MartinHafer "Death Takes a Holiday" was a Broadway play, a 1934 film (starring Frederic March) and was remade a few years ago as "Meet Joe Black". In between, it was an installment of "The ABC Movie of the Week"-- starring Yvette Mimieux, Monte Markham, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas. Because it's such a familiar story, there is a good chance you, the reader, are already familiar with it...but here goes:The Angel of Death (Markham) sees a dying girl (Mimieux) but instead of taking her soul, he brings her back to life. After all, he really is not a person and doesn't understand us. And, through the young lady, he hopes to experience, for a brief time, what it is to be human. The young lady falls for him...though over time, her father starts to realize who their strange house guest might be...especially since from the time he arrived, no one...not a single soul on Earth has died!! And, while this might SEEM to be a good thing...it really isn't as mangled and twisted bodies inexplicably cannot be released through death.Monte Markham is an actor most folks who grew up in the 60s and 70s would recognize...at least his face. And, as death, he does a nice job. It's also nice to have Douglas and Loy on hand to offer the film a real sense of quality and class. I still prefer the original and urge you to try this first, but this TV version is still worth your time because the story is so strong.

James Christopher Wierzbicki (filmbuff-31) 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!

Bek This has to be my all-time favorite movie. Perhaps it appeals more as a Romance with supernatural undertones. The acting alone is not exceptional, but when you combine the story, actors, set and filming techniques....it's a winner.I remember seeing it on television in 1971 and then again in the late 90's. It's really a shame that this movie does not get more air play or that it has never been released on VHS or DVD. With the release of "Meet Joe Black," the story line was somewhat resurrected. However, this remake doesn't compare with the 1971 version.The original black and white version may appeal to some, but I really enjoyed the color version more. In fact, it wasn't until I saw the 1971 made for TV movie that I even heard about the book/play. The story really makes you wonder, not so much about the romance, but what WOULD really happen if "Death" took a holiday.

blanche-2 What a gorgeous film this is, and how it tugs at the heartstrings. Though quite different in tone from the Frederic March film of the same name, Death Takes a Holiday still tells the same story. Death takes human form and comes to earth to find out, as he puts it, "why people claim so tenaciously to life." Like the angel in "The Bishop's Wife," he falls for a mortal, played by Yvette Mimieux. Of course, while Death is on vacation, so to speak, nobody dies. And that has repercussions for Mimieux's family.The cast is absolutely superlative - Melvyn Douglas, Yvette Mimieux, Monte Markham, Myrna Loy, and Bert Convy.If you have a chance to see this film, don't miss it. I remember it so vividly. Make sure you have a box of tissues next to you.