Warner Archive Blu-ray Review: On Borrowed Time

Jason Lockard December 31, 2025

When you think of Hollywood icons, they don't come much more iconic than that of Lionel Barrymore and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. These two have been in so many classic films it's hard to count. But the two joined forces in 1939 for an MGM drama entitled On Borrowed Time.

Now the good folks at Warner Archive Collection have restored and released this MGM film on Blu-ray for the first time ever, complete with bonus features.

Synopsis: Death has come for Gramps Northrup. But Gramps has important work to do: raising his orphaned grandson. So, he uses a bit of magic to trap Death in the branches of an apple tree. Clever work, Gramps! Or is it? With Death on hiatus, other folks whose time has come -- folks who are worn out, ill and in pain -- can't be released from their earthly suffering...and Gramps begins to wonder if he's done the right thing.

On Borrowed Time is a whimsical tale focusing on death. Now on the surface that doesn't sound entertaining, but it is! The film boasts of an emotionally moving story and simply wonderful performances by the cast with the standouts being Lionel Barrymore and Sir Cedric Hardwicke.

Warner Archive Collection have transferred this film to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in the original 1.37:1. The audio track is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The classic black and white picture really benefits from the new 4k restoration. There is nothing like that glorious black and white of classic Hollywood. But a wonderful restoration is not all this Blu-ray disc has going for it. Warner Archive added some great bonus features to this disc as well!

Bonus Features:
* Two radio adaptations:
- 4/1/1946 broadcast of Screen Guil Theater with Lionel Barrymore
-10/29/1948 broadcast of Great Scenes from Great Plays with Boris Karloff
* Classic MGM Cartoon Wanted No Master
* Classic MGM Fitzpatrick Traveltalks
* A Day on Treasure Island
* Original Theatrical Trailer

The radio adaptions are always a welcomed addition to these Blu-ray releases. As a person who works in radio these are so much fun to have as part of the Blu-ray. Then there are the shorts and cartoon. Warner Archive really did make this Blu-ray release something special.

If you love classic MGM dramas this new Blu-ray of On Borrowed Time is defiantly for your head over to MovieZyng or Amazon and order your copy of this Blu-ray today to add to your home video library.