Death Takes a Holiday

Director: Mitchell Leisen

Overview

In this filmization of Alberto Casella's play, Death assumes human form in order to discover why men fear him. Posing as a Prince Sirki, Death appears as a house guest at an Italian duke's villa. While "Sirki" is present, Death takes his titular holiday, and no one on Earth dies.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2014
UPC:	0025192052002
Original Release:	1934
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00
Sales rank:	28,947

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Fredric March	Actor
Evelyn Venable	Actor
Guy Standing	Actor
Katherine Alexander	Actor
Gail Patrick	Rhoda
Helen Westley	Stephanie
Kathleen Howard	Princess Maria
Kent Taylor	Corrado
Henry Travers	Baron Cesarea
G.P. Huntley Jr.	Eric
Otto Hoffman	Fedele
Edward Van Sloan	Doctor Valle
Hector V. Sarno	Pietro
Frank Yaconelli	Vendor
Anna De Linsky	Maid
G.P. Huntley	Eric

Technical Credits

E. Lloyd Sheldon

Producer

Editorial Reviews

A curiously affecting serio-fantasy, Death Takes a Holiday has lost some of its impact over the years (due to increasing familiarity with its basic premise), but it remains an intriguing and charming experience. Maxwell Anderson's screenplay (co-written with Walter Ferris and Gladys Lehman) suffers from some of the author's patented overblown dialogue, but less so than in other films, perhaps because the fantasy trappings are a better setting for Anderson's style. Mitchell Leisen directs in a heavier style than would become his custom in following years; occasionally that light touch is missed here, but for the most part his work is solid. Death's biggest asset is its title player. Fredric March, looking every inch the matinee idol, makes a visually inviting Death; more importantly, his performance is soulful yet restrained, dashing yet somewhat menacing, and he provides the film with an invaluable anchor. March's leading lady, Evelyn Venable, is not quite his equal, but she is undeniably attractive, and her acting is adequate if uninspired. Death also benefits from marvelous camerawork by Charles Lang (especially an upside-down sequence involving reflections in a pond) and lovely costumes from Edith Head and Travis Banton.