Arsenic And Old — Lace (1944)

: Based on the 1939 play by Joseph Kesselring, the film retains a fast-talking, door-slamming energy that keeps the 118-minute runtime moving at a breakneck pace.

as Elaine Harper: Mortimer’s increasingly frustrated new bride. Key Themes and Production

: Mortimer’s sociopathic, escaped-convict brother who has undergone botch plastic surgery (by the alcoholic Dr. Einstein ) that makes him look like horror icon Boris Karloff. Cast and Characters Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Mortimer soon learns that his aunts have been "charitably" poisoning lonely old men with elderberry wine spiked with arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide. Matters escalate with the arrival of:

According to Rotten Tomatoes , the film is a "sparkling" example of dark comedy, maintaining a high fresh score. It is a perennial Halloween favorite due to its spooky setting, graveyard proximity, and "insouciant attitude" toward death. : Based on the 1939 play by Joseph

as Dr. Einstein: Jonathan’s nervous, enabling companion.

as Jonathan: Replaced Boris Karloff, who was not released from his stage contract for the film. Einstein ) that makes him look like horror

The film features a mix of Hollywood stars and original Broadway cast members: