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.
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.