The Time of Their Lives (1946)

Two ghosts who were mistakenly branded as traitors during the Revolutionary War return to 20th century New England to retieve a letter from George Washington which would prove their ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Barton

Writers:

Val Burton (original screenplay), Walter DeLeon (original screenplay),

Stars:

Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Marjorie Reynolds

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	...	Lt. Mason
William Hall	...	Sgt. Conners
Robert Barrat	...	Maj. Putnam (as Robert H. Barrat)
Rex Lease	...	Sgt. Makepeace

Storyline

Two ghosts who were mistakenly branded as traitors during the Revolutionary War return to 20th century New England to retieve a letter from George Washington which would prove their innocence.

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Plot Keywords:

george washington | traitor | ghost | letter | romantic rivalry | 

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Taglines:

FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DIE LAUGHING! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Ghost Steps Out

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$830,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three weeks into shooting, Lou Costello demanded that his role be switched with Bud Abbott's. When director Charles Barton explained that this was unreasonable, Costello walked off the set. The cast and crew frantically worked around him for the next two weeks, when Costello slipped back onto the set and completed the film. He never apologized or explained his behavior.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

References Rebecca (1940)

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Soundtracks

"How Dry I Am"
(uncredited)
Music by Arthur Fields
Lyrics by Fred Hall
In the score when Horatio drinks by the well

User Reviews

Good stuff

1780, during the revolutionary war, there is a ball on. The master of the estate, Tom Danbery, is a rebel who plots against Washington. Bud plays a tipsy servant who attempts to woo a maid who is in love with Costello, a poor tinker called Horatio Prim. Prim has a letter of recomendation from Washington himself and he and the maid, Nora, plan to elope but Abbott tricks him into getting trapped in a large trunk. Some of Danberry's men show up and discuss their plan, only to discover Nora overlistening. They do away with her. Danberry's fiance, Melody Allen, is wise to the plan and after helping Tinker escape from the trunk asks him to take her to the nearest soldiers standpoint. As they race off on their horses, Washington's men arrive on the scene looking for Danberry. Thinking they are rebels, Prim and Melody race off in the oposite direction. Mistaking them for traitors too, the man shoot them dead on the spot. The Leader curses their souls and bounds them to the grounds for all time till they can proove their innocence. The house is destroyed and the furniture taken away. Danberry has hidden the letter which prooves their innocence in the library clock.

Cut to 1946. The ghosts are still their but the mansion has been restored. A man recovering froma nervous breakdown, his girl and her outspoken Aunt move in with the original butler's descendant (again, played by an outstading Bud). 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. Great performances by all though Lou tries a little to hard at times. I think it's an interesting perforamce by him as I can see shades of his characters from his early films and also his later films. He fumbles with his hat for the 1st time in this film. Bud is superb. I didn't rate his acting in their last couple of films for universal (especially ...meet the keystone Kops) but here, he shines. All of the supporting are great too.

Both Bud and Lou have memorable opening scenes with Bud, the tipsy waitor and Lou asleep on his horse. Good music, great effects and good fun. It has been labelled as an Abbott and Costello film for those who don't like Abbott and Costello. Fun for all the family!