
When the original Broadway production was in rehearsals, it was supposed to be a dramatic thriller. As rehearsals were progressing it became clear it was so ridiculously funny it was turned into a comedy.
I love Cary Grant. He's one of my favorite actors. I Love all his movies but 'Arsenic & Old Lace' is one of my favorites.
Other Cary Grant movies I love. 'The Philadelphia Story' with Jimmy Stewart & Katharine Hepburn "His Girl Friday" with Rosalind Russell. "To Catch a Thief" Hitchcock movie with Grace Kelly.
I think I accidentally downvoted you by mistake. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, I just had fat thumbs there for a moment.
Ironically, Grant hated his performance because it was too over the top, IHO.
I couldn’t disagree more. He never went to that extreme in anything else, that I know of and that’s why I love it.
Another great Cary Grant movie is Father Goose
I love him too! Have you seen Bringing Up Baby with Katherine Hepburn? It's another hilarious, madcap comedy.
@@dawns.427 🎵I can’t give you anything but love, baby🎶
The happy dance I just did when I got the notification lol. This is my favorite movie. I have watched this movie so many times I know line for line lol.
Welcome to screwball comedy. The 30’s and 40’s were rife with them. Some good. Some bad. They were the precursor of Naked Gun, Airplane, etc, etc. May I recommend some of the following for your enjoyment; Bringing up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), The Thin Man (1934), The Lady Eve (1941) and A Night at the Opera (1935).
Teddy keeps reliving his famous charge up San Juan Hill.
Pure brilliance! Cary Grant could do anything 🤔☺️☺️❤️
The 2 ladies had never been in a film before, they were stage actresses. But they were so good in the roles of the Brewster sisters that the producers never considered anyone else in those roles.
This is and ever shall be one of the best dark comedies ever.
Great when You find how Ridiculously Funny Films could be Long Ago... With this in mind... 1940s "His Girl Friday" is another Cary Grant Comedy You'll almost certainly Enjoy...
Thank you for reacting to his great film, Sam!!! If you can get a chance, check out Holiday (1938), The Bishop's Wife (1947), His Girl Friday (1940), and Mr. Blandings Builds Hs Dream House (1948). They's all great too.
_His Girl Friday_ is one of the finest of the screwball comedies. It also has among the fastest dialogue of all American movies. Howard Hawks, the director wanted it to have the fastest dialogue of any film made up until that time, and specifically faster than _The Front Page_ (1931), the first adaptation of the 1928 Broadway comedy of the same title. ( _His Girl Friday_ was the second adaptation of the _The Front Page._ )
But Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story are even better.
Monkey Business and The Bobby Soxer are good too.
And The Awful Truth and Topper (both 1937), Bringing Up Baby (1938), My Favorite Wife (1940), The Talk of the Town (1942) and I Was A Male War Bride (1949). All comedy gems with Grant.
I loved this movie as a kid. One of theater teachers wanted to do this play and I expressed how much I loved the movie and he looked at my with such a strange face. I was such an odd teenager I suppose.
So glad you're watching older films! Please watch "The Women" (the 1939 version). You will LOVE it! Such a clever classic with so many witty moments.
10:36 Yes but as they pointed out in the play, 12 bodies would mean a lot of paperwork and they know from their friends in the police force how much they hate to go through that paperwork. So they figure the police won't want to do anything. Plus as far as they're concerned what they're doing is a charity so they assume everyone else will view it the same way, that's why they can't understand why Mortimer is reacting the way he is.
One of my favorites!!! We did this as a play in high school…in black and white! The whole stage and characters were in shades of gray. It was awesome
That’s amazing!
I did this play in high school, and got to change some of the lines. One I changed was "he looks like boris karloff" to the name of our principal. The audience/parents loved it. Fun times.
Dr. Einstein? Another great choice! I didn't know the President had specific signing clothes. Love it when James Gleason (Police Captain) is in a comedy movie.
Some other Cary Grant films you should check out....
Topper
His Girl Friday
Penny Seranade
The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (with Shirley Temple)
Amazing Adventure
But I will always love Arsenic and Old Lace. Amazing cast, well acted. Funny in spite of the obvious dark elements and even with the Brewster family being insane, you feel like they would be good friends. At least the aunts and Teddy. Which is hard to pull off with being serial killers. But they do have that sweetness and gentleness that makes you think they would be good people. Just don't drink the wine. Lol.
Born and bred in Brooklyn, I have always LOVED this movie, especially where it says, "meanwhile, across the bridge in mainland USA" Of course that's the Brooklyn Bridge. Great fun film. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
1:51 "Good morning, children. Your name, please?"
"Elaine Harper."
"Speak a little louder."
"Elaine Harper."
"Thank you. Yours?"
"Mortimer Brewster."
"How's that?"
"Mortimer Brewster."
"Speak up, sonny. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Oh, come on, Mortimer. You want to keep it quiet, write it down for him.
I was in this play in high school!! I was one of the aunties. It was so much fun. Love this movie.
Me too! I was Aunt Martha. Such a fun show!
@@audraross3012 I've been in two stage productions of this play, the first as Officer O'Hara and the second as Dr. Einstein, whom I would dearly love to play again. It's such a fun role.
I want to play Mortimer on stage as much as anything in my life.
My high school also did "Arsenic and Old Lace" in 1963. I wasn't in it, but I went each night that it ran. My classmates did a PHENOMENAL job on it. It turnes out that this is a popular play for high schools to do.
I played Dr. Einstein in high school. I loved it! The director pointed to the kid who played Mortimer and to me and said, "I feel sorry for you because everyone in the audience has seen Cary Grant play your part and everyone it the audience has seen Peter Lorre play your part." Tough acts to follow.
It really is bizarre that Frank Capra did a black comedy like this, when his typical work was sentimental verging on corny movies like It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I have no idea what put this one on his radar, but I'm so glad it got there, because he nails it.
A lot of Capras early films were more dark and risqué for their time. For example, The Bitter Tea of General Yen in 1933 starring Barbara Stanwyck, is about an American missionary abducted by a Chinese warlord and fall in love.
I was impressed by Teddy's thunderous voice. Mortimer's more human (i.e. much weaker) yell at the end gave a comparison point.
Thanks for watching - 50 yrs ago I got into trouble for laughing so loud when it was on late night that I woke my parents up. A forgotten gem.
OGB: 'Arsenic and old lace' is wacky and insane
'Bringing up baby' and 'Hellzapoppin': Hold my beer
I hadn't heard a lot about the movie before I watched it a year ago, but it's so insane in the best way 😆
Definitely the wildest I've seen Cary Grant.
I really want to watch a stage version of it at some point.
I saw a university theater production of it once. Such a fun time! 😀
The whole Boris Karloff angle was apparently much funnier when when Boris would do it live on stage.. his intro would get a HUGE laugh.. the man was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time.
My theater teacher threw this on with no intro and omg. it's best enjoyed with no context. one of my favorites still.
This has always been one of my favorite old movies. Favorite line: You look just like Boris Karloff
I think you would enjoy the the magic spun by Cary Grant and Roselyn Russel in His Girls Friday (1940).
So many classic films I would love to see you react to:
Singin' in the Rain
His Girl Friday
What's Up Doc?
Laura (1944)
Jack Carson played an excellent role in the twilight zone as a used car salesman who all of a sudden had to be honest
I first saw this as a play, then the movie when I was a little kid, loved it, always remembered it fondly.
Cary Grant has starred in so many delightful movies over a long career, one of my favorites is Charade (1963).
8’m really glad you liked it. I remember watching this when I was a kid. It was a late night showing on PBS (back in the 80’s when PBS used to do that), it was already in progress so I didn’t know what the title of the movie was, but I really enjoyed it. A few years later my Grandparents watched to show me movie that they thought I’d enjoy. As we started watching it I looked kinda familiar but I couldn’t place it. Then Johnathan and Dr Einstein showed up and BOOM I recognized it immediately as the movie I really liked but didn’t know the title of, and from that day forward I knew this movie by title and plot; and anytime some one says that classic movies can’t be good I tell them about Arsenic & Old Lace.
One of my favorite movies. Have watched many times and never tire of it. He wanted Teddy put away so the murders could be pinned on him. Then he would figure out what to do RE the aunts. Enjoyed your reaction.
The first time I ever heard of Arsenic and Old Lace was my high school drama department’s production of it. For high school students, they were superb. Of course Teddy got a lot of laughs. I never saw the movie until I was an adult.
In the high school production, they changed the ending. A new tenant is sitting at the table and one of the aunties is serving him some elderberry wine. He says “I thought I had my last drink of elderberry wine”. As she is pouring the wine, she says “no, this is” then the curtains closes.
FIRST COMMENT!!! LOL Thanks for watching this. Another wonderful Carry Grant he is in is Topper and Topper 2. Both are great and hilarious. Carry and his girlfriend become ghosts.
"Madcap comedy" is a great thing--it's never truly dated. The original Broadway show starred Boris Karloff (Frankenstein) as Johnathan. This play is still widely performed in community/regional theaters and schools.
If you like political thrillers, I’d suggest the Manchurian Candidate with Angela Lansbury. She deserved an Oscar just for one of her monologues.
Manic comedies are the best. Black and white is a bonus.
I can't remember when I first watched this (either high school or college), but it was for a class, and I ended up loving it. So glad you reacted to it! If you want another crazy comedy, one which is also a musical, try 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' (that one was definitely in college, for my Latin class).
I've only reacted to two movies on my channel and this is one of them!! Not many reactions to it on RUclips. I picked it because it was the oldest movie I owned besides Disney movies and other kid like movies like maybe "The Wizard of Oz." I'm divorced now but when I got married it was in a bed and breakfast called Arsenic and Old Lace in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They had several copies of this movie lying around. My mom bought us the movie at Christmas but I never got around to watching it and it was just on my shelf for a few years. So that's why I picked it for my first movie reaction. It took me about 6 months to edit it and many many uploads to try to get past copyright issues.
Hi Sam! Another classic movie for your viewing pleasure:
☀ THE THIN MAN ☀
This play was so much fun in high school. I did it twice once as Teddy and then as Mortimer. Probably my favorite Cary Grant role. His faces are so amazing.
This is my absolute favorite movie ever! It came out 20 years before I was even born. Cary Grant is perfection.
OGBReacts, thank you! It has been decades since I saw this movie and I had forgotten what a delite it is.
My grandmother’s cousin is in this!!! It’s one of the reasons I absolutely love it!!
my favorite part of this movie is Mortimer on the staircase mumbling commentary on the chaos going on around him - he was so done LOL!
Great reaction! You took it just the way you should have. Couple of interesting facts....this was filmed in 1941, but they waited to release it until the Broadway run of the play was over. Grant hated his performance and thought Jimmy Stewart would have been a better fit. I don't agree...his manic performance was just what was called for. I've watched many performances of the play on RUclips (mostly high school) and none are as fast paced as the movie and that kind of ruins it a bit. The only thing about slowing it down is you get some of the funnier lines where in the movie they might slip by. This is a movie I used to set the alarm for and get up and watch at 1am or 2am (before VCRs.) Have loved it since I first saw it. My favorite Cary Grant film and he has made a bunch of classics. Glad you enjoyed it!
There's so much screaming and chaos, running around. I hated it at first but now I think its pretty good. Mortimer drove me crazy though. Love the aunts and Teddy.
This one's a great classic. Definitely in my top three list of Cary Grant films, with Hitchcock's North by Northwest being another one. I was actually in a local production of the stage play years ago. I played the Reverend who delivered the commitment papers for Uncle Teddy in act one (The play starts with the two old ladies and my character actually.) and I return as a cop in act 2. I actually have a funny story about that stage show. One night I went onstage in Act one, scene one and when I got to the part where I'm supposed to hand the two old ladies the commitment papers. I reached into my coat pocket and my fingers closed on nothing! The papers were not there! The papers would be scrutinized and discussed by the ladies in the next scene after I leave, so they had to be there. What to do? I ad libbed "Oh dear I seem to have left the commitment papers in the car. Sorry ladies I'll be right back!" And with that, I ran offstage and scoured the prop table for the missing papers. The two actresses playing the aunts were top notch players and I knew they'd be able to hold their own ad libbing some dialog until I returned. What felt like an eternity later (to me at the time anyway) I finally located the offending papers, grabbed them up and ran back onstage. I waved the papers aloft, saying something like: "Here they are ladies! Oh dear, I don't know where my head is today. I'm not sure how I could have misplaced them. Oh well." ...and the scene continued. Needless to say, I double and triple checked that I had the papers in my pocket every performance night after that!
_Arsenic and Old Lace_ (the play) is a perennial favorite of high school drama departments, or at least it used to be. As staged it is a one-set interior, which is good for high school stages, and there are usually enough old furnishings kicking about in prop rooms to dress the set pretty easily. And, of course, it is an hysterically funny script.
My cousin Barbara's son, Bob, played Uncle Teddy in their high school production.
I have read that one of your followers asked you to watch Harvey, I also think you would appreciate it, Harvey is starring James Stewart AND Josephine Hull (aunt Abby) who won an Oscar for this performance (best supporting actress). Delightful movie and Jimmy Stewart’s favourite, too.
Salute from France 🇫🇷
This is not a criticism of your channel, but you must have the most eclectic subscribers/paetrons cause you have the most wide range of movie reactions I've seen on any channel. You have expected classics, but for the most part, you have outside out the box classics. Glad you enjoyed it. Another Cary Grant Screwball Comedy that I'd really recommend is His Girl Friday. If it hasn't been recommended already. It's another fast paced what the f**k is going on good time. Much love
My community is a bunch of lovely folks and I appreciate them and all of their requests and recommendations!
On this channel, Tuesday videos are Patron requests, while Friday videos are of movies that I put on a poll and folks choose one for that upcoming Friday.
So many people have been wanting me to watch this, so I put it on last weeks poll and it won!
I'm genuinely always trying to see what people are wanting, and whatever I hear the most noise about it terms of what people are looking for, I put it on the polls, while also including films I've been genuinely wanting to watch as well!
This film has a special place in my heart. Back in his college days, my dad played the "Teddy" role on stage.
Love this movie, thanks for reacting to it! Cary Grant in HIs Girl Friday and She Done Him Wrong are great classics too
23:59 "Tell the lieutenant he can call off the big _manhunt._ We've _found_ him."
😆😆😆 You've _got_ to love the misunderstanding you see, shaping up here.
And just think, this was directed by Frank Capra. Two years before he released ''It's A Wonderful Life''.
I love this movie! My dad used to yell chaaaaarge every time he rode his bicycle up a hill.
I remember watching this with my mom once. She laughed and laughed throughout this movie. She loved it.
9:38 Oh, I remember back when I was a child and saw this movie for the first time, at that yelp I burst out in laughter so that I couldn't breathe anymore.
Your reaction throughout but esp afterwards...that's why it is called " Screwball Comedy." 😂
I'm not a Brewster! I'm a son of a sea cook! 🤣😂🤣
Really enjoyed watching you go almost as crazy as the Brewsters.
You really should check out *The Thin Man* from 1934. It's a murder mystery with humor. Not as nuts as this but fun nonetheless.
Another fave Cary Grant film is “The Awful Truth.” Hysterically funny!
I absolutely love Cary Grant in Father Goose. It's another great movie by him. You should react to it sometime.
Another great movie!!
Mr. Eckland lol
Love that you finally got around to this one - I adore it! Cary Grant has so many great films (I saw recommendations for _His Girl Friday_ and _Holiday_ already; great picks, and I'd add _The Philadelphia Story_ and his Alfred Hitchcock films, among others). That man is just delightful, you probably wouldn't go wrong exploring his filmography.
This is the prime example of a 'screwball comedy'. The story was originally a play performed on Broadway, with the role of the criminally-insane brother (who 'looks like Boris Karloff') actually played by Boris Karloff. In the film, that role was played by Raymond Massey, who starred earlier in a biopic about Abraham Lincoln.
The doctor who accompanied him was played by Peter Lorre.
The sanitarium director was played by famous character actor Edward Everett Horton, who did a lot of 30s & 40s comedies and a bunch of voicework the following decades.
I love this definition of a madcap comedy. And Cary Grant! Another of his Wacky comedies that I absolutely love is Bringing Up Baby with Katherine Hepburn. Hilarious and crazy!
I've watched/reacted to that as well!! ruclips.net/video/g9xVd4-ythQ/видео.html
The cracks about him looking like Boris Karloff is an inside joke. Karloff did the stage play version of this movie but was unavailable for the movie.
LOVE this movie, a Halloween must! As a kid, this was scary, as an adult, I laughed my bum off.
One of my absolute favorites from the 40s. Like many good movie of that era, this was based on a play. They even referenced it when saying Jonathan Brewster looks like Frankenstein's monster or Boris Karloff. Karloff used to play Jonathan on Broadway.
If you enjoy Cary Grant delivering snappy dialogue, you should watch the screwball comedy His Girl Friday (1940).
A classic & one of my favorites...
Cary Grant is a riot in this movie 🙂
Absolutely loved this movie!
Did the stage play way back in high school.
Always have a soft spot for this film.
It’s hard to decide which Grant movie is my favorite, but this is way up there.
Cary Grant's unmistakable Brooklyn accent.
Great reaction! This is the movie that introduced me to Cary Grant, so it holds a special place in my heart. For another screwball comedy, try Philadelphia Story (with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart). Which reminds me, you should also consider watching Rear Window. It's very different from this one, except that it also has legendary leads (Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart), but with a tense, mysterious atmosphere and it's just sooo good!
Lots of work dealing with the 1944 yellow fever outbreak.
This movie was based on a hit Broadway play. The play occasionally get resurrected on Broadway.