THE AUTEUR SCRIBE- ARSENIC& OLD LACE - MY DREAM REMAKE

One of my favorite all time favorite movies is Arsenic& Old Lace ;made in 1944 and directed by the Legendary Frank Capra, it starred; Cary Grant ,Peter Loree Raymond Massey and a host of others.

PREMISE
  A screwball comedy about Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic ,who goes home to tell his aunts, (who raised him), that he is getting married. While trying to break the news,he finds out that his aunts have a disturbing hobby;  poisoning lonely old men and burying them in the cellar. It gets worse.

MY REMAKE

In a remake savvy industry,
  
ORIGINAL                                          REMAKE

Wings of Desire                                   City of Angels
Infernal Affairs                                    The Departed
City on Fire                                          Reservoir Dogs
Dirty Dozen/Where Eagles Dare         Inglorious Basterds
Rear Window                                       Disturbia
North By North West                           Eagle Eye
It's a mad mad mad mad world            Rat Race
Open your Eyes(Spanish Film)           Vanilla Sky

The list goes on and on, not to mention, the gazzilion Japanese movies that have been  ripped off, err i mean remade, yes Remade by Hollywood, lol.

 I wonder what i would do, if i had the opportunity to remake this brilliant classic  How would i cast it?

Conventional wisdom would be to update the script to fit out “modern minds” but i beg to differ. Some of the jokes and pop culture references naturally would have to be updated, but the original script could still be relevant for the 21st century. The main focus would be casting the roles for this attempt at a brilliant production.

There are three way it could be cast in the event of a remake.

BRIT CAST,written by Richard Curtis     (4 Weddings and A Funeral,Notting Hill)
                                          OR Stephen Merchant (The Office,Extras,Cemetery Junction)

The original role of Mortimer Brewster would be played by

HUGH GRANT. With a string of comedic hits , he is perfect for the comedic gentle man that his namesake played. With his boyish charm he is perfect as a British lead for a Brit version.

The role of towering and intimidating Jonathan Brewster would be played by

VINNIE JONES, the star of Snatch , though some people doubt his thespian skills , he manages to bring a charming performance which people either love or hate, and opposite Hugh Grant it’s screen magic.

Dr Einstein formerly played by the brilliant Peter Loree would now be embodied by 

JOHN HANNAH, another actor who can play the lovable but annoying friend. He would be perfect to play Lorre’s former creepy scientist role, who accompanied the intimidating Jonathan. Pairing Hannah and Jones as a duo, with Hannah playing the alcoholic Dr Einstein on the run from the law would be hilarious.


The aunts formerly played by Jean Adair and Josephine Hull now played by

MAGGIE SMITH &PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE two British icons to play the aunts Abby and Martha Brewster ,sweet but deadly. I can see them fussing over Hugh, while turning around to serve spiked Elderberry wine. Routledge honed comedic skills, on the brilliant sitcom ,Keeping up appearances. Maggie Smith is a British icon, and no further exposition needed for her case.

RICKY GERVAIS would play Teddy the cuckoo who ran amok and thought he was Teddy Roosevelt, formerly played by John Alexander. The creator and star of The Office and Extras, a wonderful addition to an already brilliant cast. Naturally he would have to play a British historical character, maybe Oliver Cromwell.

RACHAEL WEIZ would cameo in the role of Brewster's new bride, Elaine, played formerly by Priscilla Lane

HOLLYWOOD CAST written by the Coen Brothers
I would cast

GEORGE CLOONEY in the role of Mortimer Brewster, he is the current only actor that reminds me of that aura and charm that Cary Grant exuded along with the Classic golden ear looks. His roles in “Ocean’s 11″ and “Oh Brother Where art Though” show he can play both straight charmer and goof-ball effortlessly ,much like Grant did.

BRAD GARRET in the role formerly played by Raymond Massey. Garret honed his comedy skills on TV sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” and at a towering 6 ft 8 he perfectly embodies all that Jonathan Brewster needs to be.

JASON LEE, another comedic performer, who voiced Syndrone on the brilliant Brad Bird animated movie “The Incredibles“ and has honed comedic talents on Emmy Award winning My Name is Earl. He would be great as the wide eyed and dodgy Dr Einstein . He and Brad Garret supporting each other opposite classically handsome George Clooney, that ,would be a priceless trio.

KATY BATES & DORIS ROBERTS, both talented in comedic roles , Katy Bates has also played the psychotic role in the adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery” and comedic roles in “About Schmidt” and Water Boy. Doris Roberts from hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Both know how to play the fine line between nurturing and psychotic women, and Roberts already has chemistry with former co-star Garret.

PAUL GIAMATTI in the role of Teddy.The star of Oscar winning indie road/buddy movie Sideways; Giamatti is both a brilliant comedic and dramatic actor,and would fit perfectly in this role.

MARISA TOMEI would be cameo in the role of Elaine, a sweet brand new bride, planted in the middle of the madness of the Brewster family.

A complete alternative approach and turning the whole thing around in terms of casting, it could go the “Tyler Perry” way , casting: written by Christopher Scott Cherot (writer/Director of Hav Plenty)
  
AFRICAN AMERICAN CAST

ORLANDO JONES or CHRIS TUCKER, playing the part of Mortimer Brewster ;going all out comedic, with the role. They both have the ability to play the ;rambunctious fast talking, wide eyed character, the way Cary Grant played it. They are both great comics that can also play it straight.

TOMMY “TINY” LISTER could play the role of menacing Jonathan Brewster. He already has chemistry with Tucker from their roles on the movie Friday, alternatively TERRY CREWS has proved himself to have brilliant comic presence and timing over the past few years on sitcom Everybody Hates Chris

DAVE CHAPPELLE would make an excellent Dr Einstein, and that is all i am going to say about it, his talent is ENORMOUS.

LORETTA DEVINE & ALOMA WRIGHT as the sweet yet homicidal aunts. Both have comedy backgrounds and have played nurturing roles.

REGINALD VEL JOHNSON, star of tv sitcom Family Matters and co star of the Die Hard series he would be a brilliant Teddy.

PAULA PATTON  cameo in the role of the new bride.

There are so many ways this can go, but ultimately there are some movies that should be left ALONE and appreciated in only their original glory. Citizen Kane, The Godfather,Chinatown and though Arsenic& Old Lace is not at the top of peoples minds when classics are mentioned;nonetheless Frank Capra’s comedy of errors masterpiece, is a classic and should remain untouched .

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