The Time of Their Lives (1946)

Director:

Charles Barton

Writers:

Val Burton (original screenplay) &
Walter DeLeon (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 August 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Something NEW from BUD and LOU !

Plot:

Two ghosts who were mistakenly branded as traitors during the Revolutionary War return to 20th century...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | George Washington | Letter | Traitor | Hay

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Bud Abbott	...	Cuthbert Greenway / Dr. Ralph Greenway
Lou Costello	...	Horatio Prim
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Melody Allen
Binnie Barnes	...	Mildred Dean
John Shelton	...	Sheldon Gage
Gale Sondergaard	...	Emily
Lynn Baggett	...	June Prescott (as Lynne Baggett)
Jess Barker	...	Thomas Danbury
Ann Gillis	...	Nora O'Leary (as Anne Gillis)
Donald MacBride	...	Lieutenant Mason
William Hall	...	Sergeant Conners
Robert Barrat	...	Major Putnam (as Robert H. Barrat)
Rex Lease	...	Sergeant Makepeace

Also Known As:

The Ghost Steps Out

Runtime:

USA:82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11771) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:K-16

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Lou Costello's practice of taking home props proved to be a major problem for the special effects crew. Some of the special effects shots required the sets and props to remain intact for shooting with, and without, the actors. Reportedly on one occasion when Lou removed a prop, it required two days of re-shooting for the special effects department.

Quotes:

Mildred Dean: [to Emily] Pardon me, but did I see you in "Rebecca?"

Movie Connections:

References Rebecca (1940)

Soundtrack:

How Dry I Am

Enjoyable & Creative

This enjoyable and rather creative Abbott and Costello feature gives Bud and Lou each a chance to do a lot more on their own, while telling an entertaining story at a good pace. It's different from most of their films, in that Bud and Lou have very few moments when their characters interact. It works quite well, though, and it is certainly among their better movies.

The story takes a little while to set up, but then it begins to move more quickly. Once the prologue is over and the main plot begins, Costello and Marjorie Reynolds are quite entertaining as the two ghosts. There is just enough explanation provided to make the plot work, without going overboard or taking the premise too seriously.

The lengthy sequence with Bud and his friends trying to communicate with Costello and Reynolds provides many of the movie's best moments, and there is plenty of good material in the rest of the film as well. This picture delivers just what you hope for in a light comedy.