Producer: Kenneth Macgowan.
Copyright 13 September 1935 by RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 13 September 1935. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 3 October 1935 (ran one week). Australian release: 5 February 1936. 9 reels. 82 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A kindly man (Lionel Barrymore) returns from the dead to set things right for his family and ensure the happiness of his ward (Helen Mack).
NOTES: A re-make of the William Fox 1926 movie directed by Victor Schertzinger, a Janet Gaynor vehicle with Alec B. Francis in the title role. Partly re-made (unofficially) by M-G-M as On Borrowed Time.
The stage play opened at the Belasco on 17 October 1911 and ran a wholly successful 231 performances. Belasco produced and directed. David Warfield played the title character.
COMMENT: David Belasco's creepy old melodrama rides again. Still, it could have been more gauche and admittedly director George Nicholls has handled its supernatural elements with considerable restraint-or maybe it was simply lack of imagination for his handling is otherwise quite undistinguished. On the other hand, the players are given the thumbs up to chew the scenery as much as they please.
The result is just like watching a photographed stage play. This impression solidly re-enforced by the lack of background music, although "natural" music forms an integral part of the three most dramatic sequences in the story, a device that derives directly from the original Broadway stage presentation.
Copyright 13 September 1935 by RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 13 September 1935. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 3 October 1935 (ran one week). Australian release: 5 February 1936. 9 reels. 82 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A kindly man (Lionel Barrymore) returns from the dead to set things right for his family and ensure the happiness of his ward (Helen Mack).
NOTES: A re-make of the William Fox 1926 movie directed by Victor Schertzinger, a Janet Gaynor vehicle with Alec B. Francis in the title role. Partly re-made (unofficially) by M-G-M as On Borrowed Time.
The stage play opened at the Belasco on 17 October 1911 and ran a wholly successful 231 performances. Belasco produced and directed. David Warfield played the title character.
COMMENT: David Belasco's creepy old melodrama rides again. Still, it could have been more gauche and admittedly director George Nicholls has handled its supernatural elements with considerable restraint-or maybe it was simply lack of imagination for his handling is otherwise quite undistinguished. On the other hand, the players are given the thumbs up to chew the scenery as much as they please.
The result is just like watching a photographed stage play. This impression solidly re-enforced by the lack of background music, although "natural" music forms an integral part of the three most dramatic sequences in the story, a device that derives directly from the original Broadway stage presentation.