Eliot and I had a unique movie theater experience tonight. We actually saw the 1944, black-and-white, Arsenic and Old Lace movie from its original 35mm print. The film was presented on six reels.
Arsenic and Old Lace was presented at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. We are members. The theater is the proud owner of two 35mm projectors, two 70mm projectors and and a state-of-the art digital projector.
The movie was directed by Frank Capra and it was based on Joseph Kesselring‘s play Arsenic and Old Lace. The script adaptation was by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein.
The movie was as good today as it was when it was first created 74 years ago. We laughed continuously. What a pleasant surprise.
… proving that “It’s not what’s NEW at the movies, but what’s GOOD at the movies” (our motto was when I worked at the American Film Institute). I’ll await your review of the new STAR IS BORN and comparison to the earlier productions, especially the 1954 Judy Garland/James Mason version, but also the 1937 Janet Gaynor/Frederick March and (ugh) 1976 versions.
Good thing I don’t cook.