© 2008 William Ahearn
Frank Capra’s 1944 comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” has Cary Grant, two spinsters poisoning lonely gentlemen, a love story, Edward Everett Horton, Peter Lorre and a lunatic who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt digging the Panama Canal in the basement.
What’s not to like?
(Females who poison mates and others have long been part of the criminal literature. Here’s an interesting story of one who may or may not have died in a fire.)
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is still a funny film even if – at 65 years old – it’s a tad creaky in parts. A great break from all the blood and gore.
Woody Allen took a shot at the serial killer comedy in the 1992 “Shadows and Fog.” Great set, great music, great cinematography, great cast (including Jodie Foster from “Silence of the Lambs”) and a nothing story that meanders around itself. Even Woody Allen fans have a hard time with this one.
Jack Smight’s 1968 film “No Way To Treat A Lady” is a black comedy with an amazing performance by Rod Steiger. Very odd and disturbing film and would be a nice double feature with “The Boston Strangler.” This isn’t a “laff riot” type of comedy, it’s a tad dark.
Other serial killer comedies include “Theatre of Blood” (1973). “Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe” (1978), “So I Married an Ax Murderer” (1993), “Serial Mom” (1994), “The Silence of the Hams” (Il Silenzio dei prosciutti) (1994), and “The Monster” (Il Mostro) (1994).