The Time Of Their Lives (1946) :
Brief Review -
This out-and-out entertaining Ghost-comedy by Abbott and Costello would have even made George Washington's Ghost laugh his belly out. I can't recall how many ghost comedies I have seen, but how many of them have stayed in my mind? Hardly one or two. Or maybe even that's doubtful. And today I came to see this Abbott and Costello horror-comedy, which even forced me to forget those one or two. I mean, even those memorable comedies have been influenced by this, so I'd better keep the original or first copy in my mind rather than the influenced stuff. The Time of Their Lives makes you love ghosts just the way they are, and at the same time, it makes you love those humans who are being helpful to those cursed souls. After being killed by mistake, Harotio and Melody have been buried as traitors. The curse is put on them, which can only be lifted if they are proven innocent. 16 decades later, a psychiatrist and his group come to stay in the same mansion, which is haunted by the prankish ghosts of Harotio and Melody. A night follows some fun banter between ghosts and humans until they start believing each other. Costello plays a very funny ghost. In the beginning, as a human, he throws his signature punches. That "British with buttish" was damn freaking good, man. Then "Odsbodkins"! Just wow. Abbott has a normal but important role, but Marjorie Reynolds is a complete surprise. She over-shines, unexpectedly, but that's enchanting. The rest of the cast does well too. A special mention to Gale Sondergaard for that psychic maid. What a peculiar character, yet so lovable. "Didn't I see you in Rebecca?" and that face she makes.. Ohh, I was in splits there. Charles Barton was surely a fella who was meant to engross himself whenever he teamed up with the legendary comic duo. This is one of his best works with the duo as well as one of his best individual comedies. I am sure if George Washington's ghost had seen it, he would have had his stomach and cheeks in pain.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
This out-and-out entertaining Ghost-comedy by Abbott and Costello would have even made George Washington's Ghost laugh his belly out. I can't recall how many ghost comedies I have seen, but how many of them have stayed in my mind? Hardly one or two. Or maybe even that's doubtful. And today I came to see this Abbott and Costello horror-comedy, which even forced me to forget those one or two. I mean, even those memorable comedies have been influenced by this, so I'd better keep the original or first copy in my mind rather than the influenced stuff. The Time of Their Lives makes you love ghosts just the way they are, and at the same time, it makes you love those humans who are being helpful to those cursed souls. After being killed by mistake, Harotio and Melody have been buried as traitors. The curse is put on them, which can only be lifted if they are proven innocent. 16 decades later, a psychiatrist and his group come to stay in the same mansion, which is haunted by the prankish ghosts of Harotio and Melody. A night follows some fun banter between ghosts and humans until they start believing each other. Costello plays a very funny ghost. In the beginning, as a human, he throws his signature punches. That "British with buttish" was damn freaking good, man. Then "Odsbodkins"! Just wow. Abbott has a normal but important role, but Marjorie Reynolds is a complete surprise. She over-shines, unexpectedly, but that's enchanting. The rest of the cast does well too. A special mention to Gale Sondergaard for that psychic maid. What a peculiar character, yet so lovable. "Didn't I see you in Rebecca?" and that face she makes.. Ohh, I was in splits there. Charles Barton was surely a fella who was meant to engross himself whenever he teamed up with the legendary comic duo. This is one of his best works with the duo as well as one of his best individual comedies. I am sure if George Washington's ghost had seen it, he would have had his stomach and cheeks in pain.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.