wes-connors Appearing as the personification of "Death", well-groomed hitch-hiker Cedric Hardwicke (as Mr. Brink) passes on a convertible ride with coughing Hans Conried. You may be thinking tuberculosis, but it must only a cold and not yet Hans' time. The real target is a physician and his wife, who quickly die in a car crash. This leaves orphaned "Bobs" Watson (as John Gilbert "Pud" Northrup) in the care of loving grandparents Lionel Barrymore (as Julian "Gramps" Northrup) and Beulah Bondi (as Nellie "Granny" Northrup). However, they are both getting older, and closer to death...On the brink, Mr. Barrymore receives one special wish. He uses it on an apple tree in his back-yard...This parable is surprisingly effective, and blurs the perception of "good" (god) and "evil" (devil) in a manner uncommon in films of the era. It's better to see this for yourself, and not read anymore about it here. Meanwhile, pis-mired aunt Eily Malyon (as Demetria "Demmy" Riffle) wants to take young Watson from Barrymore, desiring the lad's $50,000 inheritance. Barrymore learns she plans to send the boy to a school for girls and fears this will "make a sissy out of Pud," which must have been considered a fate worse than death, considering this film's startling but satisfying outcome...******** On Borrowed Time (7/6/39) Harold S. Bucquet ~ Lionel Barrymore, Bobs Watson, Eily Malyon, Cedric Hardwicke

nomoons11 Lemme say my eyes weren't dry after seeing this. Every performance was noteworthy. What an absolute gem.If you wanna have a good cry and have a little insight about death, you can't go wrong with this beautiful little film. This is one of those lost treasures that won't inspire you, it'll make you think. It'll help chip away that fear about death and make you laugh and feel all good inside.Watch out for the crotchety grandpa played perfectly by Lionel Barrymore. If your granddad ain't like him, after seein' this, you'll go to him and say.."Grandad, I want you to be just like Gramps in the film On Borrowed Time..he was the best". Every person who doesn't have kids or has kids and never they never let their kids see their grandparents, should see this film. You'll see why grandparents can be so important in their lives. It's crucial.If your havin' a bad day or your health isn't too good and your down in the dumps, find this and pop it in. I promise you'll feel better when it's over. It's a syrupy sweet, sad, funny and inspirational ride till the end. With all these ingredients, how can you go wrong?

Michael_Elliott On Borrowed Time (1939) *** (out of 4)This MGM film comes only second to their FREAKS as being the strangest movie Hollywood would deliver in the 1930's. I had heard a lot about this thing but nothing you read can quite prepare you for what you actually see. This fantasy tells the story of a loving grandfather (Lionel Barrymore) who wants to keep his grandson (Bobs Watson) away from his aunt (Eily Malyon) who simply wants his inheritance money from his parent's deaths. After the death of the grandmother, Death himself, calling himself Mr. Bink (Cedric Hardwicke) shows up t take grandpa but he has a trick up his sleeve. He asks Death to climb the apple tree out back where the old man is able to trap Death there so that no one can ever die again. I love searching out and viewing rather strange movies and this here has to come close to being one of the strangest fantasy films ever made. There's certainly a touching side to this film but there's also a rather dark side. The strange thing is that this isn't really a comedy or a drama and the film never goes for that type of emotions. Instead the film seems to pride itself on just being bizarre and unlike anything most people had seen. I consider myself an expert at the bizarre yet my jaw was flying open several times through this thing. There's so much great stuff but at the same time everything comes off rather campy just because of the story you're watching. Barrymore is pitch perfect as the cranky but lovable old man who only wants to see his grandson grow up happy. We have Hardwicke doing a very good job in his role as Death. Beulah Bondi, Nat Pendleton and Henry Travers all add nice supporting performance to their minor characters. Even the underused Una Merkel comes off very touching as the devoted maid. Watson, who some might remember as Pee Wee in BOYS TOWN, is a whole 'nother story. I'm really not sure what to think because on one hand he's terrific but on another level he gives one of the worst performances I've seen from a child actor. What he's great at is acting the "loud mouth" when he tries to come off like Barrymore. The two have a nice bond in their scenes together and this is especially true when they're battling the evil aunt. What doesn't work so well are his emotional or crying scenes. It seems the director simply wanted him to scream at the top of his lungs since he was obviously not able to produce any real tears. This becomes quite annoying and happens throughout the film. Then we have the ending, which is fairly touching but I'm sure no one is going to expect it coming. I wouldn't add this title to the masterpieces of 1939 but there's something very unique and original about it that makes it a must see.

FriscoJoe I first saw this jewel on TV as a child in 1950's Missouri... probably some Saturday afternoon when one of the 3 available stations had nothing else to show. It stuck with me, embedded itself in my heart and soul.I later directed a scene from the published script in college as a Directing Class project.Many years later when I was between 36 and 40 years old, I showed it to my new life partner (we've been together now for 26 years) and we cherish it together as an important part of our lives.There's no way to describe the "heart" in this marvel of a film: you have to see it. You'll be left with a feeling of love, fulfillment, joy and a sense of "justice achieved". If you can force your child to sit and watch a Black and White movie (sigh!) he/she will thank you in the future. It will not be forgotten by you or your child.