Death Takes a Holiday poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Fredric March, Evelyn Venable, Guy Standing, Katherine Alexander, Gail Patrick ... see more see more... , Helen Westley , Kathleen Howard , Kent Taylor , Henry Travers , Otto Hoffman , Edward Van Sloan , Hector V. Sarno , Frank Yaconelli , Anna de Linsky , G.P. Huntley

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 gue... read more read more...st 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, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

647 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: Mitchell Leisen

Release Date: March 30, 1934

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 3, 1998

Get It:

Stats: 45 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Evelyn Venable and Fredric March Evelyn Venable Poster Death Takes a Holiday Poster
Upload a Photo | View All Death Takes a Holiday Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (45)

  • rubystevens
    September 16, 2011
    rubystevens
    starts out great, fascinating conceit and frederic march has the right air of underlying menace but the tone is too melodramatic and lead actress evelyn venable is really kind of annoying. it's got a ways to go to be worse than remake 'meet joe black' with brad pitt and anthony h... read moreopkins tho
  • silverwolf1129
    July 13, 2008
    silverwolf1129
    IF YOU LOVE MEET JOE BLACK, YOU SHOULD SEE THIS.. THIS IS THE ORGINAL... THE REMAKE WITH BRAD PITT WAS EXCELLENT... SO YOU NEED TO WORK THIS..

    IT IS ABOUT WHAT THE TITLE SAYS "DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY" AND DURING THIS HOLIDAY NO ONE AN NOTHING DIES... IT IS VERY MUCH A MYSTERY...... read more THE ENDING IS NOT LIKE THAT IN "MEET JOE BLACK"..

    YOU NEED TO SEE THIS..
  • zandurian
    November 19, 2007
    zandurian
    I really enjoyed this movie, I think I will watch it again to make sure I still think this highly of it, ist been a while.
  • PeppermintShrek
    March 27, 2007
    PeppermintShrek
    This is a wonderful movie. And it is kind of a 2 ring circus as many movies are, on one hand 'Death' takes the form of a human and spends time enjoying the company of others at a little resort while around the world horrable events take place without the benefit of death. This ... read moremovie give you a respect for death, sometimes death is a better option to suffering.

View All Death Takes a Holiday Reviews

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt
June 14, 2007
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

A lofty but transfixing allegory, the film remains captivating because its central plot device is so different from most movies, then or now.

Shane Burridge
June 13, 2007
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

Death...as a house guest that can't be gotten rid of

Dennis Schwartz
December 27, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

In this wearisome and predictable plot line, Death falls in love and bores us to death talking about it. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Splendid romantic fantasy. Great debut for director Leisen.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 23, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Brian Webster
March 16, 2004
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Meet Joe Black
    Meet Joe Black (89%)

More Movies like Death Takes a Holiday

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Death Takes a Hol... : Watch Free on TV

Death Takes a Holiday Trivia

  • "Death Takes A Holiday" was remade in 1998. What is the name of said remake?  Answer »
  • Meet Joe Black, starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt was a (somewhat loose) remake of a 1934 film. What was the original called?  Answer »
  • "Meet Joe Black" was loosely based on this 1934 classic film starring Fredric March  Answer »
  • Meet Joe Black was a loose adaptation of Death Takes a Holiday. Who played Death in the original?  Answer »
More Death Takes a Holiday Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Death Takes a Holiday. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Death Takes a Holiday to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?