My Classic Movie Essentials - Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Setting: 1940s Brooklyn, New York though there is no mention of the war so it could easily be 30s or 50s.

Cast:  
Mortimer Brewster - Cary Grant
Elaine Harper - Priscilla Lane
Jonathan Brewster - Raymond Massey
Dr. Einstein - Peter Lorre
Aunt Abby - Josephine Hull
Aunt Martha - Jean Adair
"Teddy Roosevelt" Brewster - John Alexander

Premise:  A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs.  Hijinks and mayhem ensue.

My Thoughts:  This is billed as a farce which it is but it isn't what I usually associate with the term farce.  This isn't a Three Stooges kind of humor (not that there's anything wrong with that) relying on physical humor or just pure silliness to get a laugh.  This is a perfectly ordinary man who finds himself in the most absurd situation with rather dire implications for two people who he genuinely cares for.  Throw in a very sinister brother and another who is convinced he's Teddy Roosevelt.  This is one of those movies with a lot of chaos - people talking over each other and frequently at cross-purposes - which is one of my favorite types of humor.

The Teddy Roosevelt character is hilarious with lots of bugle blowing and yellow fever victims.  His expression when the new police officer doesn't salute is hilarious and he never drops the over the top Teddy Roosevelt personality.  I love Cary Grant in this movie.  He's so suave and elegant at the beginning and by the end he's so not and it's kind of fun to see him unravel as the movie goes on.  Peter Lorre is wonderful as well.  He plays such a fantastic spineless villain and his whining added a nice element of humor to Raymond Massey's evil Jonathan.

This story was originally a play and the aunts and Grant's love interest, Elaine, are played by the actresses who had originated the characters of Broadway.  I can definitely see the more theatrical acting in the aunts especially which at times makes their performances feel a little stilted or exaggerated.  However, it's also fitting with the characters so I didn't really feel like it was distracting.  As well, while the terms used to describe mental illness are definitely from the time I don't feel like it made light or made fun of any mental health issues and none were insulting (mostly just the terms insane or crazy and I think the occasional nuts).  The characters were all kind and supportive to Teddy (other than neighbors complaining about his bugle blowing in the middle of the night which frankly seems reasonable).

What Makes This Movie Essential - Cary Grant.  Pretty much everything Cary Grant does is essential and this is one of his best comedic roles.

Read Alike - For some reason I'm thinking the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen.  Other than the time period there really isn't anything in common but they both have the same chaotic humor with some murder mixed in.