Arsenic and Old Lace (1943)

[Winslow Leach]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

I'm not a Brewster! I'm a son-of-a sea cook!

The original line in the play is, "I'm not a Brewster! I'm a bastard!"

[Winslow Leach]

Bela also played Jonathan on tour:

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

I really wished another company released this. The extras are very weak, IMHO. Just a commentary that might be interesting. I rarely listen to radio adaptions. And a $20 price tag when on sale

You should count your blessings, it could have been WAC who most of the times don't do extras or Shout and we know how they are. Honestly, while extras are nice and I do agree it is a bit disappointing, what really matters is the A/V.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

I love that Joseph Kesselring originally wrote the play as a drama about a real-life murder case in Connecticut, but was persuaded to lighten it considerably.

My grandfather introduced me to the story. He saw ARSENIC when it was in tryouts in New Haven. It was with the original cast, including Boris Karloff. My grandfather said Karloff was very impressive and commanding in his role as Jonathan Brewster.

My grandfather later told me about the film. He said Cary Grant (an actor I had never really heard of before--I was about ten) was hilarious in the movie. ARSENIC sounded right up my alley (I was already into vintage Hollywood movies at that age), so I made a note to check it out the next time it was on TV. When I finally saw the film, I was delighted (or is it "dee-lighted"?) that it lived up to my expectations. It was as funny (if not more so) than grandpa said. It became an instant favorite, and I watched it almost every time it appeared on TV. I even watched the colorized version a few times.

Years later, I was fortunate to do the play twice. Once I was cast as Mortimer (whose role is actually smaller in the play; it was beefed up for Cary Grant in the film), and the second time I played Jonathan...the immortal Karloff's role! Both productions were a lot of fun, cementing ARSENIC as one of my favorite plays (and movies).

Here are some pics of Karloff from the original Broadway production:









I'm glad Criterion got Boris doing a radio show of his famous role. He reprised it several times on TV and radio, so it's a nice inclusion. At least we'll get to hear him intoning those classic lines.

I had no idea that Mr. Hillard from The Addams Family played the original Mortimer in the play.

It makes me wonder what the film would've been like if they hadn't gone for Cary Grant with the role and had him play that part again instead. I know it wouldn't have been the same and that no one could've possibly topped Grant's facial expressions when it came to finding the dead body in the window seat. His face journey of realization is one of the funniest moments on film, in my opinion.

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

The original line in the play is, "I'm not a Brewster! I'm a bastard!"

Ha, I see why they changed the line. However, I think I actually prefer the son-of-a sea cook line. It just rolls off the tongue and sounds funnier. Almost like he's going to say Son-of-a-bich.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

Bela also played Jonathan on tour:

Hopefully the lines about Karloff were tastefully altered!

[Winslow Leach]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

Hopefully the lines about Karloff were tastefully altered!

I dunno..."I killed him because he said I looked like Bela Lugosi" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

I dunno..."I killed him because he said I looked like Bela Lugosi" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

What would have sounded pretty good was .... "I killed him because he said I looked like Dracula."

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

I really wished another company released this. The extras are very weak, IMHO. Just a commentary that might be interesting. I rarely listen to radio adaptions. And a $20 price tag when on sale

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

You should count your blessings, it could have been WAC who most of the times don't do extras or Shout and we know how they are. Honestly, while extras are nice and I do agree it is a bit disappointing, what really matters is the A/V.

I see filmlover's POV. The Uninvited had a similar slate of extras (video essay + 2 radio adaptations) and was priced as a budget BD (RRP ~30$ so you could score it for 15$ at 50% off).

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

I dunno..."I killed him because he said I looked like Bela Lugosi" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

But I can verily imagine Bela saying "I killed him because he said I looked like Boris Karloff"

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Amazed they got away with making a comedy about serial killers in this era. Some of the threat is potent amid all the farce.

I always used to watch A&OL as a double-bill alongside KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS, they work so well together. The above quote, honestly could describe either of them!

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I see filmlover's POV. The Uninvited had a similar slate of extras (video essay + 2 radio adaptations) and was priced as a budget BD (RRP ~30$ so you could score it for 15$ at 50% off).

The Uninvited wasn't licensed from a major studio that's known to charge high amounts just to license a title, nor did it receive a full-fledged 4K restoration.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I see filmlover's POV. The Uninvited had a similar slate of extras (video essay + 2 radio adaptations) and was priced as a budget BD (RRP ~30$ so you could score it for 15$ at 50% off).

Exactly my point. I don't mind paying $20+ for a jam-packed special edition of a film. But for just a commentary?

However, as others have said, I am just glad this is being released. Just hoping for no black crush/DNR/scratched disc scenarios. And at least Criterion's cover art isn't bad - though I don't know why companies just don't use the original poster art for classic films...

[playsignal1976]

It's amazing how far we are into the life cycle of Blu-ray and that Arsenic and Old Lace is only now getting a Blu-ray release. Brilliant film and one of Cary Grant's best!

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by ravenus

But I can verily imagine Bela saying "I killed him because he said I looked like Boris Karloff"

Considering their rivalry, I think that line would have secretly pleased Bela.

[50strat54]

Next BnN 50% off sale I'll get this for my Capra bluray collection

Too bad Meet John Doe is in Public Domain.

[milojthatch]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

Exactly my point. I don't mind paying $20+ for a jam-packed special edition of a film. But for just a commentary?

However, as others have said, I am just glad this is being released. Just hoping for no black crush/DNR/scratched disc scenarios. And at least Criterion's cover art isn't bad - though I don't know why companies just don't use the original poster art for classic films...

I've started making custom covers and long time ago, and tend to use original poster art in them. I agree, it's always been silly to me to not reuse poster art.

I too am happy this is being released. Too a while.

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Next BnN 50% off sale I'll get this for my Capra bluray collection

Too bad Meet John Doe is in Public Domain.

"Too bad Meet John Doe is in Public Domain?"

No, thank goodness Meet John Doe is in public domain. Now we just need to find a label that's willing to put it out on Blu-ray. As far as getting the original studio to work with for access to the original film negatives, how would that be any different if it wasn't in public domain? It wouldn't be. Lots of films that should be in the public domain by now, but are not, that are not getting released.

The issue here is again, getting a label to like VCI to put it on Blu-ray. From what I can see, they seem to have the best DVD release. Public Domain however is a good things and (hopefully) will be fixed in the coming years. More titles need to go into public domain, which has turned into corporate welfare at this point, instead of a law to protect artists.

[50strat54]

Originally Posted by milojthatch

I've started making custom covers and long time ago, and tend to use original poster art in them. I agree, it's always been silly to me to not reuse poster art.

I too am happy this is being released. Too a while.



"Too bad Meet John Doe is in Public Domain?"

No, thank goodness Meet John Doe is in public domain. Now we just need to find a label that's willing to put it out on Blu-ray. As far as getting the original studio to work with for access to the original film negatives, how would that be any different if it wasn't in public domain? It wouldn't be. Lots of films that should be in the public domain by now, but are not, that are not getting released.

The issue here is again, getting a label to like VCI to put it on Blu-ray. From what I can see, they seem to have the best DVD release. Public Domain however is a good things and (hopefully) will be fixed in the coming years. More titles need to go into public domain, which has turned into corporate welfare at this point, instead of a law to protect artists.

Well…let me know when the Blu-ray comes out.

I did some research and bought the best reviewed DVD.

Just wondering what is the incentive for company A to restore Meet John Doe only to have company B use that restoration and put it out themselves. I guess company A could put a new music score into the film.

But I’d like to thank Imprint for finally putting out Wh0re on Blu-ray a title that never got a DVD release. And, I hope they make money on this small limited release and sue anyone trying to steal it.

But when it comes to Mickey Mouse and Disney that should have been in the public domain a long time ago. But money talks…very loudly.

[milojthatch]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Well…let me know when the Blu-ray comes out.

I did some research and bought the best reviewed DVD.

Just wondering what is the incentive for company A to restore Meet John Doe only to have company B use that restoration and put it out themselves. I guess company A could put a new music score into the film.

But I’d like to thank Imprint for finally putting out Wh0re on Blu-ray a title that never got a DVD release. And, I hope they make money on this small limited release and sue anyone trying to steal it.

But when it comes to Mickey Mouse and Disney that should have been in the public domain a long time ago. But money talks…very loudly.

And sometimes money talking means films get sent to the basement and are never seen again. As you brought up Disney, they may be the worse offenders, but to be fair, they are not the only ones.

The incentive for a company to release a public domain film is money. Yes, they don't have access to the original prints, but they also don't have to pay the licensing fees, or risk the copyright holders not letting them release said film at all.

[captainsolo]

Meet John Doe is in video hell. It's the film that practically cries out for someone to license it and it never happens. The only official release is that horrendous VCI interlaced mess of a PAL master conversion. Sony performed a restoration with the Library of Congress and is this version that shows up on TCM airings-and is the best I've ever seen the film. So the HD versions floating around online are all captures of TCM airings and IMO the only way to watch the film is this way-or watch the awful VCI disc on a CRT to hide the interlacing.

The Sony version isn't perfect and I don't know what the lineage was on it. The elements deserve a new 4K scan and a boatload of extras. It's easily one of the most prescient films you can see.