Arsenic and Old Lace (1943)

[Akijama]

Release date: October 11

https://www.criterion.com/films/2900...c-and-old-lace

Special Features

New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New audio commentary featuring Charles Dennis, author of There’s a Body in the Window Seat!: The History of “Arsenic and Old Lace”
Radio adaptation from 1952 starring Boris Karloff
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic David Cairns

New cover by F. Ron Miller

Frank Capra adapted a hit stage play for this marvelous screwball meeting of the madcap and the macabre. On Halloween, newly married drama critic Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant, cutting loose in a hilariously harried performance) returns home to Brooklyn, where his adorably dotty aunts (Josephine Hull and Jean Adair, who both starred in the Broadway production) greet him with love, sweetness . . . and a grisly surprise: the corpses buried in their cellar. A bugle-playing brother (John Alexander) who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, a crazed criminal (Raymond Massey) who’s a dead ringer for Boris Karloff, and a seriously slippery plastic surgeon (Peter Lorre) are among the outré oddballs populating Arsenic and Old Lace, a diabolical delight that only gets funnier as the body count rises.

[Show spoiler]An old news perhaps, but few weeks ago, Alan K. Rode, a film historian, author, etc, have confirmed over at HTF that a BD release is in the work (perhaps he is providing a commentary for it).

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/com...2#post-5130991

Rumour has it that Criterion have it, so it could be announced soon

[SeanJoyce]

It's undoubtedly Criterion's 1944 USA October release. If so, I couldn't be more thrilled...a quintessential classic comedy and Halloween staple.

I'd love it if they retained that original poster art, but that's high hopes when it comes to Criterion.

Still, just getting it after all this time will be a miracle.

[Winslow Leach]

Holy crap! This is one of my grail titles! One of my all-time favorite films. I hope the rumors are true, and Criterion will give us an edition loaded with extras!

[Mikezilla3k]

Excellent news.

[Akijama]

https://www.criterion.com/films/2900...c-and-old-lace

Special Features

New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New audio commentary featuring Charles Dennis, author of There’s a Body in the Window Seat!: The History of “Arsenic and Old Lace”
Radio adaptation from 1952 starring Boris Karloff
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic David Cairns

New cover by F. Ron Miller

[BunyipPouch]

Coming Soon! October 2022,finally.

https://www.criterion.com/films/2900...c-and-old-lace

Frank Capra adapted a hit stage play for this marvelous screwball meeting of the madcap and the macabre. On Halloween, newly married drama critic Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant, cutting loose in a hilariously harried performance) returns home to Brooklyn, where his adorably dotty aunts (Josephine Hull and Jean Adair, who both starred in the Broadway production) greet him with love, sweetness . . . and a grisly surprise: the corpses buried in their cellar. A bugle-playing brother (John Alexander) who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, a crazed criminal (Raymond Massey) who’s a dead ringer for Boris Karloff, and a seriously slippery plastic surgeon (Peter Lorre) are among the outré oddballs populating Arsenic and Old Lace, a diabolical delight that only gets funnier as the body count rises.

[Torgon]

New, restored 4K digital transfer but not on a 4K UHD disc? Blu-ray only. WTH?

[koberulz]

*revises sig*

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Torgon

New, restored 4K digital transfer but not on a 4K UHD disc? Blu-ray only. WTH?

And so it begins. A classic makes it long-awaited debut to BD and some ingrate wants to complain that it isn't a 4k. Wahhh! Wahhhh! Wahhhhhhhhh!

[iap738]

Great news for a Monday morning! Looking forward to this release.

[dml1988]

I have been waiting for this. One of my all time favorite movies. Now if Warner Archives can release the 1931 version of Jekyll and Hyde, this October could be one of my all time favorite release months

[dressedtokill]

Finally!!!! Another title I can cross off my wishlist!

[zackisthewalrus]

I do wish that the supplemental package had a little more heft, BUT I'm SO happy to see this finally enter the collection!

[biglou114]

I'm so glad that I can finally retire my snapper case DVD!!

[Winslow Leach]

Definitely a day one purchase! I was hoping Criterion would include something with Karloff. One of the all-time greatest comedies!

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

And so it begins. A classic makes it long-awaited debut to BD and some ingrate wants to complain that it isn't a 4k. Wahhh! Wahhhh! Wahhhhhhhhh!

I know.... Frankly what big difference would it make anyway? It's a B&W academy ratio film from the 40's. HDR would only improve black level and shadow detail but not leaps and bounds from a an exceptional blu ray.

I popped in Night of the Living Dead 68' Criterion recently post upgrading to 4k QLED 65", and it holds up to UHD like a champ. Clarity is as sharp as a tack still, you'd a thought you were watching a legit 4k presentation. Between being a 4k restoration and upscaled with a rather healthy 36mbps(there are 4ks with bitrates that low), how much better improvement would a UHD bring? Prolly mild at best. Arsenic and Old Lace 4k restored from Criterion is already more than we could ask for considering.

[Winslow Leach]

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

[BluProofie]

Amazing!

[fred25_Ca]

I love they have the radio adaptation with Karloff! Obviously the theatre play would have been better but that's lost in time, unfortunately.
I love 40's horror comedies. This, The cat and the canary, The ghost breakers, Hold that ghost, A&C meet Frankenstein. All wonderful movies to watch in October. Any other recommendations?

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

I love 40's horror comedies. This, The cat and the canary, The ghost breakers, Hold that ghost, A&C meet Frankenstein. All wonderful movies to watch in October. Any other recommendations?

You said 40s, but since you included The Cat and the Canary I'm assuming 30s is fair game as well.

The Old Dark House is absolutely essential and I agree, October wouldn't be nearly the same without any of these.