Expert: Mel - 4/19/2004

Question
Hi,
There was a movie I saw as a kid that was about a boy on a farm, whose Grandfather lives with the boy and his family. There is a tree in front of their house and "Death" lives in the tree, trying to tempt the boy to climb the tree. Any idea what the name of the movie is, or who the actors are? I've thought about the movie from time to time, and the name has always escaped me. Thanks

Answer
Hello Lisa,

The film you are referring to is one that came out in 1939 called "On Borrowed Time". Here is the storyline:

"Young Pud is orphaned and left in the care of his aged grandparents. The boy and his cantankerous old grandfather become inseparable friends. But Gramps is concerned for his grandson's future and wary of a scheming relative who seeks Pud's custody. One day Mr. Brink --an agent of Death--arrives to take Gramps "to the land where the woodbine twineth." Through a bit of trickery, Gramps confines Mr. Brink, and thus Death, to the top of an old apple tree, giving Gramps extra time to resolve issues about Pud's future."

It starred Lionel Barrymore as Gramps, Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Mr. Brink and Beulah Bondi as Granny.

Adapted from a book by Lawrence Edward Watkins, it was later turned into a play by Paul Osborn.

If you wanted to see it again, you can still get hold of a copy on VHS.

Glad to be of help. Cheers..........Mel.