Disappointment for a huge fan!

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

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.

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?

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 have watched a lot of movies in my life but this movie have it all. It will make you laugh and cry, have your emotions racing as you watch. There is such a great love from a grandfather for his grandson in this movie, a love that the world should use for one another. As i sit and watched i was spell bound with the story line the things that took place in the world as death sit in that tree. Everyong pleading for this man to release death so he could his job. Grandfather knowing it that happen it would end the love and relationship he has with his grandson. The tree dying and world life going on without death. I could feel his pain and understand why he didn't want his life to end. It's just a hard reminder of me and the love i have for my grand-kids. This is a great movie, one of the best of all times.