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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!!
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 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).
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.
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.
This feels like an traditional style French stage play where you basically shoot a single room where a dozen people keep coming in and out of doors, having dialogues that are just a cluster of misunderstandings, and everyone is trying to hide both murders and affairs
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.
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 CZcams (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!
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.
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.
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 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...
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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!
Watched this movie too many times to count, and I still enjoy it every single time. I enjoy pretty much any and everything CG is in, but his range of comedy in this movie is off the charts, and I loved every minute. The sisters remind me of an old Andy Griffin show when two elderly sisters unbeknownst to them sold moonshine to the town drunks. Anyway, I loved your reaction to this classic, new subscriber!!
_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 been waiting for someone to see this movie. It is so funny to me and Cary Grants acting, reactions and facial expressions always make me laugh. Glad you enjoyed it )
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*BEST* serial killer movie - for ever and ever and ever.
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.
This is a hilarious dark comedy, and Cary Grant tries to not lose his sanity throughout! Lol!!
The Aunts killed 11. The first was a heart attack.
True true
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.
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
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 love Peter Lorre. Drama, comedy, and of course, horror. LoL
CHARRRRRRRRRRGE! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm so glad that you were able to watch this hilarious comedy! It's one of my favorite Cary Grant films. 📽❤
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
I've played three different characters on stage from this play. Teddy, Officer Brophy and Mr. Gibbs. Lots of fun.
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.
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.
This is and ever shall be one of the best dark comedies ever.
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 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🎶
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.
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 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.
OGB: 'Arsenic and old lace' is wacky and insane
'Bringing up baby' and 'Hellzapoppin': Hold my beer
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.
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 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! 😀
4:49 "He really... dresses the _part."_
He looks the part, _too,_ doesn't he? John Alexander was _incredibly_ well casted.
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).
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I was impressed by Teddy's thunderous voice. Mortimer's more human (i.e. much weaker) yell at the end gave a comparison point.
This has always been one of my favorite old movies. Favorite line: You look just like Boris Karloff
Jack Carson played an excellent role in the twilight zone as a used car salesman who all of a sudden had to be honest
One of my favorites. CHARGE!!!!!!!!!
Manic comedies are the best. Black and white is a bonus.
My theater teacher threw this on with no intro and omg. it's best enjoyed with no context. one of my favorites still.
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!
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!!
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.
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.
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)
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!!
If you like political thrillers, I’d suggest the Manchurian Candidate with Angela Lansbury. She deserved an Oscar just for one of her monologues.
I love this movie! My dad used to yell chaaaaarge every time he rode his bicycle up a hill.
Your reaction throughout but esp afterwards...that's why it is called " Screwball Comedy." 😂
I think you would enjoy the the magic spun by Cary Grant and Roselyn Russel in His Girls Friday (1940).
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
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).
Hi Sam! Another classic movie for your viewing pleasure:
☀ THE THIN MAN ☀
Love this movie, thanks for reacting to it! Cary Grant in HIs Girl Friday and She Done Him Wrong are great classics too
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.
Just love this reaction. Watched this in highschool after reading the play. It’s awesome.
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.
Teddy keeps reliving his famous charge up San Juan Hill.
This feels like an traditional style French stage play where you basically shoot a single room where a dozen people keep coming in and out of doors, having dialogues that are just a cluster of misunderstandings, and everyone is trying to hide both murders and affairs
I remember watching this with my mom once. She laughed and laughed throughout this movie. She loved it.
This is my absolute favorite movie ever! It came out 20 years before I was even born. Cary Grant is perfection.
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.
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 CZcams (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!
Lots of work dealing with the 1944 yellow fever outbreak.
A classic & one of my favorites...
Cary Grant is a riot in this movie 🙂
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.
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.
Cary Grant's unmistakable Brooklyn accent.
This film has a special place in my heart. Back in his college days, my dad played the "Teddy" role on stage.
Mortimer wanted Teddy committed because he knew the sisters would want to go with him.
Pure brilliance! Cary Grant could do anything 🤔☺️☺️❤️
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 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...
Another fave Cary Grant film is “The Awful Truth.” Hysterically funny!
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!
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.
"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.
Bell, Book, and Candle is Awesome! I know you would like it.
It’s hard to decide which Grant movie is my favorite, but this is way up there.
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.
And just think, this was directed by Frank Capra. Two years before he released ''It's A Wonderful Life''.
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.
LOVE this movie, a Halloween must! As a kid, this was scary, as an adult, I laughed my bum off.
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!
Massively impressed you reacted to this Classic 😎😍
Watched this movie too many times to count, and I still enjoy it every single time. I enjoy pretty much any and everything CG is in, but his range of comedy in this movie is off the charts, and I loved every minute. The sisters remind me of an old Andy Griffin show when two elderly sisters unbeknownst to them sold moonshine to the town drunks. Anyway, I loved your reaction to this classic, new subscriber!!
_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’ve always loved this movie! Carey Grant was brilliant
I have been waiting for someone to see this movie. It is so funny to me and Cary Grants acting, reactions and facial expressions always make me laugh. Glad you enjoyed it )
I once played Johnathon in an amateur production. It was great fun!
One of those movies I watched as a child with my mom
Hey now . Still here pulling up some of your good stuff and loving it. Your reactions are to DIE for!!!