"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. Horatio doesn't particularly like Cuthbert, considering that Cuthbert's descendant treated Horatio horribly and wanted Horatio's girl. So Horatio enjoys driving the good doctor crazy. The group being totally unnerved by what is going on decides to help the 2 ghosts crossover by finding proof that they are not traitors. The good news is that they know where the proof. The bad news is that the proof (The letter of recommendation from Washington)is in a museum. Of course, the ghosts can't leave the property. Will they ever leave the property? The film is funny and a slight bit disturbing (After all, they were shot and thrown in a well). However, this was one of the best entries in the Abbott and Costello series.
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. Horatio doesn't particularly like Cuthbert, considering that Cuthbert's descendant treated Horatio horribly and wanted Horatio's girl. So Horatio enjoys driving the good doctor crazy. The group being totally unnerved by what is going on decides to help the 2 ghosts crossover by finding proof that they are not traitors. The good news is that they know where the proof. The bad news is that the proof (The letter of recommendation from Washington)is in a museum. Of course, the ghosts can't leave the property. Will they ever leave the property? The film is funny and a slight bit disturbing (After all, they were shot and thrown in a well). However, this was one of the best entries in the Abbott and Costello series.