Arsenic and Old Lace
Considering that “Arsenic and Old Lace” is such a classic and two of my favorite actors are in it, Cary Grant and Peter Lorre, it is surprising how long it took me to watch the film. It was on my Netflix to-watch list for ever and when I finally started watching it, I had to interrupt my viewings more often than I ever did before. Now, something like two weeks and a paper deadline later, I finally was able to finish it.
What can I say, the film was so different from what I expected. It’s obvious how the film originally was a play, but strangely enough I don’t quite like the elements of the play in the film. Most characters, especially the old aunts and Teddy, who incidentally are just the actors from the play, sound like they are from a theatre play, but sadly the film still looks like a movie. With Cary Grant doing nothing much but panicking throughout the entire film, that combination of a play in the film doesn’t work for me.
Certainly the film is interesting, certainly it has some great funny scenes, but most of them didn’t click with me. With a story like that, even the greatness of Cary Grant or Peter Lorre cannot help. It is also undeniable that the film looks great, with its horror-like style and references to silent cinema, and that everything in the film is perfectly timed and written. No doubt about that. But is it really funny when a lot of suspense in the plot comes from the stupidity and ignorance of the characters, or the fact that they just don’t turn around their head in danger? Awesomely enough, however, the end of the story was awesome. When everything was almost good, the plot escalated into a fast-paced sequence of great scenes. It’s too bad Elaine ruined the last 30 seconds just a little bit, but apart from that, I was strangely reminded of “Singularidades de uma raparinga loura”, in which the last minute also was extremely crucial to the story.
In general, I recommend “Arsenic and Old Lace”. I can see how someone can enjoy this film very much, and it’s good on many levels. It just didn’t really mesh with me, I suppose?