The Time of Their Lives

Plot synopsis:
The time is 1780, and Horatio Prim (Lou Costello) is a master tinker. He travels to the Kings Point estate of Tom Danbury (Jess Barker) with a letter of commendation from Gen. George Washington. He plans to present this letter to Danbury, hoping it will persuade the wealthy man to let Horatio marry Nora O'Leary (Anne Gillis), Danbury's housemaid. Unfortunately, Horatio has a romantic rival in Cuthbert Greenway (Bud Abbott), Danbury's butler, who is very fond of Nora and intends to prevent Horatio from presenting his letter, which Nora has taken for safekeeping.
Nora happens to overhear Danbury discussing his part in Benedict Arnold's plot; Danbury captures her, and hides the commendation letter in a secret compartment of the mantel clock. Danbury's fiancée, Melody Allen (Marjorie Reynolds), witnesses the situation and sets off on horseback to warn Washington's army. She enlists Horatio's help, but the two of them are mistakenly shot by American troops who are arriving at the estate. Their bodies are thrown down a well, and the soldiers ransack the house and burn it to the ground. The souls of the two unfortunates are condemned to remain on the estate until the "crack of doom" unless evidence of their innocence can be proved to the world.
For the next 166 years the ghosts of Horatio and Melody roam the grounds of the estate. Then, in the 1940s, the estate is restored by Sheldon Gage (John Shelton). When the restoration is finished, complete with the "original" furniture (which was removed before the estate's fateful burning), Sheldon invites some friends to spend the night there. Accompanying him are his psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenway (Bud Abbott), a descendant of Cuthbert, as well as Sheldon's fiancée, June Prescott (Lynn Baggett) and her Aunt Millie (Binnie Barnes).
Upon arriving they are greeted by Emily (Gale Sondergaard), the maid who strongly believes that the estate is haunted. Ghosts Horatio and Melody have some fun with this idea and try to scare the guests (playing the harpsichord, turning on the radio full volume), especially Greenway whom Horatio mistakes for Cuthbert and hits with a candlestick. The newcomers hold a séance (during which Dr. Greenway is struck by Horatio for asking if he and Melody are "the two traitors" buried in the well) and learn the identities of the two ghosts, and of the letter which can free them (the spirit of Tom, channeling through Emily, relays the secret combination to open the clock and reveal the letter). They search for the letter but soon learn that not all of the furniture is original, as the clock that holds the letter sits in a New York museum. Greenway, as a way of atoning for the cruelty of his predecessor, travels to the museum to retrieve the letter. However, unexpected events force him to steal it. He arrives back at the estate with the state police in pursuit. Horatio uses the curse to his and Melody's advantage by riding in the police car that is supposed to take Greenway to jail; the car is thus prevented from leaving the estate, until the clock is opened.
Finally the letter is found, and Melody and Horatio leave the estate to enter heaven, each called by a loved one (Melody by Tom & Horatio by Nora). Unfortunately for Horatio, who is met at heaven's gate by Nora, he must wait one more day, as Nora points to a sign that says "Closed for Washington's Birthday".

Tags: romantic

Review:
Coming after LITTLE GIANT, a film in which Abbott and Costello were NOT a pair and in which Bud Abbott played a dual role, here is the second film that experimented with the A&C format.
The film is set in the Revolutionary War period and then in 1946, with Costello playing the same role in both parts, and Abbott playing different roles (although the characters are related, just spread over 170 years!).
THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES is a nice change-of-pace for the Abbott and Costello fan, and once again shows that Costello was capable of carrying an entire feature film himself--and that Bud Abbott was excellent in character roles, not just as half of a comedy team.
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.
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.
Bud plays a tipsy servant who attempts to woo a maid who is in love with Costello, a poor tinker called Horatio Prim.
They also have a physic housekeeper, the wonderful Gale Sondergaard.After haunting them, they try and find the letter which prooves their innocence...This is a more interesting A+C film than a funny one.
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.
Following the disappointing returns of "Little Giant," Universal decided to continue the experiment of using Abbott and Costello as separate characters in a film -- but with a few changes.
The end result was "The Time of Their Lives," which must rank high among the best of A&C's films.Perhaps one reason A&C's characters were not a team again in this film was a feud between Abbott and Costello, but no one is quite sure.
With "Little Giant," this effort failed; with "TOTL," they succeeded because Abbott fits so naturally into both his characters and because the storyline is fresh and different.The tried-and-true A&C routines are missing, but no one notices because much of the humor derives from situations, which are often funny.
I agree with everyone that if A&C had broken up at this time, Abbott would have made a fine character actor in comedies, in a Eugene Pallette sort of way (though without Pallette's girth.)Despite the reputation this film enjoys today, 1946 audiences seemed rather tepid towards another A&C situational comedy with the boys not appearing as a team.
"TTOTL" continues that experiment, but produces much better results.The tail--of a pair of Revolutionary War ghosts (Costello and the beautiful Marjorie Reynolds) trying to clear their names in 1946--has heart.
THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (1946) ***1/2 Abbott and Costello original with the team "separated": Lou's a Revolutionary War-era ghost with comely spirit Marjorie Reynolds who both were murdered and branded traitors to America, and due to a curse set upon their souls are forced to remain on Earth until they are proven patriots thanks to a letter in an antique clock authored by George Washington.
It is an unusual film - their is some interplay between the two in the 18th Century sequences, where Abbott's Cuthbert plays his normal bossy and unscrupulous acquaintance to Costello's patriotic Horatio.
And Abbott decides to redeem his family name by freeing the ghosts.It is surprising that the Arnold Conspiracy is the only incident of the American Revolution that seems to have been properly handled in the movies, both here and in the later THE SCARLET COAT.
Otoh it isn't the best A&C film as they were again working within a separate framework ('Little Giant' being the other), instead of Abbott & Costello the comedy team this was Abbott, and Costello the comedy actors.
And even though the print is in pristine condition, at the time of writing in 2005 had not been shown on UK TV since 1.10.1977!The plot - Costello and Reynolds shot by their own side by mistake and also rather vehemently accursed as traitors by the Major in charge in 1780, after 165 years as ghosts they both get the chance to clear themselves of the slur and take their place in Heaven.
I won't argue over this Abbott and Costello comedy being called the very best of the duo's pictures simply because it's really the only one with a complete, polished feel--it leaves you entertained and satisfied at the end.
Costello is mistaken for a traitor and killed, later turning up as a ghost to haunt Abbott, who is a relative of Lou's murderer.
But not all of it is as spontaneously funny as you might wish it to be, although fans of the duo will probably not complain.A decided asset is a good cast, including MARJORIE REYNOLDS as Lou's ghost-mate intent on finding a missing letter from George Washington that will prove that she and LOU COSTELLO are not traitors.
BUD ABBOT does some more serious emoting than usual and does surprisingly well without slapping Costello around, for a change.Summing up: An unusual A&C comedy that their fans should enjoy--including some surprisingly good special effects..
During the filming of The Time Of Their Lives and on into Little Giant Bud and Lou had come a cropper in their relationship.
But in the case of The Time Of Their Lives, Universal came up with one of their best films with roles perfectly suited to their talents.
Abbott has his own scheme afoot, it's to take Anne Gillis away from tinker Horatio Prim who is played by Lou Costello.
The Time Of Their Lives is a charming fantasy where both Bud and Lou successfully manage to transcend their usual roles and still maintain their loyal fan base.
Two more members of the cast who make invaluable contributions to the fun are Gale Sondergaard full time housekeeper and part time medium who is the key to solving the ghost's problems and Donald MacBride as the state police trooper who does his patented slow burn routine in the climax when the ghosts takeover his patrol car.This is one of Abbott&Costello's best films and in fact it's done without any of their burlesque routines, just on characterization alone..
Bud plays two roles in the film and is very funny when being haunted by the ghosts.This movie offered A&C a good script to work with and they do a great job with it.
Unlike "Little Giant" this movie works with A&C not acting as partners and Lou especially shows some good range as an actor mixing in a more tolerable level of pathos with his standard slapstick comedy.
I guess it depends on your fondness for Abbot & Costello as a team but for me this is without question the best film the team ever made with Buck Privates a close second.The pair share hardly any screen time together due to the demands of the script and also apparently because of behind the scenes tensions between the team.
Marjorie Reynolds' kindly patience with the sweet but dithering Lou adds a great deal of charm to their scenes, and makes him less buffoonish, as wronged ghosts frustrated by their inability to prove their innocence.
The Time of Their Lives is the only movie which features Abbott and Costello in separate scenes, not interacting in their usual hokey movie-comedy-vaudevillian ways.
Both Lou and Bud perform beautifully in this film, proving again the idea that it takes two strong team members to create a comedy duo so successful!
Throughout the whole film a true Abbott n' Costello fan is keeping his fingers crossed that these two best buds wind up in the `same dimension'.
Very different Abbott and Costello movie is one of their best.
The story is about two people (Lou Costello, Marjorie Reynolds) during the Revolutionary War who are mistakenly believed to be traitors and killed.
Arguably the best Abbott and Costello film.
Costello as an inept ghost from revolutionary times and Abbott as a psychiatrist, of all things.
Reynolds and Costello are two wandering spirits from George Washington's time condemned to haunt an estate until they can clear themselves of bogus charges of treason.
One of the best Abbott and Costello films made.
One of the best Abbott and Costello films made.
Both Abbot and Costello are very good in this film and it lets people see why they are considered one of the best teams of all time..
And Lou gets to torment Bud with ghostly tricks in several scenes.I think kids would enjoy it, if they're not too prejudiced against old B&W films..
), I do think this is one of their best films, particularly since Bud & Lou never actually interact with one another.
Except for one amusing and diabolical scene near the top, the boys actually work apart as Lou plays a ghost from Revolutionary times and Bud the descendant of his rival who cannot see or hear him.
The seance scene is very chilling and scary, but there are a lot of wonderful comedy acts as Bud wonders why Lou's spirit is "out to get him." In fact, Costello looks like he's getting even for the abuse in their previous movies which adds so much to the movie's charm.
unfortunately, it will only be a matter of time until this like all the great ghost movies of the past will probably be remade as well..
Most unusual A&C film starts off in the Revoluntionary War where Horatio (Bud Abbott) and Melody (Marjorie Reynolds) are shot and killed and mistakenly believed to be traitors.
Abbott & Costello shave precious little screen time together--but they're still great.
Bud plays both Cuthbert & his descendant Dr. Ralph Greenway, who during the Revolutionary War betrays Tinker Horatio Prim(played by Lou) who has in his possession a letter of recommendation from General George Washington.
THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (Universal, 1946), directed Charles Barton, is an Abbott and Costello comedy with originality, in fact, one of the very few where they break away from their routine style of limited story tied together with tried and true comedy routines.
With the team heading the cast, it's Lou Costello's film all the way with the top-billed Bud Abbott having less screen time but taking an important part as two different characters from two different generations.
It's uncertain how audiences of the day responded to Bud and Lou in a period piece/fantasy film, but the result from today's classic movie lovers rank this the most interesting and favorable Abbott and Costello comedy thus far.
Horatio Prim (Lou Costello), a patriotic tinker, loves Nora O'Leary (Anne Gillis), a Danbury housemaid, with whom he intends to elope.
When Nora overhears Tom Danbury (Jess Barker) to be working with Benedict Arnold and plotting against General Washington, she is caught and abducted with Horatio's letter taken and placed in a secret compartment in a clock.
After experiencing some supernatural haunts, it is Emily (Gale Sondergaard), the psychic maid, through a "ghost to ghost broadcast" séance, who reveals the truth of the earthbound spirits wanting help to prove their innocence.While Abbott and Costello obviously failed with their initial "split teaming" comedy of LITTLE GIANT (1946), THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (title not to be confused with a James Cagney comedy, THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE, 1948) makes up for it for obvious reasons.
Played straight throughout, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES succeeds with its developed story, great use of special effects, spooky sequences, funny slapstick by Costello and witty dialog recited by Binnie Barnes.
Other key elements include Costello tampering with modern appliances such as the telephone and radio, along with a dark and gloomy séance headed by Emily communicating with the dead, with some surprises thrown in.THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES further proves Abbott and Costello capable of working successfully either a team or as separate characters.
Costello, remaining true to form with his bumbling character, has a new counterpart, wonderfully played by Marjorie Reynolds in one of the few times on screen where she's used to good advantage.
Thanks to frequent television revivals over the past few decades, and availability on both VHS and DVD formats, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES has earned the reputation it deserves as being one of finer comedies starring Abbott and Costello.
When Melody Allen (Majorie Randolph) Danbury's fiancée, the future mistress of the great estate discovers the treason, Melody enlists Horatio Prim, a faithful tinker (Lou Costello), who can gain access to George Washington.
Though a letter of recommendation from Washington to the tinker been stolen by the snide Cuthbert (Bud Abbot), Melody and Horatio Prim the Tinker set off to report Master Danbury.
Redemption From DamnationTheir chance to escape eternal damnation comes almost 150 years later, the new master of the manor falls into a spell of melancholia and is treated by a psychiatrist Dr Greenway (Bud Abbot) a great-grandson of Cuthbert, a soft, indecisive bumbling look a like for his snide ancestor.
Though there are funny scenes, the film is more of a fantasy or a gentle ghost story than a comedy.
great Abbott and Costello film..
so make sure that you rent or buy the time of their lives because it is a great bud Abbott and Lou Costello film.
Time of Their Lives, The (1946) *** (out of 4) Costello and another woman are killed and labeled traitors but 200 years later their ghosts have a chance to clear their name.
The Best of the Abbott/Costello Film Series.
"The Time of Their Lives" is one of only 2 instances where Bud Abbott and Lou Costello didn't do the duo thing.
And it is also refreshing to see Abbott get the short end of the stick after years of treating Costello so shabbily.Costello plays Horatio Prim, a tinker during the Revolutionary War. Wanting the hand of a maid that works for a wealthy family,he has a letter of recommendation from George Washington.
Unfortunately the letter, which was given to Melody Allen (Marjorie Reynolds)is taken (Seems the master of the house was working with Benedict Arnold) and both Horatio and Melody are shot and thrown into a well, mistaken as traitors.
Cursed to remain on the property until the end of time, Horatio and Melody spend the many years (200, to be precise)sitting in a tree, unhappy.It isn't until a descendants of the butler of the plantation, Dr. Cuthbert (Abbott, playing both roles)and some guests come to stay at the house that Horatio and Melody's luck changes.
Perhaps Abbott & Costello's best movie.
Lou Costello plays Horatio Prim, a Revolutionary War tinker loyal to the Revolutionary cause; and Bud Abbott plays Cuthbert Greenway, a butler who has wronged him.
In the 1946, Abbott and Costello were at each other's throats and refused to work with each other BUT would still make films.
While they both were in LITTLE GIANT and THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES, they didn't do all that many scenes together and they definitely didn't look like a team.
Because of a mistake, Lou Costello and Marjorie Reynolds both were killed and assumed to be traitors to the revolutionary cause.
Upon their death, they were cursed and their ghosts were to haunt the property forever--or until there is proof that the two were not traitors.Now, in the present day of 1946, the mansion where they'd been killed was newly restored and once again people started coming back to the property where Lou and Marjorie were stuck.
Eventually, they are able to communicate, of sorts, with the present time and a search begins to locate a letter from General Washington that proves they were NOT bad guys after all.It's interesting that Bud Abbott plays dual roles (just like he did in the previous film).
Just as in the Abbott and Costello movie that was released prior to this one, "Little Giant", Bud and Lou do not appear together as a team, and quite coincidentally, Bud shows up as two different characters once again with opposite personalities.
One's a mean spirited cad who wants to steal Horatio Prim's (Costello) girl, and later in the modern day setting of the story, someone who's willing to help the ghost of Horatio and Melody Allen (Marjorie Reynolds) clear their names of being accused as traitors to the American Revolutionary cause.
Poor Horatio(Lou Costello) and Melody(Marjorie Reynolds) are having the time of their ghostly lives, haunting the arrivals to the newly restored Danbury mansion.
Costello's naive, fumbling character fits right in, as a ghost who doesn't really know what it is about and has to improvise a lot, being as confused as the living.Another strong point with the movie is the special effects.
Just about all their films received a good work-out, right through from their first One Night in the Tropics (1940) to their second-last Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy (1955).
And the effects here represent cinema magic at its best.OTHER VIEWS: Of all the Abbott and Costello comedies, The Time of Their Lives is the most interesting.
This time our story takes you back to the colonial period just after the Revolutionary War. Horatio Prim (Lou Costello) is a master tinker who finally travels to Danbury estate with a letter of commendation from General George Washington.
Horatio's rival is of course is Cuthbert Greenway played by (Bud Abbott) who is also the butler and has eyes for Nora as well.
(She got along famously with Fred Astaire) and this ghostly comedy with Bud and Lou. A better than usual script and truly outstanding ghostly special effects enhance one of their best films of all time.