Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Arsenic and Old Lace



~ Movie Review ~

Arsenic and Old Lace
Chances are, you've probably never heard of this movie, right? It is pretty old. It was made in 1941, but it wasn't released until 1944 because the studio wanted to wait for the stage version to finish its run on Broadway. Fortunately, it's been released on DVD.

RENT IT NOW.

I can almost guarantee that you will love this movie. It's way at the top of my list of all-time favorites. The first time I watched it was on Halloween night a few years ago. I didn't know what it was about, but I was bored, and it was Cary Grant. Within the first few minutes, I was hooked. The title should be a giveaway, but I'll go ahead and tell you, this movie involves a very unusual series of murders. It also happens to be one of the funniest movies you will ever see. A funny murder movie? That's right. You'll have to see it to understand. I love this movie! Cary Grant is always great, and he was so perfect in this film. And Peter Lorre was positively made for this role.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

A drama critic and anti-marriage confirmed bachelor, Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant), has written a number of books describing marriage as just an old-fashioned superstition. Nevertheless, he falls in love with and marries Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane), who grew up next door to his old family home in Brooklyn.
Immediately after the marriage, he visits the bizarre relatives who still live there, two elderly aunts (Josephine Hull, Jean Adair) and his brother Teddy (John Alexander). Teddy thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt; each time he goes upstairs he blows a bugle, yells "Charge!", and takes the stairs at a run (in imitation of Roosevelt's famous charge up San Juan Hill). Mortimer finds a corpse hidden in a window seat, and tells his aunts that Teddy must be sent to an asylum, as he has killed someone... or has he?
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quotes of the day*~
Have you ever tried to persuade him that he wasn't Teddy Roosevelt?

Oh, no.

Oh, he's so happy being Teddy Roosevelt.

Oh... Do you remember, Martha, once, a long time ago, we thought if he'd be George Washington, it would be a change for him, and we suggested it.

And do you know what happened? He just stayed under his bed for days and wouldn't be anybody.

Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops.


* Happy Birthday J!
*


~*Words of the day*~

Watashi no namae wa ____ desu.
(wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa ____ dess) (Japanese)

Meaning: My name is ____.



Currently Listening to... "Dirty Little Secret" - All-American Rejects

2 comments:

Nikki Neurotic said...

I love that last quote! I will have to remember it.

I have heard of the play, didn't realize there was also a movie version.

Moonbeam Baby said...

There were so many great quotes from this movie, it was too hard to pick just one.

You really should watch it; it's sooo good!