Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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.

I've loved this since first seeing it as a kid in the early 50s. Recently watched it again on DVD and noticed in the opening credits it mentions Technicolor. Could it be that it was filmed in color and never released that way? Bud & Lou are both terrific playing these unusual roles. It's refreshing to see them out of the usual vaudeville/burlesque house routines. Marjorie Reynolds is one gorgeous ghost and delivers her romantic scenes with Lou convincingly and her comic reactions are terrific. Gale Sondergaard is appropriately creepy as usual. The seance always reminds me of so many old haunted house flicks from the Charlie Chan style of mystery films. Background score is better than average adding to the total effect The DVD in the franchise collection is pristine and great family entertainment.

In the 1946, Abbott and Costello were at each other's throats and refused to work with each other BUT would still make films. So, Universal Studios was very creative and made two films where the two comedy stars could be films together...of sorts. 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. While many disliked these two movies (particularly LITTLE GIANT), I like them both a lot because all the films leading up to it were becoming a bit stale--with an obvious formula and predictability about them. The standard formula up to 1946 consisted of Abbott and Costello doing their thing, a separate love interest (that mostly distracted the viewers) and lots and lots of singing (again, it mostly distracted the viewers). Most people were wanting more Abbott and Costello in films and they got this in these two films--just not in the way most people wanted. THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES is less a comedy and more a character driven film with some comedy. This isn't a bad thing--just a big departure from the past. Unlike the older films, the jokes were not the most important thing, but plot development was.The film begins in 1780. 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). In the prologue, he plays an awful scoundrel who hates and betrays Lou. In the present time, he plays a psychiatrist who wants to discover the truth--even if it means his relative was a jerk. It's a nice role because it requires acting, not laughs.Overall, the film is well worth seeing, though not all that funny. This isn't a bad thing...in fact it's a welcome thing as the film is engaging from start to finish AND doesn't have any stupid song and dance numbers! Well written, acted and constructed from start to finish.

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!!