Arsenic and Old Lace only has female actresses.
Arsenic and Old Lace (film) . Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941 because of star Cary Grant 's availability , but it was not released until 1944 , after the original stage version had finished its run on Broadway . The film 's supporting cast also features Priscilla Lane , Jack Carson , Edward Everett Horton and Peter Lorre . Josephine Hull and Jean Adair portray the Brewster sisters , Abby and Martha , respectively . William Henry Pratt ( 23 November 1887 -- 2 February 1969 ) , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff , was an English actor who was primarily known for his typecast roles in horror films that depicted the characters Frankenstein and The Mummy .