Product Details

• Actors: Fredric March, Evelyn Venable, Guy Standing, Katharine Alexander, Gail Patrick
• Directors: Mitchell Leisen
• Writers: Alberto Casella, Gladys Lehman, Maxwell Anderson, Walter Ferris
• Producers: E. Lloyd Sheldon, Emanuel Cohen
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: March 8, 1999
• Run Time: 79 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630522269X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,188 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meet Prince Sirki, May 28, 2004

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Death Takes a Holiday [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Sixty-four years before we met death disguised as "Joe Black"(Meet Joe BlackBrad Pitt - see my review for film details of this one), Prince Sirki amused himself among the living for a three day holiday. Although not quite the lavish production of it's remake "Meet Joe Black", "Death Takes a Holiday" is a wonderful romantic fantasy from 1934, and is shot beautifully in black and white cinematogrpahy.

A wealthy and aristocratic family, and their houseguests, are visited by the 'grim reaper'...'the old man'...DEATH! Only the head of the household knows who Prince Sirki really is, and why he is there. They strike a deal, and the Prince has 3 days to learn why he is so feared by the human race. For those three days, he lives among them, experiencing and taking in all he can of human ways, and what's more..NO ONE dies while Death is on holiday. Weapons of war malfunction, accident victims walk away without a scratch, people can't even commit suicide when they try! But here's the catch..Sirki falls for the beautiful and deeply pensive Grazia. Will he take her with him to that other world when his time has expired? Does the power of love win out in the end?

The great Fredric March gives an exquiste performance as "Death" trying to adjust to life.It is so beautifully filmed and the performances were so brillant at bringing the marvelous characters to life, that it was like watching a play. Although a serious subject, there are many moments that will make you smile, and in the end, you may view the subject of death a little differently.

If you love the classic films of the thirties, this is a must see. It is also nice to have as a companion to "Meet Joe Black". If you are looking for this on DVD, it is included in the 2 disc "Ultimate Edition" of Joe Black. That way you can have "death" come to you in the form of Fredric March OR Brad Pitt!...What a way to go!...Enjoy....Laurie

more cinematic treats from the 30's:
Alfred Hitchcock: 4 Tales of the Macabre - Secret Agent / The Lady Vanishes / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Sabotage

La Mujer del Puerto

My Man Godfrey

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saw orginal, and both remakes,Original Best, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Death Takes a Holiday [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was a young lady when I saw Fredic March in Death Takes A Holiday, I was a young mother when I saw the remake with Monte Markham and now as a grandmother I saw Meet Joe Black. Which one is the best in my mind? Mr. Pitt and Mr. Markham Can't hold a candle to the style of Mr. March.The ending is still as touching and chilling as it was the first time I saw it. I have seen it many times since and it still has the same effect on me. It's a wonderful movie, a bit dark but consider the era in which it was made just adds to the effect the movie wants to parlay to it's audience.It's a timeless treasure, not to be missed. You've seen the rest now see the best!!!!!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance Through a Glass Darkly, January 24, 2010

By 

Bobby Underwood "starlighthotel" (Manly NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Takes a Holiday (Amazon.com Exclusive) (DVD)

From the moment a strange shadow seems to be following the car lovely Evelyn Venable is riding in the mood for this beautiful and darkly romantic film is set. When death itself takes on physical form to understand better why humans fear him so, the stage is set for a rich and unusual film experience.

One of the great films of the 1930's, it is not as well-remembered as it should be. There is a strange and almost haunting atmosphere to what in the end is really a romantic look at love itself. Fredric March gives a solid performance as that which we most fear but do not understand. He is appropriately over the top and out of place on earth. Evelyn Veneable is memorable as the girl, Grazia, who Prince Sirki (March) comes to love; he experiencing for the first time what it means to be human.

But the world becomes chaotic while Death is on his vacation and Sirki must return to his grim duties. The question is whether the lovely Grazia will still fear him or choose love, even if it means going with him to what lies beyond. It is talky but so full of its darkly romantic atmosphere that it is almost hypnotic. This is truly a masterpiece of mood, the perfect blend of subject matter and atmosphere.

March's "Death" is the focal point but Henry Travers has some fine moments among a cast which includes Gail Patrick. It is Venable herself who carries this film, however, her beautiful eyes and face capturing with emotion and expression both fear and love. It is a true shame more films of this quality did not come her way in the 1930's.


I have never forgotten the first time I saw this film and having seen it more than once since that time have still found beauty in its presentation of love which might live far beyond the shadow which follows us all. This is one of director Mitchell Leisen's finest films. It is a lyrical and compelling look at death and love and an experience no film buff should miss. Highly recommended.