As it said, its based on a very successful play, and in the stage version the brother was played by Boris Karloff (Frankenstein's Monster) in the film he was played by the great Raymond Massey when Karloff couldn't do the film. Hence the running gag in the film. The two aunts played by Josephine Hull & Jean Adair were also in the play, but got permission to be excused for the filming. Karloff was a major investor in the play and couldn't take the time off to do the film.
@@awkwardashleigh Josephine Hull won an Oscar for her role in "Harvey"(1950) with Jimmy Stewart. You should consider putting in on a vote list. I think you would like it.
@Ashleigh Burton When you saw him, you called him Frankenstein. And Peter Lorre Igor, though the character of Igor (named Fritz in the Karloff version) was a very similar actor. Lorre was in Casablanca.
Cary Grant is brilliant in this. His facial expressions carry the comedy. Peter Lorre created such an iconic creepy bad guy. The stereotype has been reproduced in many other movies like Raiders Of The Lost Ark.
Raymond Massey’s character, in the original Broadway production of “Arsenic & Old Lace” was portrayed by Boris Karloff; the line “He told me I looked like Boris Karloff” always got the biggest audience laugh, and “brought the house down” and “stopped the show” during every performance of the stage play. Boris Karloff gave the greatest film performance of the 20th century in the 1931 movie “Frankenstein”. 💜🍸
One of my favorites in the old classics. I hope the member who chose this also loves Operation Petticoat, too. You just can't recreate the feeling and mood from some of these old movies, so wonderful!
@@troutmomma She'll find out about Tony/Jamie Lee after Some Like It Hot, so hopefully that'll excite things for Operation Petticoat. I've seen it so many times, I love it.
"You look like Boris Karloff" is one the the greatest cinematic in-jokes of all time, since the actor that played Jonathon in the stage production, IS Boris Karloff. [fixed]
Not in the movie. Here it is Raymond Massey. In the Play it is Boris Karloff (aka Frankenstein), but because of contractural issues he couldn't get the time off for the movie.
First Arsenic and Old Lace and then next week Some Like it Hot?!? It feels like Christmas in May. I look forward to your reaction to Some Like it Hot. These classic films are classics for a reason.
I love how Ashley keeps asking for a reason why they’re doing it even after they gave their psychotic reasons…..they’re compassionately and murderously nuts.
If you want to see an enjoyable Cary Grant comedy, check out "Father Goose" (1963-ish). Grant plays a drunken slob who is coerced into serving as a coast watcher during WWII, but soon finds his "idyllic" island paradise invaded by a passel of schoolgirls and their snooty French matron.
So many good movies then...Desk Set, any Thin Man, Bringing Up Baby, Philadelphia Story, Monkey Business, Operation Petticoat, Father Goose, Woman of the Year, Mister Roberts, and Ensign Pulver.
So pleased you loved this so much Ashleigh! Another incredible film based on a stage production is Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn! Not a comedy... it's thriller that will leave those beautiful nails embedded in your arm rests! 🥶😱🖤
My favorite Cary Grant movies are "That Touch of Mink" with Doris Day, "Operation Petticoat" with Tony Curtis (Jamie Lee's father) and "Father Goose" with Leslie Caron.
That last one infuriated me as you have two good actors during this horrendous film. I despise the cliché of two people who want nothing to do with each other, but eventually fall in love. Also it is supposed to be a film set during war, but is supposed to have a comedic side to it, but I just found Caron’s characters dreadful as she and her little girls are much more a hinderance than any help to the military personnel of the island.
@@catherinelw9365 It's a film set during war when the enemy could show up at any time and they are messing with the radio and one point one of the little girls is just out strolling on a beach in the open and Grant has to hustle and grab her as where they were at is immediately fired upon. So I took it the right amount of seriousness.
One of my favorite movies of all time. My mom introduced me to this movie when I was young. She played one of the aunts in her high school play of this in the early 60's, and watched it whenever it came on tv, then we as a family watched it together until she passed in 2014. Great film. I also would love to see the play.
In the cemetery scene there is a tombstone with the name Archibald Leach that Cary Grant looks at, Archibald Leach is Cary Grant's real name. My mother showed me this movie when I was a kid and I have liked it ever since. I've been watching this movie for over fifty years and I still enjoy watching it.
"Cheaters" was a common term for sunglasses. Because they hide the eyes people sometimes wore them during poker games to hide their expressions and help with their "poker face". Hence, Cheaters. Old 1930s-40s, 50's slang.😎
Cary Grant is my favorites, I have seen most of his movies. I will not be able to watch until later but I hope you liked it. For a more dramatic movie you need to watch Notorious he and Ingrid Bergman are in it and it's really good. His Girl Friday is good and my favorite comedy is Bringing Up Baby with Katherine Hepburn.
I am SO glad that you watch the classic B/W movies of the 40s!! This is one of the best slapstick comedies ever!! I grew up on these films back in the 80s when I was a kid and loved them. Only a handful of people my age would watch old movies. I am so glad my parents introduced them to me!!
Side note: The part of the short doctor was played by Peter Lorre, who is most famous for quite a number of horror films, especially the Hammersmith Studio monster horror classics. There's a really great horror comedy film from 1963 called "The Raven", a film loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem, rewritten and restaged by Roger Corman (the originator of "Little Shop of Horrors). The film starred Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and (because he was also in Corman's original nonmusical "Little Shop of Horrors) a very young Jack Nicholson. Karloff was a great English actor overtaken by his being typecast in horror films. He was best known for his iconic roles as the Frankenstein monster (parodied beautifully in Mel Brooks's "Young Frankenstein") and as the Mummy.
OMG i have been waiting for you to react to this one!!!!! Its been one of my favourite films since i was 13. My folks raised me on a lot of old films, and this was a family fave. I show my Mum your reactions, and she will also be VERY excited to watch you react to this one!!!
You cut my favorite line out.. “I’m A Son Of A Sea Cook” 😜. So glad you did this film. Such a funny film. FYI Boris Karloff was the original Frankenstein. He originated the role of Johnathon on Broadway. Karloff couldn’t do the film because he was still on Broadway with the play while they were filming.
As a native Brooklynite, who still lives off of US Proper, I need to say that baseball game at the start is at the long-gone Ebbetts Field, and the team was the Brooklyn Dodgers, fondly known as "Dem Bums" ... though this story takes place during Halloween, and probably baseball season is over by then, but never mind... You can see the Brooklyn Bridge silhouetted behind the cemetery. If you have ever watched the old cartoon of the Grinch, you have heard Karloff's distinct voice: he's the narrator!
Great reaction to this classic film. Cary Grant was a brilliant physical comedian. There's a reason they call it the golden age of Hollywood because most of the greatest movies ever were made back then. You should really watch the best of the Universal horror movies this coming Halloween so you will see Boris Karloff play his most famous roles.
This film has been a family favorite on Halloween for many decades. The lead was intended for Bob Hope, and later Jack Benny was approached. Cary Grant accepted the role, but later stated it was the film of his he hated most. Boris Karloff was starring as Jonathan Brewster in the Broadway production at the time, and would not disappoint the producers with lower receipts if he took a leave to film this, but allowed his name to be used.
Boris Karloff was THE man who played monsters in that era. Everyone knew him and recognized him. You need a Frankenstein? Dracula? Mummyy? Get Boris Karloff. So when he says that everyone says he looks like Boris Karloff, that means he strikes fear in the heart of everyone.
Boris Karloff was a great horror and character actor who played the frankenstein monster in the original movie Frankenstein. The line about looking like Boris Karloff was because Boris played Jonathan in the stage play of this movie.
Boris Karloff was the monster in Universals Frankenstine and the sequel The Bride of Frakenstine. He is also the narrator in the original animated movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas. For a very cool looking movie with great acting watch The Black Cat. It also has Bela Ligosi from Universals Dracula.
That was a blast. You said the Raymond Massy character looked like Frankenstein. Then the man said he looks like Boris Karloff. By now you probably know Boris Karloff was the actor who played Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 film. (He also was the original mummy and a lot of other creepy characters). Karloff was quite famous from the 1930s through the 1960s. He also hosted a creepy TV series called "Thriller" in 1960 & 1961. Thank for this truly fun reaction.
Part if the joy of this movie is that the performances by the entire cast are so strong you as the viewer happily go along with all the shenanigans. It is the same with the stage play.
A couple of my favorite Cary Grant movies are Father Goose and Operation Petticoat. Grant always seemed to be such a class act with great comedic timing.
Some Teddy R. trivia. He was famous for his CHARGE up San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. As President, Teddy was very involved in the building of the Panama Canal. Many of the workers died of Yellow Fever during its construction.
Boris Karloff played the classic movie version of Frankenstein's monster, The Mummy and other famous monsters of that era. On stage Karloff played Jonathon but couldnt get out of his contract to do the film and was replaced by Raymond Massey, who did look somewhat like Karloff. It's a running gag that Massey keeps getting confused with the famous monster/actor. Karloff was pissed! It took him 20 years to get over the fact that he was passed over for the role he created on Broadway (he did get to do a TV version of the part later). Peter Lore (you called him Igor), is also a famous actor of that era.
This is one of my classic movies favorites, there is also his girl Friday, bringing up baby, and Philli story. All with Cary Grant. Then there are others like meet John Doe. There really are so many see Bud Abbet and Lue Costlo meet the frankinstin monster.
Oh, we watch it every year, my kids included. And in case no one has explained, the ladies thought it was merciful to give lonely old men eternal peace, just like the first one.
A classic film... Cary Grant is riot and the rest of the actors are wonderful. Most of the taken directly from the long running playing play so their characters are well worked out and makes the movie sooo much better 😂😂😂 Thank you Ashleigh I'm not sure what reaction you gave this classic, it would've been perfect for Halloween 🎃 O Will be back after the video..... I'm glad you loved it & yes, I'm sick of that.... It's an old movie, so it can't be good ....wrong it's great 😂
Best famously fast talking partially adlibbed Cary Grant comedy masterpiece “His Gal Friday”, Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart together in “The Philadelphia Story”, 👌
Funny you should mention a community theatre because the Firehall Theatre here in Niagara Falls Ontario Canada will be putting this play on this fall. I was lucky enough to play Teddy when we did it 15 yrs ago and it was a blast, and this time I'm auditioning for Mortimer (cause I'm not sure if I can run up the stairs like that anymore)....if you want to come and see it I would happily buy you two tickets.
One of my favorites. It's a shame so many people won't give gems like this movie a chance. If you'd like an even older really good movie I'd suggest "My Man Godfrey" (1936).
It's hard to see but the thing the cop is talking on early in the movie, looks like it is probably a call box. I think we still have them on freeways. They are often bright yellow. It's mainly a way to make a call in an emergency.
The Doctor's voice is very famous (Edward Everett Horton) and was used in a ton of stuff. I grew up with him because he narrated some Fractured Fairy Tales ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LieMIpZrPmk.html This guys voice was big time in my early childhood.
I really enjoy your reactions but this one was particularly enjoyable. I think by now you prbably know who Boris Karloff was. He was not only the original Frankenstein Monster but he also owned the rights to this play as far as know. Cary Grant played in alot of movies but he played with James Gleason ( the Leutenant ) In "The Bishop's Wife" in 1947 A Cheistmas movie in which he played and angel and starred with David Niven and Lortta Young. Speaking of Christmas movies you should treat yourself the best version of "A Christmas Carol" or "Scrooge" starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge. It is not only the best version of "A Christmas Carol it is just a great movie in it'sown right. Josephine Hull (Aunt Abby) plaued another B&W comedy with James Stewart in 1950 also dealing with questionable sanity. I hope others will encourage t you to watch these and other B&W films.
Cop: Who are you? Teddy: I'm Theodore Roosevelt. That part always gets me in stitches! Just how everything at that point is so crazy and up comes Teddy and says, so matter of factly, that he's Theodore Roosevelt!
Finally ! I love this movie ! His facial expressions and breaking the 4th wall. Cary Grant didn't Like his performance in this, but he trusted Capra's direction to be over the top. Next Frank Capra movie should be Captain's Courageous (1937).
I am so happy you reacted to this. You are opening doors for people in their 20s or younger to discover these wonderful films. Fun fact: Cary Grant thought this was his worst performance out of all his films and thought he played too over the top. I think it's in his Top 5 best movies. You have to watch Cary Grant in the first screwball comedy ever called Bringing Up Baby or a movie called What's Up Doc? which was an homage to the screwball comedies and was the screen debut of Madeline Kahn from all those wonderful Mel Brooks movies.
I played Jonathan in our high school's production. And yes, it's a one-set play. They expanded it for the movie, but the stage play takes place solely in one room. A classic farce. Also, Raymond Massey, who played Jonathan here, was most famous for portraying Abraham Lincoln.
Boris Karloff played Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 movie. Some of the best movies ever made are in black and white. If you want to see another great Cary Grant comedy, you need to watch Bringing Up Baby (1938), with Katherine Hepburn. You can also see Peter Lorre (Dr Einstein) in Casablanca (1942) and The Maltese Falcon (1941).
This is really great. I'm involved with a community theatre and we were planning on doing this show this spring, only to find out another community theatre was doing it in the next town over, at the exact same time we were planning it; and being directed by a mutual friend. So we postponed our plans to do it and hopefully will do it next year or soon after.
I know it was part of his character in this film, but I find Carey Grant yells a lot in his early films. Later he developed into the handsome, suave and romantic lead that we all love.
It's sad no one recognises Peter Lorre's voice any more. Robin Williams's genie was the last gasp. I would say Maggot but hardly anyone saw Corpse Bride.
I am so glad that you do what you do...and there are others who do the same. You saw Casablanca, It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Singing in the Rain...so many movies. And back then they did romance that didn't rely on 90% sex, murder mysteries that didn't put people being chain-sawed and ax murdered and strangled with gallons of blood right in your face. Heros were heros, princesses were perfect, people could be portrayed as decent human beings instead of low life monsters all the time. There could be happy endings that didn't segue into some gruesome explosive horror meme so they could make another "[Insert Title] the 14th!" I love modern movies but to not know these masterpieces and these magnificent actors and directors is such a crime. I wish you could watch just one Buster Keaton movie. Black and white and silent! We're sitting on a gold mine of treasure and we argue about bottle caps. Drives me crazy...and I'm not even a Brewster. You have more than a century of movies to see...see all you can.
#fact When the film was in production they did so under the stipulation that the film would not be released until the play had wrapped its theater run. Cary Grant initially signed on to the film because of the success of other Frank Capra films however wasnt sure how the comedy would work based on the script. When he saw it on the stage with his film co-stars Josephine Hull Jean Aair & John Alexander in the play as well he was more confident in doing the film
Fun fact: the script was partially rewritten by The Epstein Bros....who wrote CASABLANCA after this (movie was shot in '41 but not released until '44). No wonder some of the lines are so good.
If Ashleigh ends up seeing this: it's funny because Boris Karloff is the actor who played Frankenstein's monster in the classic film. (Thanks for the correction 😀)
@@james.b.mcgill Can you imagine how much funnier the Boris Karloff jokes were in the original stage play... Because Karloff actually PLAYED Jonathan! 😂😂😂
@@davidoburcham9381 According to Google that is why he was not in the film, the play`s producers did not want to lose him, in case it affected their box office.
Go back 10 more years to 1934's The Thin Man. A comedy/mystery you won't be sorry you watched. It stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, one of the best (cutest and funniest) couples in movies.
I'm so happy that you loved this movie! And since you liked It Happened One Night as well, you're almost guaranteed to love The Philadelphia Story, Bringing Up Baby, Harvey and His Girl Friday. Looking forward to Some Like it Hot too. ❤
The Philadelphia Story was remade as High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly, and arguably it's even better than the original. It's in beautiful technicolor, has great songs, and a fun supporting role for Louis Armstrong.
