Arsenic and Old Lace stars Cary Grant.
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 . Cary Grant ( born Archibald Alec Leach ; January 18 , 1904 -- November 29 , 1986 ) was a British-American actor , known as one of classic Hollywood 's definitive leading men . Along with the later Arsenic and Old Lace ( 1944 ) and I Was a Male War Bride ( 1949 ) ; these films are frequently cited as among the all-time great comedy films .