The Time of Your Life (1948)

Director:

H.C. Potter

Writers:

William Saroyan (play)
Nathaniel Curtis (adaptation)

Release Date:

3 September 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

You'll love these wonderful characters!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Pulitzer Prize Source | Bartender | Burlesque Dancer | Cowboy | Ex Convict

Cast

James Cagney	...	Joseph T. (who observes people)
William Bendix	...	Nick (saloon owner who loves horses)
Wayne Morris	...	Tom (Joe's stooge and friend)
Jeanne Cagney	...	Kitty Duval (stage name of Katerina Koronovsky)
Broderick Crawford	...	Krupp (a bewildered policeman)
Ward Bond	...	McCarthy (a blatherskite)
James Barton	...	Kit Carson (a cowboy also called Murphy)
Paul Draper	...	Harry (the natural-born tap dancing comedian)
Gale Page	...	Mary L. (a woman of quality)
Jimmy Lydon	...	Dudley Raoul Bostwick (a young man in love) (as James Lydon)
Richard Erdman	...	Willie (the pinball machine maniac)
Pedro de Cordoba	...	Arab philosopher
Reginald Beane	...	Wesley (the pianist)
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Drunk
Tom Powers	...	Freddy Blick (a stool pigeon and frame-up artist)

Runtime:

109 min | Canada:100 min (Ontario) | USA:105 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12768) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

William Cagney Productions

Trivia:

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

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Version of "Armchair Theatre: Time of Your Life (#3.6)" (1958)

Soundtrack:

Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie

Cagney is always worthwhile.

I have now seen every movie James Cagney has made. For some reason, until recently this film hasn't been on television for years. While Maltin found this film disappointing, I really enjoyed it. It is a cozy sort of movie with about 98% of the film taking place in a barroom. Cagney is terrific as the man who sits at the table observing life as it passes him by. Everyone who comes in talks to him. Cagney's real life sister Jeanne, gives a fine performance as the daydreaming girl from Chicago. William Bendix has to be one of the greatest character actors of all time. His performance as Nick, the owner of the bar, glues the film together. This movie was well worth the wait.