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
• Rating: 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 (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630522269X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,368 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Video > Comedy > By Year > 1930-1939
  #6 in	Video > Comedy > Romantic Comedies > Classics
  #81 in	Video > Classics > Classic Comedies

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Decades before Brad Pitt starred in Meet Joe Black, the story of a vacationing Grim Reaper was adapted for the screen from a popular play. Frederick March, playing Death, disguises himself as a European prince and spends three days with an amenable duke at his palatial estate. Women are instantly attracted to the Lord of the Underworld, but back off when they sense his true nature--that is, all women except for the beautiful young innocent (Evelyn Venable), who is destined to marry the duke's son.

Filmed in 1934, this is more sensual than the Pitt remake, though the acting style is more mannered than some audiences may enjoy. But at only 78 minutes, the emotional content, as well as the ending, feels more real than the lengthy '90s version. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 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" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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

21 of 21 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

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!!!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This film is one of my faves of all time., May 2, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Pacific North West) - See all my reviews

I saw this movie a couple of years ago. I instantly fell for Frederich March and the whole movie itself. I loved it. It made me feel, even cry, which is something that doesn't happen much with the movies of today. Meet Joe Black I was hoping would at least try to be nearly as good. But alas Bradd Pitt was more like a chunk of wood with blonde hair compared to March's darkly brooding mysterious Death. The original is still the best. Before you see Meet Joe Black please try the this telling of the tale. Nothing quite compares to it.