On Borrowed Time
“The Great Broadway Stage Hit Reaches The Screen”
Synopsis
Young Pud is orphaned and left in the care of his aged grandparents. The boy and his grandfather are inseparable. Gramps is concerned for Pud's future and wary of a scheming relative who seeks custody of the child. 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 branches of a large apple tree, giving Gramps extra time to resolve issues about Pud's future.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
On Borrowed Time (Original Theatrical Trailer)
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-03-30
Top Cast
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Lionel Barrymore
Julian Northrup aka Gramps
Cedric Hardwicke
Mr. Brink
Beulah Bondi
Nellie Northrup aka Granny
Una Merkel
Marcia Giles
Bobs Watson
Pud Northrup
Nat Pendleton
Mr. Grimes
Henry Travers
Dr. Evans
Grant Mitchell
Mr. Pilbeam
Eily Malyon
Demetria Riffle
James Burke
Sheriff Burlingame
Charles Waldron
Reverend Murdock
Ian Wolfe
Charles Wentworth
Phillip Terry
Bill Lowry
Truman Bradley
James Northrup
Dorothy Adams
Florist (uncredited)
Barbara Bedford
Mrs. James Northrup (uncredited)
Sonny Bupp
Boy in Tree (uncredited)
Hans Conried
Man in Convertible (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 7, 1939
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Harold S. Bucquet
- Screenplay & Story
- Claudine West, Frank O'Neill, Alice D.G. Miller
- Original Score
- Franz Waxman
- Original Title
- On Borrowed Time
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Harold S. Bucquet
Claudine West, Frank O'Neill, Alice D.G. Miller, Paul Osborn, Lawrence Edward Watkin
Franz Waxman
Joseph Ruttenberg
George Boemler
Sidney Franklin
Department Leadership Roster
Claudine West
Screenplay
Harold S. Bucquet
Director
Frank O'Neill
Screenplay
Alice D.G. Miller
Screenplay
Sidney Franklin
Producer
Franz Waxman
Original Music Composer
Joseph Ruttenberg
Director of Photography
George Boemler
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for On Borrowed Time.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Coming of Age
Periodic import List
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BD Release: Past-1960
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Frequently Asked Questions About On Borrowed Time
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is On Borrowed Time about?
Young Pud is orphaned and left in the care of his aged grandparents. The boy and his grandfather are inseparable. Gramps is concerned for Pud's future and wary of a scheming relative who seeks custody of the child. 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 branches of a large apple tree, giving Gramps extra time to resolve issues about Pud's future.
Who directed On Borrowed Time?
On Borrowed Time was directed by Harold S. Bucquet.
Who stars in On Borrowed Time?
The principal cast of On Borrowed Time includes Lionel Barrymore, Cedric Hardwicke, Beulah Bondi, Una Merkel, Bobs Watson.
When was On Borrowed Time released and how long is it?
On Borrowed Time was released in 1939 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
Who composed the musical score for On Borrowed Time?
The original motion picture soundtrack for On Borrowed Time was composed by Franz Waxman.
Is On Borrowed Time based on a book or true story?
On Borrowed Time is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Lawrence Edward Watkin".
What is the age rating and content advisory for On Borrowed Time?
On Borrowed Time holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).