thejcowboy22 Review of The Time of Their Lives

The Time of Their Lives (1946)

Nimbus Hypnosticas Lazzum Bid-dar! Independents Day for Bud and Lou

[7/10 · 10 July 2017]

Sometimes when you go against the grain or switch an ingredient or upset the status quo you develop Champagne! What a departure from the regular Abbott and Costello movies from before. 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 wants to show the document to Master Danbury for permission to marry his Housemaid Nora O'Leary (Ann Gillis). 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. Greenway tries to intercept the letter of commendation but Nora takes the letter for safe keeping. To make matters worse, Nora over hears Danbury discussing switching sides with the British under the direction of Benedict Arnold. Danbury discovers Nora eavesdropping and abducts her and confiscates the commendation letter and puts it in his mantel clock. Danbury's fiancé Melody Allen (Majorie Reynolds) witnesses the kidnapping and changes clothes plus volunteers the clumsy, portly Prim to ride along to warn General Washington of the plot. Unfortunately the two are mistakenly shot by Washington's troops and their bodies are thrown down a well on the grounds of Danbury Manor. Branded traitors the two are cursed for eternity to be imprisoned on those grounds unless they find that commendation letter from George Washington. Melody and Horatio separate from their dead carcasses as a thirsty Horatio drinks water only to have the water spout out of him from all sides. The two also witness the destruction of Danbury Manor to fire. Time passes by, one hundred and sixty six years to be exact. Our two ghost witness the reconstruction of Danbury Manor to it's original state by Sheldon Gage (John Shelton). Gage invites some guests to his newly remodeled manor. Doctor Ralph Greenway also played by Bud Abbott, who is a descendant of Cuthbert Greenway has no knowlege of his ancestor's past. The other guests of the cast include June Prescott (Lynn Baggett) who is Gage's fiancé and Prescott's Aunt Millie played by wise aching Binnie Barnes. The house keeper Emily who has a knack for sensing the Ghostly inhabitants is played by Gale Sondergaard. Horatio and Melody reek havoc as they turn on light fixtures, play the radio and even have a fashion show down the main staircase as Dr. Greenway thinks he's losing his mind. One important fact!!! The original furniture of Danbury Manor was removed including the mantel clock where the infamous letter is stored before the fire was committed. A seance is held as Emily obtains the voice of the late Thomas Danbury who informs the group as well as our lovable Ghosts where the letter is hidden. To atone for his Ancestor's sins against Horatio, Dr. Greenway travels to the museum and steels the mantel clock in hopes of releasing the curse which bonds the two ghost to Earth. The cops follow Greenway back to Danbury Manor for the clock as comedy reigns as Horatio takes his first driving lesson with rave reviews. Weird watching Abbott and Costello work independently. Also strange is seeing Bud Abbott drive an Automobile despite issues with Epilepsy. Also an anomaly is seeing Costello doing the pranks against Abbott mainly physical kicking Abbott in the pants. Despite the drastic changes from the original formula it all worked for me. Ionly wished Bud Abbott would have gone on his own to do serious roles when Lou passed in 1959. On the other hand Lou was the partner of the two that was the risk taker in all their endeavors. Lou would depute movie contracts, larger trailers etc..Bud was mainly a pacifist due to the fact he was very sub-conscious of his affliction of epileptic fits. Lou did venture out on his own to do the TV show Wagon Train and The Thirty Foot Bride of Candy Rock. Time wasn't on Lou's side though as his weak heart gave out in his early 50's despite being in huge demand.Bud Abbott tried to capture the old magic with a different partner but somethings just don't click. Basically this movie showcased two different talents independently.