Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

JLRMovieReviews Lionel Barrymore keeps the Grim Reaper at bay and up a tree in this film, "On Borrowed Time." Sir Cedric Hardwicke plays the gentleman who comes a calling when it's time for people to die. He tries to tell people it's a natural stage of life that's peaceful and is a release of pain; it's just a case of letting go. But old cantankerous Lionel ain't having any of it. He wants to stay here and raise his grandson, Pud, who lost his parents at the beginning of the movie. Some may call this film a charming fable with a tendency to be whimsical. But my history with this film is as follows: I saw this years ago in the late 1990s and don't remember liking it all that much. Feeling it needed another viewing, I saw it around Thanksgiving and had this reaction. It felt too dated to me. Granted, old people act old. But Lionel Barrymore seemed to overdo it, in my opinion. He always did have a tendency to ham things up a bit, along with his brother John. Plus, I think the writing had a lot to do with it. Had this been made in the last few decades, I don't think it would accentuated on his confounded exasperations all the time and wouldn't have kept calling people pismires. The film mired itself down with old-man eccentricities, making itself feel old. The predicament of the old man and boy only gets worse, despite the fact Lionel tricked Death into going up a tree. With Death up a tree, no one in the film could die. All at the hospital would be at death's door but not going any further. When Lionel convinced others that Death was up his tree, he was told people needed death. Some people want it, need it; it's a comfort to them. But cantankerous Lionel won't budge. Only when certain events happen, does he give in and the ending is far from happy. For such a family or holiday film as it may be purported to be, this certainly has a downbeat ending. All in all, one's enjoyment of this film depends entirely on the old man's grouchy disposition and his growl towards those around him. "On Borrowed Time" is a well-meaning but otherwise downbeat film that doesn't really fit in with other family films seen this holiday season or really for any time.

edwagreen Not even the elements of a future "Death Takes A Holiday" and "Harvey" can save this piece. Why? The film is pretty morbid when you think about it.Lionel Barrymore, that usual irascible character, does display a heart here but the ending where Death shows that it still has the upper hand is not very pleasant. This film is certainly not suitable for children.The film would have been far better if it had been all about that wicked aunt, so similar to Margaret Hamilton, in "The Wizard of Oz," attempting to get the nephew after the tragic death of his parents. Instead, the film takes on new meanings with Cedric Hardwicke, who portrays death in its usual way.Everyone literally starts going and you have to wonder why this was their fate!Despite what the writer wanted to convey, you certainly can't have that feel good feeling at the film's end.

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.

MartinHafer This is a totally bizarre but highly entertaining film--mostly made that way thanks to the wonderful and folksy performance by Lionel Barrymore. He plays a crotchety old fart who, along with his long-suffering wife, is raising his grandson. By today's standards, they do an excellent job--the boy is sweet and totally loved. However, due to some slightly dirty language and a disrespect for authority that the boy picks up from grandpa, some do-gooders (a.k.a., dried up old prunes) try to get the boy placed in a "nice home". Well, after this interesting beginning, the story takes a detour,....and talk about detours!!! Grandpa tells the boy that their tree outside is magic and it can trap Mr. Death in it just by placing a magic spell on it. Well, all this is meant as a joke,...that is, until they realize they really have captured the Grim Reaper! Although this SOUNDS great, there were some serious unintended consequences (as in the movie DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY) and the resolution of this strange fantasy is something you'll just have to find out on your own. This is a wonderful undiscovered gem.