Product Details

• Actors: Lionel Barrymore, Cedric Hardwicke, Beulah Bondi, Una Merkel, Bobs Watson
• Directors: Harold S. Bucquet
• Writers: Alice D.G. Miller, Claudine West, Frank O'Neill, Lawrence Edward Watkin, Paul Osborn
• Producers: Sidney Franklin
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: December 11, 1992
• Run Time: 99 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302593360
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,943 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Where the woodbine twineth...", July 5, 2002

By 

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On Borrowed Time [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This unforgettable family fantasy from the 30s is about a crotchity, salt-of-the-earth grandfather who loves his young grandson, Pud. Troubled by apple thieves, Gramps makes a wish that anyone who climbs his apple tree would have to stay there until he lets them down. When Death comes to visit, he is trapped in the tree and now no one in the world can die. Sounds good, doesn't it? But Gramps soon discovers it's not.

Barrymore is utterly convincing as the cantankerous, warm-hearted Gramps. He plays the role in a wheel chair due to debilitating arthritis and the final scene where he appears to walk is therefore especially poignant. As Death, Sir Cedric Hardwicke is chilling and yet kindly and wise; he takes people to Eternity, which, as Gramps would say is, "a right smart piece o' time."

Despite its age, the movie is timeless, sweet, and inspiring. If you love someone or have experienced loss, this movie will affect you deeply and it's worth watching more than once. Heartily recommended.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get out your hankie, this is a good one, October 23, 2000

By 

Hearse Queen "grimrides" (northern california, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Borrowed Time [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This film is absolutely charming. Lionel Barrymore is Julian Northrup or Gramps, a likeable curmudgeon who dotes on his grandson, Pud (Bobs Watson), a precious little boy. Miss Nellie (Beulah Bondi), Pud's gramma is always happily aghast at the trouble that Gramps and Pud gets themselves into.

Pud's parents die tragically in a car accident. They've been taken by Mr. Brink, the living embodiment of death, played by the very dapper Cedric Hardwicke. Mr. Brink isn't done with their family however, and visits Gramps home.

Through a chain of events, they discover that anyone who goes up into an apple tree in the backyard cannot get down until gramps tells them they can. They trap Mr. Brink in the tree, and the story only gets better from there.

I left watching this movie with a wonderfully comforted feeling, that loves knows no bounds. I recommend this film to all my friends and family, it's a charmer.

Don't let the color picture of the box displayed fool you, it's in it's original glorious black and white.

If you enjoy the "love conquers death" movie genre, check out "What Dreams May Come" and "Death Takes a Holiday" which inspired the film, "Meet Joe Black".

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so dvd video transfer, June 18, 2009

By 

Richard in Indy - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Borrowed Time (DVD)

This wonderful fantasy has been a long time coming to DVD. It's a five star movie with a three star dvd transfer. It's part of the Warner Brothers Archive Collection. You might want to hold on to your vhs copy of this film, however. The DVD is of marginal quality. Particularly during the opening credits, there is an annoying flutter that makes you want to fine tune your TV. The overall picture quality is somewhat "soft" and not quite as crisp as the vhs version. Films in the WB Archive Collection have NOT been restored or enhanced so don't expect the same quality that you might find in other WB releases. They are nicely packaged but, for some reason, come from the WBshop without cellophane outer wrap. Don't be a victim of the Amazon Marketplace sellers who have doubled the price plus shipping. You can buy it directly from the WBshop at $19.95 with free shipping with a minimum purchase.