Film Analysis of Arsenic and Old Lace

Arsenic and Old Lace

The movie Arsenic and Old Lace uses a variety of film techniques to tell its story. Rather than opening with a voice over, it uses text on the screen to provide background information for the story.

The director frames shots in interesting ways: in one scene, Mortimer fills one side from top to bottom, while on the other side, his aunt is at the other side of the frame. In other shots, Jonathan and Mortimer are centered. Some scenes resemble tableaus, with the heights of four characters carefully arranged. This is repeated with Jonathan (the taller one) on the left, and his assistant on the right.

Close-ups that are close to extreme emphasize the scars on Jonathan's face. Close-ups are used on Mortimer (Cary Grant) several times, to emphasize his shock when he first realizes his sisters have poisoned a lonely old man, and then again when he realizes they have done it eleven times. Close-ups are used multiple times, especially of Jonathan with Elaine.

A low angle shot is used on Jonathan when he has Mortimer tied up in the basement, preparing to torture Jonathan, to exaggerate Jonathan's menacing appearance. It is accompanied by exaggerated lighting, with the faces brightly lit but the rest of their bodies, and the background, dim.

Camera movement is used to track movements through the living room sometimes. Outside, sometimes a track is used, for instance to follow Mortimer and the doctor as they rush up the street.

Sometimes cut shots are used. One very effective use is near the end of the film, between three actions taking place at once: Mortimer sitting on the stairs, a large brawl in the living room, and a policeman hiding in the window seat. Cross-cutting is also used to show the difference between Elaine and Mortimer embracing while the sisters, dressed in morning clothes, prepare to hold another funeral in the basement.

Rather than using a lap dissolve, the director uses sound to transfer emphasis from one scene to another. For instance, the sisters are talking, and as the camera cuts to "Teddy Roosevelt," we still hear the women talking, so we know the location of the scene has not changed.

Music and sound effects are used sparingly but to great effect. Sweet, light music is played while Mortimer and Elaine playfully chase each other around a tree; menacing music is used at times when Jonathan plans to kill or torture someone. As "Teddy Roosevelt" thunders up the stairs, he imagines he's riding up San Juan Hill. His exaggerated footstep sounds emphasize the image that he is supposed to be on a horse. Other sounds are tied to specific individuals: the bugle to Teddy Roosevelt, and the doorbell to the neighborhood policeman. Later, lighting in the form of shadows on the wall, along with sound effects, are used to reveal a huge brawl in the living room, although most of the fight itself is not seen. Later, with Mortimer outside, we hear the aunts singing hymns in the basement over their latest "charity" murder victim. while we know Jonathan waits just inside the front door to murder Mortimer. The music emphasizes the juxtaposition of two absurd events.