On Borrowed Time

This is by far my favorite movie ever. The relationship between Pud and Gramps was incredible. This movie brought back many memories of my Grandfather and the relationship we had. I loved how Gramps trapped Mr. Brink (Death) up an apple tree when he came calling for him. It also showed what could happen if nobody ever died. This is a great movie for children with a message at the end that it's not that terrible pass away. My favorite line of the movie was from Gramps when he said, "I'll see you where the woodbine twinth."

Where to start on a review for the fantastic classic On Borrowed Time? It's extremely well acted, and based off the thoughtful Paul Osborn play, and it will keep your interest from start to finish. However, it's so incredibly sad, it's almost impossible to sit through. I don't think there's anyone on the planet who has sat through it without using up half a box of Kleenex. So, while I highly recommend this movie, I feel bad recommending it, knowing that I'm condemning you to an evening of Kleenex and uncontrollable sobs.

Lionel Barrymore, not nominated by the Academy but awarded his first Rag award, stars as an old grandfather raising his grandson after a tragedy takes both parents in an automobile accident. His wife is Beulah Bondi, and while young Bobs Watson gets along with both, he has a special bond with Gramps. They play and laugh together, with their own little songs and jokes. There are a couple of flies in their perfect ointment, though, in a mercenary aunt who wants to take Bobs away from Lionel so that she can be his legal guardian and gain his inheritance, and in the mysterious Mr. Brink, played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Lionel may be old and confined to his wheelchair, but he's young at heart and shrewd in mind, and as soon as he finds out who Mr. Brink is, he tricks him into climbing a magical tree in the backyard. With Mr. Brink stuck in the tree, Lionel and Bobs have some extra time together.

You can probably tell what the movie is really about, even with my vague synopsis, because of the title. If you're any sort of Lionel Barrymore fan-and who isn't?-your heart will ache seeing him in such a tragic role. It's also sad to see him in his wheelchair, knowing that whenever he was in a lot of pain. But this movie is supposed to be sad! It's supposed to make you weep! And what else can make you weep more than Bobs Watson showing such intense feelings of love, then bursting into tears seconds later? The two are a perfect pairing together, and it's always such a marvel to see such talent in a child. Both show off every ounce of their acting chops as they treat each other gently and as if they really are part of the same family.

A top-flight cast helps elevate this entertaining film. It's a far-fetched fable out a Mr. Brink (the Grim Reaper, played by Cedric Hardwicke), calling on people and being opposed by good 'ole grandpa (Lionel Barrymore), through some secret wishing power, banishing him to a tree in the backyard, where he can't do any damage.

Yeah, it's another film with strange theology and super powers and nothing to be taken seriously, just used for entertainment, a la today's Harry Potter films. But it's not trivial nonsense, either: it packs an emotional wallop in the viewer. You WILL get involved in this story.

Barrymore's dialog is tremendous. He's fun to hear and has some great lines directed at Hardwicke, who could also be interpreted as the Devil. He also hurls some funny insults to the evil aunt who wants to take his grandson "Pud," away from him, so she can inherit money in the process.

Bobs Watson, who plays "Pud" (nice name!) is endearing for the most part but he can wear thin on you. Bobs is a little loud and bratty and he definitely overacts. Yet, he's still likable.

Hardwicke is just about as entertaining as Barrymore. He, too, has a lot of good lines. Una Merkel, who usually plays a comedienne, plays a very sweet woman. I wish her role had been bigger in here. I've always been a fan of hers.

This is a very emotional movie. If you're the sensitive type, be prepared to laugh, get mad and even cry at certain things. It's really an unknown and different kind of film that has a lot of charm. Highly recommended.

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.

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.