ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
1944
Frank Capra
118 minutes

The film is based on the play of the same name which ran on Broadway from Arsenic and Old Lace is a play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on 10 January 1941. On 25 September 1943, the play moved to the Hudson Theater. It closed there on 17 June 1944 having played 1,444 performances. Of the twelve plays written by Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace was the most successful.

The transformation of a play into a movie

Transforming a play into a film raises many problems. One is the problem of making the play feel less like the documentary of a play performance – how to open the play up. (Change places of action and add scenes

Opening of film at Ebbets Field (Construction started in 1912. and opened in 1913. It was torn down in 1960) with Brooklyn Dodgers (1930’s they became the Dodgers and played their last game on Sept. 24. 1957) Famous for rabid fans had having the first Black player Jackie Robinson)

Another problem is that Broadway performers are often not as well known as film performers and so some change of cast is often called for to get people in the roles who will attract audiences.

Cary Grant, Edward Everett Horton, Jack Carson, Peter Lorre, James Gleason were all better known than the actors who portrayed those roles on stage.

Raymond Massey and Boris Karloff were both well known, but the film was made during the Broadway run and the produces wouldn’t allow Karloff to leave. There was also an agreement that the film would not be released until the Broadway show closed.

Frank Capra (1897-1991 at age 94)

Capra was best known for his comedies which typically are “feel good films” about the basic goodness of human nature and show the value of unselfishness and hard work. Some think his films are corny and have called his style Capra-corn. Others, who like the style call it Capraesque.

Capra was native of Sicily he came to the US and was a life long Republican and anti-communicst

Among his films are It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Lost Horizon (1937), You Can't Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

In transforming a play to a film some characters may be cut, others, added. Comedies

Comedy is generally defined by the reaction it attempts to produce laughter, smiles etc.. Some feel that comedy contains variations on the elements of surprise, incongruity, conflict, repetitiveness, and the effect of opposite expectations. Which can also be found often in films of mystery, suspense and horror. There are many recognized genres (or subgenres) of comedy. These include satire and political satire use ironic comedy to portray persons or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, thus alienating their audience from the object of humor. Satire is a type of comedy; parody borrows the form of some popular genre, artwork, or text but uses certain ironic changes to critique that form from within (though not necessarily in a condemning way); screwball comedy derives its humor largely from bizarre, surprising (and improbable) situations or characters. Black comedy is defined by dark humor that makes light of so called dark or evil elements in human nature. Similarly scatological humor, sexual humor, and race humor create comedy by violating social conventions or taboos in comic ways. A comedy of manners typically takes as its subject a particular part of society (usually upper class society) and uses humor to parody or satirize the behavior and mannerisms of its members. Romantic comedy is a popular genre that depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms, and focuses on the foibles of those who are falling in love

. Because comedy and mystery both share some things in common:, they make a good pairing (as do horror and comedy, and suspense and comedy) These all deal in largely in topics which are tense – usually death.

Verbal jokes and visual jokes. Verbal jokes may have double meanings (one often somewhat tabued called a double entendre). Mae West was a master of these:

Woman: Did you come here for good?
West: I should say not.

Woman: Goodness! What diamonds
West: Goodness had nothing to do with it

One can also play with words Consider: “insanity runs in some families; in mine it gallops” Who or what is he “brunt” of the joke? (James Whale said “The monster is noble and he doesn’t make jokes about it”)

AFTER THE FILM

Brooklyn and a comic reference (also Brooklynese)

FILM TECHNIQUES

In film courses it is important to analyze the aspects of the film which deal with things that deal specifically with motion pictures (photography and editing). In effect what can you say about the film that you could not say about the play. In effect, acting, lighting etc. are “out” and camera placement, movement, composition and editing.

Focus on things which could not be focused on through close ups:

The references to Brooklyn Dodgers and their winning of their first pennant as the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941
The idea that Jonathan looks like Boris Karloff who actually played the role on stage
Brewster is a real Mayflower name
Examples of the transformation of a play into a movie by opening it up

Mystery – Comedy Techniques

Examples of audience knowing something the character doesn’t. Can you think of others?