This is a fucking insane movie. The screenplay is brilliant in how it rights for each specific character and the screwball-like plot of people moving from place to place in the main room of the aunt’s house. I wasn’t too into the entire, “I don’t believe in marriage,” section of Cary Grant’s theater reviewer character. He could have just been a theater critic. Additionally, there is a lot of work the audience has to do in order to let the insanity play out whether it’s Peter Lorre’s Fritz/Igor like character, Raymond Massey’s plastic surgery and his serial killer tendencies, the dumb cop not ever reading the room, no one taking the gag out of Cary Grant’s mouth, and all of the Teddy stuff. That being said John Alexander was FANTASTIC as Teddy. The Epsteins’ screenplay is also so well written that it helps you get past all the craziness. The mechanics of the set pieces are fantastic and there are amazing lines that the characters get (obviously the quote “Insanity runs in my family; it practically gallops" is a standout). The moment when Cary Grant is finally freed from the chair and gag and sits on the stairs is honestly a master class in comedy. It felt improvised and it may be my favorite moment in any Cary Grant performance. I couldn’t stop laughing. I wish Priscilla Lane’s character was included in the story more. It feels like a bait and switch that she is co-billed with Cary Grant at the top, but she is barely in it. Additionally I do not think she should have stayed with him because he treats her like shit, especially because he is so focused on committing Teddy when that is the least of his problems. It is also crazy to see Cary Grant’s fourth wall breaking moments and how they really have transitioned into how characters break the forth wall in comedies, wether they be in Loony Toons cartoons in or in modern day comedies. I wish Boris Karloff could have played Jonathan as he did in the play. I think it would have made the film legendary.
