Arsenic and Old Lace (1943)

[filmlover22]

This the kind of book I wish criterion would include
Instead of novels that the movie was based on.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

There's an interesting adaptation of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE on YouTube. It was made in 1969, and stars Bob Crane (HOGAN'S HEROES), Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Fred Gwynne (THE MUNSTERS), Sue Lyon (LOLITA) and David Wayne (BATMAN). It's not as frantic or off-the-wall as the 1944 film, but it's worth a watch. Instead of being mistaken for Boris Karloff, the Gwynne character is said to resemble Herman Munster!

It was an ABC TV movie. Unfortunately the copy floating around was taken from a black and white 16mm print.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1969) - YouTube

It's owned by Disney so we will probably never get to see the original color version.




https://vote4bobcrane.blogspot.com/2...-with-bob.html

[MifuneFan]

These are just compressed frames from their site, but my goodness does this look good.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

These are just compressed frames from their site, but my goodness does this look good.

AWFUL, utterly unwatchable, blu ray is for peasants.

[Show spoiler]

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Interestingly, the book mentioned in the extras on Arsenic and Old Lace written by the author doing the commentary track won't be published until November 1st.



https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Body-W.../dp/1493067850

Should be a good read.

[Areyakiddin]

Any chance more bonus features will be announced before release?

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Interestingly, the book mentioned in the extras on Arsenic and Old Lace written by the author doing the commentary track won't be published until November 1st.



https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Body-W.../dp/1493067850

Wow, thanks for the link!
On amazon canada it says September 15. Wonder which is the real release date. I want it. :P

[No Name]

I'm happy this is finally getting a release! Chalk up another laserdisc title returning to the collection:

[Show spoiler]

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Torgon

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

Chances are they licensed this years ago and that license was limited to BD/DVD.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by octagon

Chances are they licensed this years ago and that license was limited to BD/DVD.

Yeah, they got it sometime in 2017, if not earlier.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Criterion and the Warner Archive really hit the sweet spots this year with films that desperately needed blu-ray releases (in my case with the Warner Archive, The Clock.) Arsenic was actually one of the first old Hollywood films I watched, thanks to my sixth grade theater teacher showing us it and a few Charlie Chaplin films.

I'm really looking forward to adding this to my collection!

[captainsolo]

Stunning news. Loooooong overdue. The art is stupendous.
The lack of a UHD combo release is sad but at least this is finally happening and I can retire the Criterion Laserdisc.
Hopefully this is one of the films where they don’t hit the audio with a big noise reduction pass.

October 11th: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE the mailbox!

[tangerinewolf]

Wow! A lot of talk about this one! A great addition to Criterion's catalog! And my collection as well!

[Winslow Leach]

Love the cover!

[fred25_Ca]

The art kind of reminds me of some of the art for Kind Hearts and Coronets. I like it!

[milojthatch]

It's about time! We need more Grant on Blu-ray!

[dancerslegs]

Great news

Unpopular opinion: though Arsenic is a comedy, I personally find Raymond-Massey-doing-Boris-Karloff more menacing and genuinely frightening in this film than anything ol' Boris himself ever did. (Massey's Jonathan Brewster is a truly memorable film psychopath.)

Makes me ponder all the great horror roles Massey potentially missed out on during the remainder of his career...

[Hammerlover]

And since this was restored at Warner's MPI facility, it should look bully indeed!

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by dancerslegs

Great news

Unpopular opinion: though Arsenic is a comedy, I personally find Raymond-Massey-doing-Boris-Karloff more menacing and genuinely frightening in this film than anything ol' Boris himself ever did. (Massey's Jonathan Brewster is a truly memorable film psychopath.)

Makes me ponder all the great horror roles Massey potentially missed out on during the remainder of his career...

Massey's delivery is not as sepulchral as Karloff's but it is more blunt and menacing, especially when he's threatening Mortimer and intimidating Dr. Einstein.

[tangerinewolf]

Originally Posted by dancerslegs

Great news

Unpopular opinion: though Arsenic is a comedy, I personally find Raymond-Massey-doing-Boris-Karloff more menacing and genuinely frightening in this film than anything ol' Boris himself ever did. (Massey's Jonathan Brewster is a truly memorable film psychopath.)

Makes me ponder all the great horror roles Massey potentially missed out on during the remainder of his career...

Raymond Massey's performance is truly outstanding. As for being more menacing than anything Karloff ever did, well as you said, an unpopular opinion, certainly by me. But perhaps i'm just a tiny bit prejudiced, being a hugh Karloff fan.