Synopsis:

Arsenic and Old Lace is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from the "Mayflower," but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs.

The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police in Brooklyn, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves.

His family includes two spinster aunts; a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein to conceal his identity and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff.