How did Death Takes a Holiday establish Mitchell Leisen as a director?

After transitioning from his work as a production designer and assistant director, Mitchell Leisen was given his first opportunity to direct solo with Cradle Song (1933). However, it was his subsequent film, the elegantly crafted allegory Death Takes a Holiday (1934), that truly established his reputation as a director.1

In this film, Fredric March portrayed Death incarnate, who visits an Italian villa to observe humanity and falls in love with a woman who chooses to sacrifice her life to be with him. This success helped solidify Leisen's standing at Paramount, where he would go on to build a career noted for his deep appreciation for set design and his subtle understanding of romantic dynamics.12