These Marvel Heroes Are Named After a Classic Cary Grant Movie

Superhero names tend to be self-explanatory: Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, The Flash, etc. These names all instantly capture the mood and central gimmick of the character. This even applies to “The Runaways” by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. Set in the Marvel Universe, the book follows six kids in Los Angeles who effectively become runaways after discovering that their parents are part of a cabal of super-villains called the Pride.

Each pair of Pride parents embodies a classic super-villain archetype; wizards, mad scientists, etc. In turn, the Runaways inherit their parents’ powers or tools and go all out, choosing superhero names themselves at the end of issue #6. Nico Minoru, daughter of the aforementioned wizards, becomes a witch herself, Sister Grimm. Molly Hayes’ parents were both mutants, so she has super strength; she becomes known as both “Bruiser” and (since she is only eleven) “Mighty Princess”.

The powers of team geek Gertrude “Gert” Yorkes are a whole; his parents travel through time and one of their historical relics is a real-life Deinonychus (the exact name of what “Jurassic Park” called a “Velociraptor”). Gert is psychically linked to the raptor, who obeys him like a faithful dog. Together they are known as Arsenic (Gert) and Old Lace (the raptor).

What do these words have to do with dinosaurs, time travel, or superheroes? Nothing, but as Gert tells his teammates: “Watch a movie made before 1985.” Based on a 1941 play, “Arsenic and Old Lace” is best known for Frank Capra’s 1944 film adaptation, starring Cary Grant as the title character and embattled straight man Mortimer Brewster.

Frank Capra is remembered for “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” serious pictures that cemented James Stewart, the cinematic embodiment of American decency. But “Arsenic and Old Lace” is a crazy black comedy.

Mortimer has just married his sweetheart Elaine (Priscilla Lane), but before their honeymoon, he finds himself drawn into a sticky situation with her crazy family. Mortimer’s brother, Teddy (John Alexander), lives under the illusion that he is President Teddy Roosevelt, while Mortimer’s other brother, Jonathan (Raymond Massey), is a wanted criminal who stops by to bury a body. Most confusing of all, Mortimer’s sweet old aunts Abby (Josephine Hull) and Martha (Jean Adair) have poisoned about a dozen of their tenants. They may be murderers, but they are not malicious; they really are sweet old women who think they’re being kind by kicking lonely old men out of the death spiral. Mortimer, disconcerted by his aunts’ obliviousness to their crimes but still devoted to them, decides to have Teddy committed to an asylum (he East mentally ill) and be the fall guy.

The stage origins of the film are obvious. Most of the action takes place in the Brewster family home, and the way the characters enter and exit the scenes can tell that in a play they would exit the stage. It is similar to Alfred Hitchcock’s experimental one-take film, “Rope”, until the suspense comes from a body hidden in a trunk. Speaking of Hitchcock, “Arsenic and Old Lace” shows Grant’s funny side as a beleaguered straight man, much like how Hitchcock would use him in “North by Northwest.” It may be the charismatic Cary Grant playing Mortimer, but that character is too restless to be suave.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” takes place on Halloween night, which is implicitly the reason all of the Brewster family madness gathers in one place. The house is located near a real cemetery, and Abby and Martha have also transformed their basement into one, giving the spirits plenty of opportunity to inspire mischief on All Hallows’ Eve. The film’s title cards also feature witches flying on broomsticks. There is no literal witch in the film, but the Brewster aunts qualify in spirit; like the witch in “Hansel and Gretel,” they lure their prey to their home.

The “Arsenic” part of the title refers to Abby and Martha’s method of murder; they add arsenic to wine, feeling that the drink masks the taste of poison. This leads to a repeated beat of visitors attempting to take a sip of wine, only for Mortimer to save them at the last minute before the arsenic touches their lips. And the “old lace” part? The title appears to be inspired by the 1902 romance novel, “Lavender and Old Lace” by Myrtle Reed, in which a woman discovers evidence of a tragic love affair (such as an unused wedding dress) in her aunt’s attic. The secret hidden in Aunt Abby and Martha’s basement is much more disturbing than that!

So why is “Runaways” referencing this specific film? One possibility is that it’s because the Runaways discover that their parental figures are hiding a dark secret, as Mortimer did. Other than that, it’s best not to try to make more connections between the stories. It’s in character for Gert, a self-confident and geeky teenager, to reference an “old” movie to make herself seem more cultured than her friends. As Arsenic said, movies made before 1985 can be a lot of fun.