6.4/10
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38 user 3 critic

The Time of Your Life (1948)

A wide variety of persons come into Nick's Pacific Street Saloon, some to ask for work and others just to pass the time.

Director:

Writers:

(Pulitzer Prize play), (adapted for the screen)
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Joseph T. (who observes people)
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Nick (Saloon Owner Who Loves Horses)
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Tom (Joe's stooge and friend)
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Krupp (a bewildered policeman)
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McCarthy (a blatherskite)
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Harry (the natural-born tap dancing comedian)
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Mary L. (a woman of quality)
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Dudley Raoul Bostwick (a young man in love) (as James Lydon)
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Willie (the pinball machine maniac)
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Arab Philosopher
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Wesley (the pianist)
John 'Skins' Miller ...
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Freddy Blick (a stool pigeon and frame-up artist)
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Storyline

Joe spends a lot of his time at Nick's Pacific Street Saloon. Tom, who credits Joe with once saving his life, stops by regularly to run errands for Joe. Today, Tom notices a woman named Kitty when she comes into Nick's, and he quickly falls in love with her. Meanwhile, a distraught young man repeatedly calls his girlfriend, begging her to marry him. Nick himself muses on all the various persons who come into his bar, some to ask for work and others just to pass the time. Written by Snow Leopard

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

You'll love these wonderful characters! See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

3 September 1948 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

De bar der begoocheling  »

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Turner library print) | (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the Broadway season of 1939-1940, the role of Harry was played by then-unknown Gene Kelly. See more »

Goofs

When the cowboy gets a beer from Joe, he drinks almost all of it, but leaves about an inch at the bottom in each glass. But, when he scoops up all the glasses on the table and takes them back to the bar, they are almost all completely empty. See more »

Quotes

[The newsboy is singing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling]
Nick: Are you Irish?
Newsboy: No, I'm Greek.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on the pages of a book, through which someone is flipping. See more »

Connections

Version of The Time of Your Life (1976) See more »

Soundtracks

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
(1912) (uncredited)
Music by Ernest Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff
Sung a cappella by Lanny Rees
Reprised a cappella by William Bendix, James Cagney and John 'Skins' Miller
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Saroyan's infinate joy in the observance of humanity shines throught the film
14 January 2002 | by (New Fairfield CT) – See all my reviews

Some find this film "schmaltzy" and simple. Saroyan fans will find it aptly relects the beauty found in the human condition. The way Joe relates to the various characters, causing them to easily open the hearts and souls seems contrived today and perhaps seemed that way even in the late 40's, but I suspect Saroyan was not particularly interested in "realism". Like all of his work, this movie is a study of the hopes, dreams, and loves of the "little guy" and his struggle to maintain them against the harsh light of human reality.

Cagney positvely glows throughout the performance and Bendix has never been better cast. Paul Draper as the tap-danciing comedian is absolutley brilliant in an extremley quirky roll. ( Interestlingly someone commented that they were suprised that this movie wasn't blacklisted, Draper ( according tot he IMDB bio) was "was an international star in the 1930's and 1940's" who's "career effectively succumbed to the anti- Communist hysteria that existed in the U.S. after World War II, when he was blacklisted out of the entertainment industry as a Communist sympathizer." It says a lot about James Cagney that this is the first film his production company choose to produce. If you can set aside your cynicism and view these characters in a slightly metaphorical light, Saraoyan's writing will leave your heart with a soft warm glow, and the joy of watching character actors working in a simple setting with no action and lots of dialogue may lead you to suspect that the entire cast was having The Time of Their Lives.


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