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On Borrowed Time

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7.5/10 • 23

1939-07-071h 39m

ComedyDramaFantasy

The Great Broadway Stage Hit Reaches The Screen

Young Pud is orphaned and left in the care of his aged grandparents. The boy and his grandfather are inseparable. Gramps is concerned for Pud's future and wary of a scheming relative who seeks custody of the child. One day Mr. Brink, an agent of Death, arrives to take Gramps "to the land where the woodbine twineth." Through a bit of trickery, Gramps confines Mr. Brink, and thus Death, to the branches of a large apple tree, giving Gramps extra time to resolve issues about Pud's future.

Directors
Harold S. Bucquet
Editors
George Boemler

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Lionel Barrymore

    Lionel Barrymore

    Julian Northrup aka Gramps

  2. Cedric Hardwicke

    Cedric Hardwicke

    Mr. Brink

  3. Beulah Bondi

    Beulah Bondi

    Nellie Northrup aka Granny

  4. Una Merkel

    Una Merkel

    Marcia Giles

  5. Bobs Watson

    Bobs Watson

    Pud Northrup

  6. Nat Pendleton

    Nat Pendleton

    Mr. Grimes

  7. Henry Travers

    Henry Travers

    Dr. Evans

  8. Grant Mitchell

    Grant Mitchell

    Mr. Pilbeam

  9. Eily Malyon

    Eily Malyon

    Demetria Riffle

Reviews1

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barrymost Avatar

barrymost

Oct 4, 2019

9/10

An old man fights to keep his orphaned grandson from being taken away by a scheming relative, and things get even more difficult when Death comes calling...in the form of the wry and gentlemanly Sir Cedric Hardwicke! The film is well-done and packs a definite emotional wallop. There is a very high standard of acting throughout, and the chemistry between Lionel Barrymore, as the crotchety grandfather, and Bobs Watson, as little Pud, is especially good. Even when confined to a wheelchair, Barrymore's thespian talent still shines through.

Media

  • On Borrowed Time poster
  • On Borrowed Time poster
  • On Borrowed Time poster
  • On Borrowed Time poster
  • On Borrowed Time poster
  • On Borrowed Time poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
small townbased on novel or bookgrandparent grandchild relationshiptreewishgrandfatherauntgrandparentsloveinheritancegrim reaperorphanhousekeepertrappeddeathheartbreakgrandsonelderly coupleapple treechild custodytroublemakergrandfather grandson relationship