Year of Release: 1944Country of Origin: USA
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson
Plot outline: A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family (IMDb).
The core of the story is that these two nice charitable old ladies are pre-meditated murderers. This is basis enough for a movie, but for Arsenic and Old Lace, it is only the beginning. Excitable Cary Grant is added, as well a series of preposterous coincidences. On the same day that Grant discovers his aunt's methods of solving "Brooklyn's lonely old man problem", Grant gets married, Jack Carson takes over the neighborhood beat, and malevolent Raymond Massey shows up after a twenty-year absence. Things sure are hopping at the Brewster mansion. The one real surprise is that Peter Lorre gets away. The production code of the day frowned on criminals escaping justice, and here is a mass murderer (in the eyes of the law) sneaking off scot-free. It's also something of a surprise that cop Jack Carson sees Grant tied up, accompanied by two strange-looking men he's never seen before, and accepts at face value Lorre's lame explanation without even removing Grant's gag. Well, that, and Priscilla Lane putting up with outrageously rude behavior from Grant, beginning with the opening scene where he wears dark shades as if he's ashamed to be with her. She tells him she was nearly strangled by Massey, and Grant remains concerned only with sending Teddy Roosevelt to the nuthouse. But it's a good movie despite its problems of an overly complex plot and dubious character motivation. This has much to do with Grant, who is at his most ridiculous, and his A-list supporting cast. Plus, a few droll lines, usually supplied by the smiling, saintly aunts who believe their poisoning of house visitors provides a social good. (BK)
My judgement: *** out of 4 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment