galicea-19143 When most consider Abbott & Costello's expansive filmography, the first movies that usually come to mind are "Buck Privates" and "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein." As someone who's seen each of their films seven times, (or more, depending on movie), this one's my very favorite (although I think only truly faithful A&C lovers know how much fun it is). The casting choices are pitch perfect, (especially with Lou's beautiful co-star). The unique, innovative storyline takes Abbott & Costello back to the revolutionary era, each of them playing two different parts in past and present modes (circa 1945), gifting the audience a wonderfully funny double dose of sheer genius.I think it's one of A&C's most imaginative, brilliant scripts, with almost non-stop laughs. This is definite "must-watch cinema," a true comedic gem, so rare in the 21st century.

utgard14 Very different Abbott and Costello movie is one of their best. It's different because the story is much better than most A&C vehicles and because Bud & Lou barely appear together. Instead, Lou spends most of his time paired up with beautiful Marjorie Reynolds. It works though as the two have great chemistry. It's also different because it spends as much time, if not more, on the dramatic plot than it does on trying to be funny. The story is about two people (Lou Costello, Marjorie Reynolds) during the Revolutionary War who are mistakenly believed to be traitors and killed. Their bodies are dumped into a well and they are cursed to remain bound to the estate until they can prove they aren't traitors. Fast-forward to 1946 and the two ghosts hope the new owner of the estate may be the key to them finding peace at last.Abbott has a lesser part in dual roles. In 1780, he plays a villainous character who is in love with Lou's girlfriend. In 1946, he plays a descendant of that man who tries to atone for his ancestor's actions by helping the ghosts. He does get to be the brunt of physical comedy for once, which was amusing to see. As I said before, Lou spends most of his time with Reynolds. But it works well due to Reynolds' underrated comedic talents. She wasn't just a pretty face. Also features the great Gale Sondergaard as a housekeeper who believes in ghosts. Any movie with Sondergaard can't be bad. A fun movie that should please anybody who watches it, even if they aren't fans of other Abbott & Costello movies.

bkoganbing During the filming of The Time Of Their Lives and on into Little Giant Bud and Lou had come a cropper in their relationship. It looked like the team might in fact break up at that time. But Universal had both these guys signed to contracts and they weren't going to pay them for doing nothing.Given the situation both of these films were fashioned so that they were not exactly a comedy team and had only occasional scenes with each other. 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. In Bud Abbott's case it's two roles suitable to his talents. He plays Cuthbert Greenway a butler serving at Danbury Acres in 1780 during the Revolutionary War where the master Jess Barker is in league with Benedict Arnold and his scheme of treason. Abbott has his own scheme afoot, it's to take Anne Gillis away from tinker Horatio Prim who is played by Lou Costello. It's the usual Abbott and Costello shenanigans with a bit more bite to it as the boys were barely speaking to each other. Abbott tricks the trusting Costello into a trunk and locks it on him and takes Costello's prize possession, a letter of recommendation from George Washington himself as to Costello's honesty and patriotism. But the revolutionaries foil Arnold's plans as we know and come upon Danbury Acres and shoot both Costello and Marjorie Reynolds who is Barker's fiancé. They are cursed by the major in charge of the troop, Robert Barrat, to be bound to the Danbury Acres until crack of doom unless some evidence is found to prove they ain't traitors. Good thing he at least put an escape clause in.Fast forward six generations to 1946 and Abbott is now his own great great great grandson, a psychiatrist who's there with friends Binnie Barnes, John Shelton, and Lynn Baggett. Abbott and Shelton are now trying to restore the old mansion.Of course the ectoplasmic Costello and Reynolds are happy just to have company after 166 years. And Costello seeing his old enemy takes some ages overdue payback on the descendant. For once Abbott becomes the butt of Costello's humor. Not to say the that Costello doesn't get his share of laughs as he comes face to face with a lot of the progress of the past century and two thirds. 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.

richardlfluke1128 This is such a sweet little movie. It has beautiful music by Boccherini. It also has a beautiful tune called "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes." There is love in it. Yes, it has a seance. This is something the Bible talks about negatively, but I think that if you can realize that this is just a movie and that those things are forbidden by God, this is all right. All in all, it is a very purposeful movie in that though there is sadness, it is met with happiness in that there is a resolution. We need to watch movies like this and to love one another, for we don't know when we will be gone. I am a Christian, and I think this movie is good for Christians, though, as I said, just taking into account the seance part and realizing that that is forbidden by God is what is needed; I guess this is a somewhat liberal view, whereas some may say not to watch the movie because of this; God knows the difference though, and He is love. I delight in sweet movies such as this, absolutely clean and pleasant. Thank you for letting me comment. Enjoy the good movie!! and in your heart thank the players for exuding such joyous sweetness!!