Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

ThiefHott Too much of everything

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

vincentlynch-moonoi This is quite an impressive little film dating from 1939. Set in a small-town there are quite a few stereotypes here, but not bad ones. You've got Lionel Barrymore as the grandfather of Bobs Watson, raising the boy after both parents died in a car accident. You've got the wonderful Beulah Bondi as the grandmother, and way older than her years here...even more so than in most of her films. And, you've got death -- Sir Cedric Hardwicke -- not unlike the role in "Death Takes A Holiday" or "Meet Joe Black".One day Death comes for Gramps, who orders Death off the property, not knowing who he is. So, Death takes Granny. But Gramps has also made a wish that anyone who climbs in his apple tree will be stuck up there until he wishes him down...and that's where Death finds himself.Meanwhile, Bobs Watson's aunt has designs on the money left him by his parents, and Gramps must fend off the aunt's efforts to adopt Watson.Death is now stuck in a tree and can't take anyone...even those who are suffering. So, how does Death get down from the tree? And who dies? And is it bad? There really is lots to think about here in what was actually a rather minor film. I guess if there's anything a little annoying in the film it's Bobs Watson. He's a good little actor, but a little Bobs Watson goes a long way...especially for well over 90 minutes.Nevertheless, this film is worth watching. As I said, lots to think about, and Lionel Barrymore is simply fascinating to watch, here though he was so crippled that they had to fake his walking in the scenes at the very end of the movie. There are some swell performances by supporting actors as well -- Henry Travers (as always) and Una Merkel, particularly.Well worth watching, although the pace could have been slightly quicker.

bkoganbing In point of fact we're all living On Borrowed Time and never know when the Grim Reaper will come calling. But apparently he's got a certain liking for the Northrup family because he makes a lot of calls on them in a short span of time in this film.His first call is on Truman Bradley who is a doctor and a widower with a small son, Bobs Watson. Bradley's death leaves Watson to be raised by his grandparents Lionel Barrymore and Beulah Bondi. Although they don't know it, they've got a magic apple tree in the Northrup backyard, one where if Barrymore wishes a party is stuck in that tree. When death in the form of Cedric Hardwicke makes another call on the Northrup family, Barrymore tricks Hardwicke into climbing that tree and he's stuck there. So like in Death Takes A Holiday while Hardwicke is stuck in the tree, a lot of people start living more than they should be off their allotted time. Running for 321 performances during the 1938 season on Broadway, Paul Osborn's play featured Dudley Digges and Frank Conroy in the roles of Grandpa Northrup and Mr. Brink (Death) respectively. Several years earlier Lionel Barrymore did a version of the David Belasco play, The Return Of Peter Grimm for the screen. That part also called for Barrymore to do many scenes with a child actor, in that film George Breakston. Louis B. Mayer must have remembered that film and thought that this play would also provide a perfect role for the curmudgeonly Barrymore's character and a child. In fact the best thing about the film is the on screen chemistry between Watson and Barrymore.Character actress Eily Malyon who probably is best known for playing the parish housekeeper Mrs. Carmody in Going My Way has a far less sympathetic role here. She's an aunt who would like custody of young Mr. Watson because of the hefty insurance policy that Barrymore and Bondi are using to raise him. Nobody likes her, but considering the characters involved in this particular play, she meets an unusual fate.After 71 years On Borrowed Time still retains its charm as a fantasy and Lionel Barrymore's performance is as fresh today as it was when it was filmed.

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.

kelmo89 Bobs Watson steels the movie with his "buckets of tears" performance, but you can't discount the equally exceptional performance of Lionel Barrymore, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and the rest of the character actors.Okay, everyone is wonderful! The movie is a fantasy, but still has many truths. It brings the idea that death is not a horrible thing to be feared, and may actually be healing, in the eternal sense. If you don't well up with tears, your heart is stone.This movie was probably swallowed up under the flood of epics that came out in 1939. I believe it needs to be resurrected and appreciated for the beauty of the story.This is a must see, for any film fan. And Bobs, who has now gone to "where the woodbine twynith(?)", needs to be recognized for his gift.