Death Takes a Holiday

I saw this TV movie back in the 70's and it left a memorable impression on me. I absolutely loved it. Yvette Mimieux is a beautiful young woman and Monte Markham a handsome young man (who is actually death in human form) the story is great. The quality of the film does not do the actors or the story justice, however it is such a captivating story and the stars so easy on the eyes it makes it easy to ignore the lack of quality. The movie instantly became one of my all time favorites. I have been looking for it on VHS or DVD ever since. I finally got a copy that was made off of 16mm film but the quality is just OK, but at least I could finally watch it again. I fell in love with it all over again.

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Robert Butler; Produced by George Eckstein, for Universal TV, telecast by ABC-TV. Screenplay by Rita Lakin; Photography by Michael Margulies; Edited by Michael Economou; Music by Laurindo Almeida; Art Direction by Eugene Lourie; Assistant Director: James Fargo. Starring: Yvette Mimieux, Monte Markham, Melvyn Douglas, Myrna Loy, Bert Convy, Kerwin Mathews and Priscilla Pointer.

Poor TV rehash of a classic, which dissipates all of the story's value by stressing pretentious, pseudo-contemporary. Nauseatingly contrived dialogue. Death, personified as a man, coming to Earth and falling in love, and then returning home, thereby breaking the spell of no death in the world while he is here. It's a plot that should be put to rest,

It is easy to dismiss this film as a cheap remake of the original Fredric March vehicle, but there is so much more here than simple recapitulation!

The story is timeless. It takes a very definite philosophical stance on a subject which will always be relevant to all of us. Namely, how shall we cope with our own deaths when the reality confronts us?

What impressed me most about this production was the way in which death was presented. Death appears here as a gentle, benign presence. This presentation is a far cry from the monstrous horror we have come to expect from death. Death in this film is not a Grim Reaper wishing to engulf us in his inevitability. He wishes only to present himself as a fact of life. To understand himself and be understood by others as an experience which has a unique time and place for everyone. Occurring not one moment sooner nor later than necessary, and then as something not to be feared, but rather embraced in its turn.

There are other reasons to watch this rare production of the story. The fine cast: the beautiful Yvette Mimieux is in her prime here and perfect for the title role. I say "title role" because there is actually a dual title role here. It is the interaction between Yvette Mimieux's character and Monte Markham as Death that sets up the central dilemma that drives the picture. Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas are fine in supporting roles. Laurindo Almeida's haunting score creates an atmosphere of romantic suspense even while it facilitates contemplation.

So why doesn't this production have a better reputation? I suspect it's because, while the actors fulfill their roles admirably, they do so in a nuts and bolts manner which lacks drama. This production of the story is therefore out of step with the prevailing value in Hollywood: entertainment. For maximum entertainment value, a picture with greater dramatic impact is preferable.

Nevertheless, it is testimony to the dramatic impact and eternal relevance of this story that it has been remade several times since with great success, most notably in "Meet Joe Black." "Death Takes A Holiday" is a fine, underrated film which I give three stars!

Made-for-tv movies, in their heyday, were a very hit or miss thing. Most were boilerplate weekly entries with limited budgets and were quickly forgotten.

But some, a handful of them, were excellent, as good as anything else you'll see either at the movies or on TV. And some of those have had remarkable staying power, still available either on DVD or streaming. The two Richard Chamberlain entries; Count of Monte Christo and The Man in the Iron Mask come to mind, or Elizabeth Montgomery's excellent portrayal of Lizzie Borden, Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black. And several others.

Death Takes a Holiday is among that group, it's an extremely well done remake of the classic Frederic March film which itself was based on a play. It's better than you have any right to expect for a tv movie and boasts some big names (at the time) including Myrna Loy and Yvette Mimieux and veteran tv actor Monte Markham. All are superb in their roles and turn in top notch performances.

I've only seen this movie twice; when it was first broadcast and then once in the 80's when it was rerun. Sadly, unlike the movies mentioned above it then disappeared. It's not available anywhere that I can find and I've looked because I've never forgotten it and would love to watch it again. Yes the golden age of made-for-tv movies was very much a hit or miss affair, Death Takes a Holiday was one of the hits and deserves to be re-released.

Note; it was remade, after a fashion, in the 90's as Meet Joe Black starring Brad Pitt. In my opinion a weak, poorly written and poorly acted "remake" though only the premise is the same, the plot is completely different. It's a movie that's best forgotten. The 70's version is vastly superior.

This movie is a wonderful, romantic remake of the original of the same name. Monte Markham gives one of his best performances and Yvette Mimieux is both able and breathtakingly beautiful playing the woman with whom Death becomes infatuated.

This movie isn't as dark as the original with Frederic March, but it makes the same bold choice in the ending.

A definite "two thumbs up," "must see."