Lionel Barrymore is tops as beloved "Gramp" to a newly orphaned "Pud", with Bula Bondi as the faithful "Gran", with the usual characters to round out the cast. A beautiful "sap story" complete with evil spinster aunt, out to get her hands on the boy's inheritance, "On Borrowed Time" includes a few magic tricks and requires a good dose of suspending one's disbelief. The feared "reaper" (in form of an English Genleman), named Mr. Brinks, turns out to be a "nice chap" after all.
The story is predictable from the start, but it still makes you feel like a kid watching a Saturday Matinée or even a Punch & Judy Show. There's a healthy portion of movie magic, in it's simple and sweet way. It can hold its own measured against the best of Shirley Temple's films. Young "Pud" will make you reach for the Kleenex box, as will many scenes in this wonderful "olden days" cinema gem!
The story is predictable from the start, but it still makes you feel like a kid watching a Saturday Matinée or even a Punch & Judy Show. There's a healthy portion of movie magic, in it's simple and sweet way. It can hold its own measured against the best of Shirley Temple's films. Young "Pud" will make you reach for the Kleenex box, as will many scenes in this wonderful "olden days" cinema gem!