Arsenic and Old Lace
Mortimer Brewster, a newspaper drama critic, playwright, and author known for his diatribes against marriage, suddenly falls in love and gets married; but when he makes a quick trip home to tell his two maiden aunts, he finds out his aunts' hobby - killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar!
Critics Sentiment
Abby and Martha cheerfully confess to poisoning twelve lonely bachelors
Mortimer Brewster secretly marries Elaine Harper on Halloween
The film dramatically escalates from the gentle opening setup to the shocking revelation of the aunts' murders, creating the central comedic premise.
Critics universally praised this as a masterpiece of dark comedy that builds from a charming setup to increasingly frantic and hilarious revelations. The film maintains consistently high sentiment throughout with stellar performances, particularly Grant's manic energy and the aunts' perfectly sweet-yet-sinister portrayals. While some noted Grant's over-the-top performance and the film's length, the overwhelming consensus celebrates it as a brilliant blend of black humor and screwball comedy.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 25
Cary Grant
Mortimer Brewster
Priscilla Lane
Elaine Harper Brewster
Josephine Hull
Aunt Abby Brewster
Jean Adair
Aunt Martha Brewster
Raymond Massey
Jonathan Brewster
John Alexander
'Teddy Roosevelt' Brewster
Peter Lorre
Dr. Einstein
Jack Carson
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Edward Everett Horton
Mr. Witherspoon
James Gleason
Lt. Rooney
Grant Mitchell
Reverend Harper
Edward McNamara
Sergeant Brophy
Garry Owen
Taxi Cab Driver
John Ridgely
Officer Saunders
Vaughan Glaser
Judge Cullman
Chester Clute
Dr. Gilchrist
Charles Lane
Reporter at Marriage License Office
Edward McWade
Gibbs
Hank Mann
Photographer at Marriage License Office (uncredited)
Spencer Charters
Marriage License Clerk
Crew
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