THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES had Abbott & Costello trying something different in 1946. For the second time that year they acted in the same film but as separate characters rather than partners or pals. This followed Little Giant, and both were shots at revitalizing the formula that had made them stars since 1940. After a quintet that under-performed (Lost In A Harem, In Society, The Naughty Nineties, Here Come The Co-eds and Abbott and Costello In Hollywood) and following a year when they had a personal falling out, the gamble was that these two larks might start a new run of luck. But while they made their money back (all their movies did), the box office was still mild, so the following year they went back to their expected one-on-one (or one-against-one) gig and stuck with that standard until finally calling it quits as a pair in 1956.

Long Island, New York, 1780: the 5th year of the American Revolutionary War. Amiably clumsy tinker ‘Horatio Prim’ (Lou Costello) hopes his letter of recommendation from George Washington will help him buy freedom for ‘Nora O’Leary’ (Ann Gillis, cute), his indentured servant girlfriend. His devious rival ‘Cuthbert Greenway’ (Bud Abbott) is a butler for the estate Nora works at. By chance, both the hapless Horatio and patriot lady ‘Melody Allen’ (Marjorie Reynolds) discover the estate owner is in league with traitor Benedict Arnold. Mistakenly killed by Continental soldiers, the ghosts of Horatio and Melody are cursed to stay forever on the grounds of the estate. After 166 years, when 1946 rolls around, the two encounter the new occupants of the estate, including Cuthbert’s descendant ‘Ralph’ (Abbott), a slick psychiatrist. Chilly clairvoyant housekeeper ‘Emily’ (Gale Sondergaard) senses something’s up. Will the ghosts be set free from their curse?

Charles Barton directed (his first of nine A&C romps, including the classic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein) and the script was written by Val Burton (Bedtime For Bonzo), Walter DeLeon (The Cat And The Canary) and Bradford Ropes. Decent production values and special effects helped account for the $830,625 price tag. Grosses are estimated at $2,650,000, 110th for 1946 (Little Giant a little better 106th).

It’s okay, and the duo’s fans will be interested to see Bud play somewhat against type. Sondergaard, as usual, is fun, riffing off ‘Mrs. Danvers’ in Rebecca as well as channeling her own unique gift for spookiness. Former child actress Ann Gillis, 19 here, is more charismatic in her brief scenes as the housemaid than Reynolds (29, she’d also been a child actress) is in the lead. Lou is called upon to do his frightened wheeze-whisper-panting bit a little more than necessary this time around.

With Binnie Barnes, John Shelton (snooze), Lynn Baggett, Donald MacBride, Robert Barrat and John Crawford. 82 minutes.