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On Borrowed Time (1939)
Boy owns a large octagonal inscribed "love token" medal
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The 1939 film "On Borrowed Time" shows a "love token" created from an octagonal medal.
Love Tokens are coins which have engravings applied to one side.
They were popular in the late 1800's and were usually made as gifts.
The film is a fantasy tale based on the 1937 novel of the same title by Lawrence Edward Watkin.
It is set in the town of Gainesville, Massachusetts.
Pud Northrop is a young boy whose parents are killed in an automobile accident.
He is wealthy due to inheritance and a life insurance policy.
His grandparents Julian and Nellie Northrup become his guardians and engage in a custody
legal fight with the boy's aunt Demetria Riffle who only wants the boy for his money.
Julian Northrup, also called "Gramps", is an eighty years old Union Civil War veteran
who uses a wheelchair.
It is not stated in the film but in the novel Julian worked for forty years as a watch engraver
for the Tiffany & Co jewelry store in New York City.
In the film Julian is shown engraving an item.
The other main character in the film is Mr. Brink, the agent of Death who wants Julian to "come with him."
At one time Pud runs away from home and takes with him an large octagon medal inscribed
as a "love token" from Gramps.
1. Title
The film begins with a Foreword:
FOREWORD
We tell you a tale of everyday people in a little town of present-day America.
It is an absurd, charming and stupendous story - but it is not a new one.
Gossip of a similar amazing occurrence was whispered in the days when old Chaucer
was writing his "Canterbury Tales."
Mr. Chaucer liked the story and believed it -- and so do we. If, perchance, you
don't believe it, we respectfully insist that we [and Mr. Chaucer] must be right.
Because faith still performs miracles and a good deed does find it's just reward.
Mr. Brink waves at an automobile requesting a ride.
2. Mr. Brink requests a ride
The car is driven by James Northrup, a local doctor, and his wife is a passenger.
The car stops to pick up Mr. Brink and drives away, showing a Massachusetts 1939 license plate.
A crash is then heard followed by policemen at the wreck.
Demetria Riffle learns about the deaths and goes to inform Julian and Nellie.
3. Demetria informs the Northrups
Demetria knows that the boy's father, a doctor, left the boy a large sum of money,
and she begins suggesting that she would make a better parent than the elderly Northrups.
Pud has disliked Demetria for a long time.
A scene of the Northrups at home shows Julian engraving something.
4. Julian engraving
Demetria's attorney files a custody suit and Julian brings Pud to see his lawyers.
Demetria states that she is going to teach Pud "manners" and send him to a girl's school.
5. Julian and Pud see the lawyers
Mr. Brink pays a visit to Pud's grandmother Nellie leaving Julian alone.
Soon after he visits Julian.
6. Mr. Brink visits Julian
He asks Julian to "come with him" but Julian is able to trick him into climbing a magical tree
which will not let him climb down.
Julian tells his story to Dr. Evans, a local doctor and friend, who doesn't believe him until
he sees a bird touch the tree and die.
Demetria is informed of the situation, doesn't believe it, and continues her custody fight
by getting a court order sending Julian to an asylum.
Dr. Evans and a man from the asylum arrive to pick up Julian.
7. Julian won't go
Julian says he will go if Dr. Evans can kill a fly which he fails to do.
However, Demetria does get a custody order and Julian has to say goodbye to Pud.
8. Julian says goodbye to Pud
Demetria and the sheriff arrive to pick up Pud who hides in a cellar.
9. Julian gets a message
Julian pretends to hear Mr. Brink claim that he is going to take Demetria and the Sheriff,
and for the first time, Demetria backs off.
Pud emerges from the cellar and prepares to run away by packing his goods.
10. Pud packs his goods
The shelves are labeled "Pud's Museum."
11. Pud reaches for a medal
Pud reaches for a large octagonal medal with a ribbon attached.
The medal is then shown.
12. Gramps' love token
The medal is engraved "Pud from Gramp" with a design around the text, similar to a "love token."
Love tokens are usually engraved on coins but a medal will do.
Pud walks outside and passes the tree.
13. Mr. Brink calls Pud
Mr. Brink dares him to climb up and when Pud balks he calls him a "baby calf."
Pud climbs the fence but falls off.
Later Pud is in bed and the doctor tells Julian that Pud will never walk again.
Julian takes Pud and wheels him outside and tells Mr. Brink he can come down.
14. Mr. Brink takes Julian and Pud
A Love Token:
15. Love Token with Owl Design
Silver, 18 mm, 2.09 gm
The base coin is an American 1877 Seated Liberty dime or ten cent coin.
Cast, Directors, Writers:
Lionel Barrymore as Julian Northrup / Gramps
Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Mr. Brink
Beulah Bondi as Granny / Nellie
Bobs Watson as Pud Northrup
Eily Malyon as Demetria Riffle
Henry Travers as Dr. Evans
Director: Harold S. Bucquet
Writers: Alice D.G. Miller, Frank O'Neill, Claudine West, Paul Osborn (play),
Lawrence Edward Watkin (novel)
Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Mr. Brink
Beulah Bondi as Granny / Nellie
Bobs Watson as Pud Northrup
Eily Malyon as Demetria Riffle
Henry Travers as Dr. Evans
Writers: Alice D.G. Miller, Frank O'Neill, Claudine West, Paul Osborn (play),
Lawrence Edward Watkin (novel)
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