- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 16,510
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
The questions most often asked about Frank Capra's 1944 Arsenic and Old Lace are as follows:
Was Boris Karloff one of the players?
No.
It's a 1944 film, but Cary Grant appears more akin to how he appeared in Suspicion. Why is that?
The film was shot in 1941, and held for release until September of 1944.
Was it a very early 3D production, using the Natural Vision setup?
Yes. However the right eye was lost in a nitrate fire, and no original print is known to exist.
I've always loved this film, with Mr. Grant's antics playing against his slightly looney straight women - Josephine Hull (she was Henry Hull's sister-in-law), and Jean Adair. Both ladies were transplanted from the original Broadway production, along with John Alexander.
Derived in most part from the OCN, Criterion's new Blu-ray is a lovely example of the film, albeit to my eye a slightly dark one. I'd prefer to see the blacks opened just a bit. Photographed by Sol Polito.
As to extras, a Criterion standard, there's very little here, but there may not have been a great deal to access. The most prominent is a commentary track.
A beautiful Blu-ray that should be essential viewing for Grant and Capra collectors.
Image - 4.5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Highly Recommended
RAH
Was Boris Karloff one of the players?
No.
It's a 1944 film, but Cary Grant appears more akin to how he appeared in Suspicion. Why is that?
The film was shot in 1941, and held for release until September of 1944.
Was it a very early 3D production, using the Natural Vision setup?
Yes. However the right eye was lost in a nitrate fire, and no original print is known to exist.
I've always loved this film, with Mr. Grant's antics playing against his slightly looney straight women - Josephine Hull (she was Henry Hull's sister-in-law), and Jean Adair. Both ladies were transplanted from the original Broadway production, along with John Alexander.
Derived in most part from the OCN, Criterion's new Blu-ray is a lovely example of the film, albeit to my eye a slightly dark one. I'd prefer to see the blacks opened just a bit. Photographed by Sol Polito.
As to extras, a Criterion standard, there's very little here, but there may not have been a great deal to access. The most prominent is a commentary track.
A beautiful Blu-ray that should be essential viewing for Grant and Capra collectors.
Image - 4.5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Highly Recommended
RAH
...
