Main Cast: Fredric March, Evelyn Venable, Guy Standing, Katherine Alexander, Gail Patrick
Release Year: 1934
Country: US
Run Time: 78 minutes
Plot
In this adaptation of Alberto Casella's stage play, Death assumes human form in order to discover why men fear him. Posing as a Prince Sirki (and played by Fredric March), Death appears as a house guest at the villa of an Italian duke. While "Sirki" is present, Death takes his titular holiday, and no one on Earth dies. Grazia (Evelyn Venable) the fiance of the duke's son, becomes attracted by the strangely ethereal Sirki. Against his better judgment, Sirki falls in love, and Death for the first time experiences Humanity. Disturbed by the sensation, he decides to shuffle off his mortal coil, but before leaving he tries to shun Grazia, who insists upon going with him. The duke, who has been in on Sirki's secret all along, begs Death not to take away the girl. To scare her off, Death assumes his actual form, only to discover that this is how Grazia has always seen him. Determining that love is as strong as death, Death allows the willing Grazia to accompany him into the nether world. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
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. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
After years of questioning why people fear him, Death (March) takes on human form so he can mingle among the mortals and find an answer. However, events soon spiral out of control as he falls in love with the beautiful young Grazia (Venable), the only woman unafraid of him. As he falls in love with her, her father, Duke Lambert (Standing), sees him for what he is and begs him to return to his duties. Death must decide whether or not to seek his own happiness, or sacrifice it so that Grazia may live.
Reception
The film was an enormous critical and commercial success. Time called it "thoughtful and delicately morbid", while Mordaunt Hall for the New York Times wrote that "it is an impressive picture, each scene of which calls for close attention". Richard Watts, Jr for the New York Herald Tribune described March's performance as one of the film's "chief virtues".
Universal Studios acquired the rights to the film and made a 1971television production featuring Yvette Mimieux, Monte Markham, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas and Bert Convy. Loy related in her biography that the production was marred by a decline in filming production standards; she described a frustrated Douglas storming off the set and returning to his home in New York when a tour guide interrupted the filming of one of his dramatic scenes to point out Rock Hudson's dressing room.
