Review of Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) by Vicki P — 03 May 2009

I think the fact that Arsenic and Old Lace is based on a play plays out as ironic, considering that its a textbook example of a great Hollywood movie. If I was introducing somebody to the film genre â??comedy,â?? this and Some Like It Hot would be what I'd use. It's hilarious, fast paced, has big name actors, constantly references Hollywood as a nearby tangible entity (Boris Karloff jokes), and has thematic material suitable for the whole family while still being deviant and slightly mortifying. The speedy nature of comedic plays really lends a lot to it, with Cary Grant running around and frantically dealing with everything for the whole second half of the film.

The plot really jumps out at you, and it does a good job at placing you at the center of the action along with Grant or even seeing things he doesn't know. Each character is trying to accomplish something different with the half-knowledge of what the other ones are doing. I really see a lot of what the Coen brothers do, where every character is confused about the actions of other characters, being influenced by this movie or ones like it.

Overall, great hilarious movie. I'd really enjoy watching it again.