Pleasure Bound 1929

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent work selected across the Feature Film, Short Film, Indie Series and New Frontier categories for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

The story at the heart of Death Takes a Holiday has taken many forms over the years. It first came to life (so to speak) as La Morte in Vacanza, written in 1924 by the Italian writer Alberto Casella. Originally billed as a 'supernatural comedy,' it was to be Casella's only major success outside of his home country, but what a success it was. Coming to Broadway in 1929, the play was seen in a popular English-language version by Walter Ferris and was first given the title Death Takes a Holiday. After that production's success, the play was also made into a beloved 1934 film starring Fredric March and would continue to appear in many forms over the following decades.