A perfect movie is a rare thing. It requires a very good script, actors capable of giving a remarkable performance, and a superlative director capable of making everything come to together.On Borrowed Time is such a movie.No, it didn't have a big budget. The performers are not movie "stars." They were all seen as character actors in their day. But, as anyone who cares about movies knows, such "character actors" often had acting skills lacking in box-office attractions.So, when a great director brings out the best of them - and that is what Harold S. Bucquet, a forgotten director who made no other great movies - did, greatness happens. In this case, in spades.Everything works in this movie. Barrymore had given many great performances, and he delivers another one here. But so does Una Merkel, in one of her best roles. And Henry Travers, remembered from "It's a Wonderful Life," and Grant Mitchell, remembered from so many great movies.It is never mawkish - until the very end. Everything is low-key, and therefore all the more moving.You will never forget this movie once you have seen it. The premise is astounding, and we all want to believe it could be true. For an hour and a half this cast makes us believe it could be true, and we wait, spellbound, to see what will happen.This is a small movie, but a perfect one. Watch it once, and you will never forget it.And you will always wish it could come true.------------------------I saw this movie again tonight, on TCM, two years after I wrote the above review, and marveled once again at how good it is. Granted, the first part is unremarkable. It doesn't really become interesting until Mr. Brink gets caught in the tree.Thereafter it just gets better and betterSPOILER ALERTThis movie would never be made this way today. The child - played wonderfully by Bobs Watson - would never be allowed to die, as he does here. Perhaps even Grampa would be given an extension on life. But movie audiences in 1939 did not expect everything to have a happy ending. In fact, it has the only possible ending, since if Pud had lived, his Aunt Demmy would inevitably have gotten control of him and his estate.This movie therefore ends perfectly, even if it's a real tear-jerker.

Appearing as the personification of "Death", well-groomed hitch-hiker Cedric Hardwicke (as Mr. Brink) passes on a convertible ride with coughing Hans Conried. You may be thinking tuberculosis, but it must only a cold and not yet Hans' time. The real target is a physician and his wife, who quickly die in a car crash. This leaves orphaned "Bobs" Watson (as John Gilbert "Pud" Northrup) in the care of loving grandparents Lionel Barrymore (as Julian "Gramps" Northrup) and Beulah Bondi (as Nellie "Granny" Northrup). However, they are both getting older, and closer to death...On the brink, Mr. Barrymore receives one special wish. He uses it on an apple tree in his back-yard...This parable is surprisingly effective, and blurs the perception of "good" (god) and "evil" (devil) in a manner uncommon in films of the era. It's better to see this for yourself, and not read anymore about it here. Meanwhile, pis-mired aunt Eily Malyon (as Demetria "Demmy" Riffle) wants to take young Watson from Barrymore, desiring the lad's $50,000 inheritance. Barrymore learns she plans to send the boy to a school for girls and fears this will "make a sissy out of Pud," which must have been considered a fate worse than death, considering this film's startling but satisfying outcome...******** On Borrowed Time (7/6/39) Harold S. Bucquet ~ Lionel Barrymore, Bobs Watson, Eily Malyon, Cedric Hardwicke

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.

There's really not much that hasn't already been said about the plot of this incredible movie.One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Gramma Nellie's household help (Marcie) asked her if she wanted her to shut the radio off for her so she could rest.Gramma Nellie says "No dear, they're playing Stephen Foster tunes and I'm hoping they'll play Beautiful Dreamer.. it's my favorite".If you notice, when Mr. Brink enters the room and has his chat with Gramma Nellie, the tunes are still softly playing in the background during their conversation and even while she briefly finished knitting the sock she had been working on earlier.And just as she reaches out to accept Mr. Brink's hand, you'll notice that the second their hands touch, Gramma Nellie's radio immediately begins to play Stephen Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer". It's eerie, but beautiful.The movie is precious, sad, and even at times has a little chuckle. Most of all though, it is a movie about how much we love our families to the very end.I love this movie!