Arsenic and Old Lace (film) Arsenic and Old Lace (film) Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 American dark comedy film directed by Frank Capra, starring Cary Grant, and based on Joseph Kesselring's play "Arsenic and Old Lace". The script adaptation was by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941 because of star Cary Grant's availability, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had finished its run on Broadway. The lead role of Mortimer Brewster was originally intended for Bob Hope, but he could not be released from his contract with Paramount Pictures.
Arras lace old patterns. Arras lace Arras lace refers to a form of pure white bobbin lace that was made at Arras, France, from the 17th to 19th centuries. It is similar to, but stronger than Lille lace. Arras also produced gold lace and a lightweight lace called mignonette. "Orris" is another term for gold or silver bobbin lace, derived from the word Arras. The lace of Arras reached its peak during 1804 to 1812 and then declined. In 1851, there were 8,000 lace-makers in a radius of eight miles round the city. By 1881, only one house was making a speciality