Cary Grant's Arsenic & Old Lace needs a restoration and UPgrade (1 Viewer)

[Capt D McMars]

I know many titles are in the works, from the various studios. Now that the smoke seems to be clearing a bit. But has anyone heard anything about these 2 classic Cary Grant blockbusters? Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) and Gunga Din (1939) seem woefully absent from any HD upgrades. Both are classics, and in real need of love and attention. I'd love to find out if these might be in the works for an BR upgrade? Thanks in advance for any additional information in these regards ~

 

[Capt D McMars]

What a Cast!!!!

 

[Jeffrey D]

I put this in my top 10 most desired film for a good transfer BluRay. Love this film.

 

[Bernard McNair]

This is a wonderful film; please bring on the upgrade to Blu.

 

[warnerbro]

agreed! It was the first film on Discovision and the first film on Beta and the first film on VHS and the first film on laserdisc and the first film on DVD, but then when HD and bluray came along, nothing.

 

[Kent K H]

A Criterion 4K of AaOL would be an instant buy for me.

 

[Robin9]

A Criterion 4K of AaOL would be an instant buy for me.

Yawn. Why Criterion? Why not from Warner Archive whose standards are much higher than Criterion's?

 

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Count me as a sale...

 

[Kent K H]

Yawn. Why Criterion? Why not from Warner Archive whose standards are much higher than Criterion's?

I'd take either, because WA's transfers are usually top notch, but Criterion tends to actually have special features.

 

[RobertMG]

I'd take either, because WA's transfers are usually top notch, but Criterion tends to actually have special features.

Love the film ---- too bad Karloff did not do the film! If it is to happen would be better to release it in early Oct! https://www.history.com/news/arsenic-old-lace-real-murders

 

[darkrock17]

Love the film ---- too bad Karloff did not do the film!

The Broadway play was still running when the film was made back in 1941, the film had to wait until the play finished its run first before it was released in 1944.

 

[RobertMG]

The Broadway play was still running when the film was made back in 1941, the film had to wait until the play finished its run first before it was released in 1944.

So Karloff was still playing the role on Broadway while the filming was done thats why they used Massey? And I thought Criterion might get this title? Wish WAC would do Meet john Doe off of OCN that Bob Furmanek found and UCLA now has

 

[Jeffrey D]

So Karloff was still playing the role on Broadway while the filming was done thats why they used Massey?

Massey was terrific in the role, so he wasn’t at all a compromise, in my opinion.

 

[Robert Crawford]

So Karloff was still playing the role on Broadway while the filming was done thats why they used Massey?

That is correct! It's the only problem I really have with the film because I think the Karloff bit would have been even funnier if Karloff was used instead of Massey.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Massey was terrific in the role, so he wasn’t at all a compromise, in my opinion.

Massey was okay, but my preference still would've been Karloff.

 

[darkrock17]

This blurb is taken from the film's Wikipedia page

On the Broadway stage, Boris Karloff played Jonathan Brewster, who is said to "look like Boris Karloff". According to TCM, Karloff, who gave permission for the use of his name in the film, remained in the play to appease the producers, who were afraid of what stripping the play of all its primary cast would do to ticket sales.[4] Raymond Massey took Karloff’s place on screen.[5][Note 1]

 

[Will Krupp]

So Karloff was still playing the role on Broadway while the filming was done thats why they used Massey?

Josephine Hull & Jean Adair were given a pass to recreate their roles on film (they shot right around the attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941) but Karloff was not, as his comic role was such an audience pleaser that producers didn't want to lose him for the time he would have needed.

 

[Kent K H]

Massey was okay, but my preference still would've been Karloff.

Yeah, I think Massey did just great, but it's so obvious that the Karloff bit is intended as a meta-joke that it would have been perfect if he'd been allowed in the film.

 

[Capt D McMars]

That is correct! It's the only problem I really have with the film because I think the Karloff bit would have been even funnier if Karloff was used instead of Massey.

Agreed, especially when the line about "you sure look like Karloff" come up, and it IS Karloff...it would even be funnier!!

 

[RobertMG]

This blurb is taken from the film's Wikipedia page

On the Broadway stage, Boris Karloff played Jonathan Brewster, who is said to "look like Boris Karloff". According to TCM, Karloff, who gave permission for the use of his name in the film, remained in the play to appease the producers, who were afraid of what stripping the play of all its primary cast would do to ticket sales.[4] Raymond Massey took Karloff’s place on screen.[5][Note 1]

Wonder how many days Massey shot his scenes in - liked him - always great in every role but the sheer amount of people that would have seen Karloff in the role with the reference to Jonathan looking like Karloff would have been millions compared to the number seeing the Broadway play. But it is a great film and the cast stellar - Karloff would have been the icing on the cake - Check out Massey in the 49th Parallel small role but GREAT