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Arsenic and Old Lace

1944Movie1 h 58 minNR

ComedyCrime
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Rotten Tomatoes86%91%

A nostalgic, fast-paced comedy movie about family and crime, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for tears or brutality.

Movies with

Story

She Passed Out On Cary! No Wonder . . . She's just discovered his favorite aunts have poisoned their 13th gentleman friend!

Mortimer Brewster, a newspaper drama critic, playwright, and author known for his diatribes against marriage, suddenly falls in love and gets married; but when he makes a quick trip home to tell his two maiden aunts, he finds out his aunts' hobby - killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar!

Feels like

  • Classic Screwball Comedy
  • Black Comedy Farce
  • Frantic Energy
  • Eccentric Relatives
  • High-Octane Physical Comedy
  • Witty Dialogue
  • Classic Hollywood
  • Charming Macabre

Cast

24 of 25

Crew

Directed by
Frank Capra
Written by
Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein
Produced by
Frank Capra, Jack L. Warner
Music by
Max Steiner, Leo F. Forbstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 1, 1944 · 1 h 58 min · NR

Released
September 1, 1944
Runtime
1 h 58 min
Age rating
NR
Genres
Comedy, Crime
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$1 million
Available in
34 countries

Tropes

Regional Riff, Suddenly Suitable Suitor, Bowdlerize +9

  • Regional Riff
  • Suddenly Suitable Suitor
  • Bowdlerize
  • Better than a Bare Bulb
  • Knight of Cerebus
  • Eviler than Thou
  • White Sheep
  • Mischievous Body Language
  • Nothing Is Scarier
  • Insanity Defense
  • Maiden Aunt
  • Insane Troll Logic

12 of 120 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Arsenic and Old Lace?"

Questions about Arsenic and Old Lace

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Arsenic and Old Lace?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Arsenic and Old Lace from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is Arsenic and Old Lace worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 7.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 86%).

Is Arsenic and Old Lace okay for kids?

NR

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will Arsenic and Old Lace make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and sharp wit (9 of 10).

Can I half-watch Arsenic and Old Lace?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 5 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

What tropes does Arsenic and Old Lace use?

Regional RiffSuddenly Suitable SuitorBowdlerizeBetter than a Bare BulbKnight of CerebusEviler than ThouWhite SheepMischievous Body LanguageNothing Is ScarierInsanity DefenseMaiden AuntInsane Troll Logicand 108 more

TV Tropes lists 120 tropes for it, including Regional Riff, Suddenly Suitable Suitor, and Bowdlerize.