I was blessed with growing up with parents that treasured classic pictures that for the most part were very good in my opinion. As a result I was a rare person of my age who has known of and appreciates the talents of the film greats including Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, John Wayne, Vincent Price, Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Lucille Ball, Maureen O'Hara, etc. My family also has a love of holidays especially Halloween and Christmas. This wonderful treat of a picture caters to all of those factors with the added fact of having a great story.
When the film opens, it is Hallowe'en in Brooklyn NY. In this film, dramatic critic and author Mortimer Brewster (played by Cary Grant) who is publicly and infamously against marriage has just married his sweetheart Elaine Harper (played by Priscilla Lane). Before going on their honeymoon, the couple drop by Mortimer's childhood home where most of his family live including his two beloved aunts Aunt Abby (played by Josephine Hull) and Aunt Martha (played by Jean Adair) and his brother Teddy (played by John Alexander). Incidentally Teddy thinks that he is Theodore Roosevelt and his family is accepting of this and "plays along" so to speak.
Elaine incidentally lives with her father next door to the Brewster family home and part of the reason for the couple to swing by is to also let Reverend Harper (played by Grant Mitchell) know about the nuptials. Elaine leaves Mortimer to pack up her things and change her clothes to leave for their honeymoon.
Prior to Mortimer and Elaine dropping by, Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha have a strange conversation that hints about something in the window seat that Aunt Abby wants to show Aunt Martha. Before Aunt Abby is able to show Aunt Martha what was in the window seat, Elaine interrupts with a mysterious hint of her marriage to Mortimer. After Mortimer comes inside the house and happily announces his marriage, Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha joyfully talk with him about celebrating his marriage to Elaine by baking a cake before the happy couple go on honeymoon.
After Aunt Abby mentions the Reverend Harper's visit and his subsequent criticism of Mortimer's public outspoken attitude against marriage. Mortimer immediately talks about burning his books and goes on a search through the house to find his books. While searching for his books, Mortimer first comes across a childhood picture of his older brother Jonathan who is hinted at being a disturbed and vicious child. Mortimer and Aunt Abby both shudder with remembrance of life with Jonathan. Then Aunt Abby goes into the kitchen leaving Mortimer to finish searching for his books alone. While continuing his search Mortimer comes across the body of a dead man in the window seat in the living room.
Mortimer is shocked and horrified and barely notices his two aunts entering the room to throw rice at him in celebration of his marriage. Mortimer initially suspects his brother Teddy of murdering the gentleman. The truth was more shocking as it turns out. The murderer of the gentleman is his own beloved Aunt Abby. Further Aunt Martha is Aunt Abby's willing accomplice in other murders of older gentlemen. Teddy is also involved as he buries the "yellow fever" victims in "Panama" aka the cellar.
So we have a dark comedy with poor Mortimer trying to deal with his murderous aunts, his crazy brother Teddy, his crazy murderous brother Jonathan (played by Raymond Massey) all while trying to keep the murders quiet and in the hubbub dealing with his new bride and trying not to lose his mind.
Surprises come out. Hilarious hijinks ensue. It has comedy both physical and otherwise. The whole cast is great. The story is great. It's a great family movie despite the dark subject matter because it is so subtly handled that kids won't notice what's really going on until they get older and watch it again. It's surprisingly quotable. A wonderful film for any time of the year but particularly if you want a break from the usual gore/horror that comes from Halloween.
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