Greetings Classic Cinema and TV fans, this is Jason Lockhart here with you once again here on Classic Cinema Plus, bringing you another look at some physical media that we all love so very much. Here on Classic Cinema Plus, of course, we delve into the classics, whether it be the old classics from like the silent era clear up to what we consider the new classics from the 80s and the 90s. We kind of spotlight these and, you know, with brand new releases. And this time of the year is my favorite time of the year. It's Halloween season. I love, delving into those classic horror and science fiction and spooky films. And the good folks at Criterion Collection released probably one of my absolute favorite Cary Grant films of all time. And I am not kidding about this. Now, I love Mr. Blanding Builds' Dream House. I love the Hitchcock films with Cary Grant. I love The Bishop's Wife. I think he was tremendous in those. I mean, he was great in everything he did, of course. But this is my absolute favorite. We are talking arsenic and old lace. This is absolutely, in my opinion, this is where Cary Grant showed so much range. He had such an amazing way about him. He went from the type of thing like Jim Carrey, Rubberface, to the dry wit. I mean, he had it covered in all the bases. I mean, it was just amazing. Frank Capra, of course, is known for probably producing and directing some of the greatest films in cinema history. But this one is my absolute favorite I love this And that saying a lot because I love Pocket Full of Miracles I love the film It a Wonderful Life So many of Capra film Lost Horizon so many But I don't know. There's just something about Arsenic and Old Lace that it just strikes a chord with me. I watch this film every single solitary year, okay? I watch it every single solitary Halloween season. I do. I watch it once a year, every single year since I first got it, right? Now, when Criterion Collection said they were releasing a brand new 4K restoration of this film, I was like, what? You have got to be kidding me. So I was like on the bandwagon. I was like, Yes, please, let's do this. First off, I love this artwork here. I mean, this artwork here is just spectacular. Great artwork here. Oh, just amazing stuff. Just love it. I love they got Cary Grant there like that. I think that is so hilarious. Cary Grant is just so amazing. Such a great film. Basically, just a quick synopsis of what it is, and we can't go into great detail because it's too deep of a story, but we'll try to just make it very, very simplistic. Mortimer Brewster is a confirmed bachelor, but he ends up getting married. And he comes to his two aunts to let them know, hey, you know, I got married. And comes to find out that his two aunts are doing what they call their mercy, by finding people that are down on their luck and not wanting to, just kind of depressed, if you will. And they mix up a little cocktail, I guess, if you will, with some elderberry wine and some arsenic. And they put them out of their misery. He comes to find this out. First off thinks it his crazy uncle Teddy who thinks he Theodore Roosevelt Charge Actually it not It them And then to make matters worse now his escaped brother brother a killer has moved in as well with his friend his Dr. Einstein, played by Peter Lorre, yes. And now he's got a body as well, and it just blows up, and it's crazy. It is a hilarious film. I love it so much, and it just goes from there to there to there, and it's just a laugh riot the whole way through this thing. It's just non-stop. I mean, it's hilarious. It is truly one of the best performances of Cary Grant, in my opinion, of his career, because Cary Grant, like I said, goes from the rubber face, making all the weird things like one time he's gagged and he has the bug out eyes like Peter Lorre, you know, and all. And it's hilarious, right? Just a hilarious film. Cary Grant is amazing. Now, it's hard for me to believe that this was not Frank Capra's first choice to play Mortimer Brewster. He wanted two other amazing comedians. He wanted Bob Hope or he wanted Jack Benny. Now, I can see, I mean, you know, they're great comedians by no means. I love Bob Hope. I've pretty much got every Bob Hope movie that he ever did here at Classic Cinema Plus Studios because I love Bob Hope. And Jack Benny is my absolute favorite TV comedian. I just love his, well, you know, I just think he's hilarious, right? But maybe it's because I've watched Cary Grant for so many years. I can't see anybody else playing the part of Mortimer Brewster but Cary Grant. I just can't see it. I don't know. We've done a full written review of this, and we do suggest checking it out at Classics Cinema Plus. It is really great. But this restoration is amazing. It really looks spectacular. It is spectacular. I can't say anything else but spectacular. It's amazing. The Criterion Collection has given us a complete booklet with all kinds of information It kind of folds out into all kinds of details as you can see about the film and all this type of stuff It is so amazing. It's just filled with still shots and all kinds of stuff. It's just a great, great little booklet, and I love this, seeing Cary Grant like that. You know, that's pretty cool. the actual disc has arsenic and old lace on it right okay and then on the inside cover you get a scene from the film in kind of like a blue or a purple hue which is kind of cool they have done a tremendous job here including in this we get a radio drama featuring Boris Karloff that right there is a win for me. I love that. And other great commentaries and other stuff is included in this Blu-ray. It is just spectacular. We do highly suggest go checking out the whole written review. You can get a link below. And then definitely pick up a copy of Arsenic and Old Lace if you have it from Criterion Collection. It is spectacular. Okay, I can't say anything else, but it is spectacular. It is that great. It definitely, definitely should be in your collection. It is that awesome. Thanks to Criterion Collection for sending this our way so we can share it with you, give you a full written review, and just a little spotlight here. We do highly appreciate it. All right, we want to wish you a very spooky Halloween season. No, we hope you have a good one out there. As always, be safe out there. And you know what? Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. We would definitely, definitely appreciate it. It helps out so much. And be sure to go to Classic Cinema Plus. Check out all the reviews we got up there. We'll be there for days. And until we see you next time with another Silver Screen Spotlight, this is Jason Lager reminding you that if you want to see a great film, check out a classic. And we will see you next time. Have a spooky Halloween. Bye.
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