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Arsenic and Old Lace ()

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A Brooklyn writer of books on the futility of marriage risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Things get even more complicated when he learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are habitual murderers.
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Photos and Videos

95 photos | 2 videos

Cast verified as complete

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Mortimer Brewster
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Elaine Harper
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Jonathan Brewster
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O'Hara
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Mr. Witherspoon
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Dr. Einstein
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Police Lt. Rooney
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Abby Brewster
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Martha Brewster
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'Teddy Roosevelt' Brewster
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Reverend Harper
Edward McNamara ...
Brophy
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Taxi Cab Driver
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Saunders
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Judge Cullman
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Dr. Gilchrist
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Reporter
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Gibbs
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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Marriage License Clerk (uncredited)
Jimmy the Crow ...
Graveyard Raven (uncredited)
Alberta Gary ...
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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New York Pitcher (uncredited)
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Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
Rolan Jones ...
Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
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Undetermined Suecondary Role (uncredited)
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Photographer at Marriage License Office (uncredited)
Pat McKee ...
Irate Dodgers Baseball Fan (uncredited)
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Young Man in Line (uncredited)
Lee Phelps ...
Umpire (uncredited)
Don Phillips ...
Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
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Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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Drummer at baseball game (uncredited)
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Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Jean Wong ...
Young Woman in Line (uncredited)

Directed by

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Frank Capra

Written by

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Julius J. Epstein ... (screen play) and
Philip G. Epstein ... (screen play)
 
Joseph Kesselring ... (play)

Produced by

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Frank Capra ... associate producer (uncredited)
Jack L. Warner ... executive producer

Music by

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Max Steiner

Cinematography by

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Sol Polito ... director of photography

Editing by

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Daniel Mandell

Art Direction by

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Max Parker

Costume Design by

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Orry-Kelly ... (gowns)

Makeup Department

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Perc Westmore ... makeup artist
George Bau ... makeup artist (uncredited)
Anita De Beltrand ... hair stylist (uncredited)
John Wallace ... makeup man (uncredited)

Production Management

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Eric Stacey ... unit manager (uncredited)
Steve Trilling ... production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Claude Archer ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Russell Saunders ... assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Lucien Hafley ... props (uncredited)
Keefe Maley ... second propman (uncredited)
Alfred Williams ... assistant propman (uncredited)
Levi C. Williams ... assistant propman (uncredited)

Sound Department

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C.A. Riggs ... sound
Everett Alton Brown ... sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Robert Burks ... special effects
Byron Haskin ... special effects

Camera and Electrical Department

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Wesley Anderson ... second camera (uncredited)
Joe Cramer ... best boy (uncredited)
Frank Evans ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Mickey Marigold ... still photographer (uncredited)
Harold Noyes ... grip (uncredited)
Charles O'Bannon ... gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Eugene Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)
Cora Lobb ... wardrobe (uncredited)
Leon Roberts ... wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department

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Leo F. Forbstein ... musical director
Hugo Friedhofer ... orchestrator

Script and Continuity Department

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Wandra Ramsey ... script clerk (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Russel Crouse ... producer: stage play
Howard Lindsay ... producer: stage play
Harold Winston ... dialogue director
Bob Fender ... unit publicist (uncredited)
Herman Lissauer ... researcher (uncredited)
Mal Merrihugh ... stand-in: Cary Grant (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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  • Warner Bros. (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture) (presents)

Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Mortimer Brewster is a newspaperman and author known for his diatribes against marriage. We watch him being married at city hall in the opening scene. Now all that is required is a quick trip home to tell Mortimer's two maiden aunts. While trying to break the news, he finds out his aunts' hobby; killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar. It gets worse. Written by John Vogel

Plot Keywords
Taglines She Passed Out On Cary ! No Wonder . . . She's just discovered his favorite aunts have poisoned their 13th gentleman friend ! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Frank Capra's 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (United States)
  • Arsenic et vieilles dentelles (France)
  • Arsen und Spitzenhäubchen (Germany)
  • Arsénico por compasión (Spain)
  • Arsen und alte Spitzen (Austria)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 118 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,164,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia According to "Dear Boris" biographer Cynthia Lindsay, Josephine Hull and Jean Adair went to their graves believing that Boris Karloff had been so saintly as to agree to let them go to Hollywood to make this film while he stayed on Broadway doing the play. Nothing could have been further from the truth: Karloff was very angry and disappointed that he was the only cast member not allowed out of his contract to do the film. See more »
Goofs The movie opens with the Brooklyn Dodgers winning a baseball game on Halloween, weeks after the end of baseball season. This is a gag to suggest that the only time the Brooklyn Dodgers could win is on Halloween, similar to saying when pigs fly. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (1970). See more »
Soundtracks There Is a Happy Land See more »
Crazy Credits This is a Hallowe'en tale of Brooklyn, where anything can happen -- and it usually does. At 3 P.M. on this particular day, this was happening. [Scene of Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees baseball game, irate fans and brouhaha between teams on the field, then...] While at the same time across the river in the UNITED STATES PROPER there was romance in the air. [Scene of cruise ship on the river with NY City skyline in the background, then...] And now, back to one of Brooklyn's most charming residential districts -- [Scene of old gabled Brewster house next to a cemetery, then...] -- From here on you're on your own. See more »
Quotes Mortimer Brewster: Look I probably should have told you this before but you see... well... insanity runs in my family...
[he hears Abby and Martha singing]
Mortimer Brewster: It practically gallops.
See more »
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