The Time of Their Lives (1946)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

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

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:

When this film was scheduled to be shot, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were in the midst of one of their feuds, and were not speaking to each other. Consequently, the two have very few scenes where they appear together. They were also feuding when they began shooting Little Giant (1946), which is why they also have few scenes together in that picture.

Quotes:

Horatio Prim: [after seeing Emily for the first time] Zounds! What well did she come out of?

Movie Connections:

References Rebecca (1940)

Soundtrack:

Pop! Goes the Weasel

Not the Run of the Mill Abbott & Costello Movie AT ALL!

Growing up in the New York area as a kid, channel 11 (WPIX) used to show the Abbott and Costello movies every Sunday at 11:30 AM. I got to see virtually all of them. Some were OK (Buck Privates) while others were barely watchable (the later ones that start with "Abbott & Costello Meet [INSERT HORROR CHARACTER NAME]).

BUT...I have always noticed that "The Time of Their Lives" is definately very, very different from all of their other films. First of all it has a cohesive, discernable plot that isn't just about hanging the gags on. All of the comedic moments arise from and because of the plot and they work very well. And the resolution of the ghost's predicament (they were wrongly executed) is very satisfying.

It would be interesting to find out how and why this film was made because it differs so radically from the other Abbott & Costello films. Was it a fluke? Did the team seek better material? Did it simply come their way?

See this film. It's very good indeed.