The Time of Their Lives 2017

Comedy

Rank

#22,984

Box Office

$1.1M

Runtime

105 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Roger Goldby

Made by

Head Gear Films

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The Time of Their Lives Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Time of Their Lives (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Franco Nero as Horatio Prim arrives at the Kings Point estate of Tom Danbury, eager to win the heart of Nora O’Leary and secure their marriage with a letter of commendation from Gen. George Washington in hand. He hopes the document will persuade Danbury to consent, but a rival stands in his way: the estate’s sly and calculating butler, Cuthbert Greenway. Nora, bound by her servitude and the promise of happiness, rushes to present the letter to Danbury, yet she overhears a dangerous confession—Danbury revealing his role in Benedict Arnold’s treachery. In a swift and shocking turn, Danbury seizes the letter and hides it inside a secret compartment in the mantel clock. Outside the window, Melody Allen, Danbury’s fiancée, witnesses the betrayal and enlists Horatio’s help to alert Washington’s army. What follows is a night of chaos: American troops on the march to arrest Tom overrun the estate, loot its halls, and set the property ablaze. In a cruel misreading of fate, Melody and Horatio are shot as traitors, their bodies hurled into a well. Their souls, innocent of treachery, are condemned to linger at the estate until justice can finally clear their names.

For 166 years, the two ghosts wander the grounds of Kings Point, tethered to a place that once meant love and now holds unfinished business. In 1946, the estate has been rebuilt and furnished with much of its original character. Playwright Sheldon Gage invites his fiancée, June Prescott, her Aunt Millie, and his psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenway (a descendant of Cuthbert), to spend a weekend within the haunting walls. They are greeted by Emily, a clairvoyant maid who senses that the grounds are alive with supernatural presence. Horatio and Melody revel in their spectral powers, playing tricks on the guests—especially Greenway, whom Horatio initially mistakes for his old rival. The duo also finds themselves unsettled by modern wonders like electric lights and the radio, a reminder that time has moved on while they remain fixed in their past. The living guests, drawn by curiosity and fear, organize a séance led by Emily. Through Horatio’s hints and the repentant memories of Melody and Tom’s spirit, they begin to uncover who the ghosts are and the existence of the missing letter that could finally free them.

The group presses on in search of the elusive letter, realizing that the mantel clock that houses it is now housed in a New York museum. Greenway, seeking redemption for his ancestor’s misdeeds, travels to the museum to retrieve the clock’s contents. When museum officials refuse to let him examine the clock, Greenway takes the clock anyway and returns to the estate with law enforcement waiting at the gate. The authorities arrest him, yet the ancient curse that binds Horatio and Melody to the grounds prevents their removal. As the clock is opened and the letter is revealed, the truth of Horatio and Melody’s innocence is proven beyond doubt. Freed at last, each ghost is called to heaven by a loved one—Melody by Tom and Horatio by Nora. Nora meets him at heaven’s gate, but a sign reads, “Closed for Washington’s Birthday,” meaning Horatio must wait one more day to enter the afterlife.

The Time of Their Lives Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Time of Their Lives (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Horatio Prim arrives at Kings Point

Horatio Prim arrives at the Kings Point estate carrying a letter of commendation from General Washington, hoping it will help convince Tom Danbury to consent to his marriage to Nora O'Leary. He has failed to raise enough money to buy Nora out of indentured servitude, so the letter is his best chance. The arrival is shadowed by Cuthbert Greenway, Danbury's devious butler, who immediately begins plotting to block Horatio's claim.

1780 Kings Point estate

Nora rushes to reveal the letter

Nora O'Leary hurries to present the letter to Danbury, hoping it will clear Horatio's path to marriage. In her haste she overhears Danbury discussing his part in Benedict Arnold's plot, revealing a dangerous secret. The moment hints at the larger betrayal surrounding the estate.

1780 Kings Point estate

Danbury seizes Nora and hides the letter

Danbury seizes Nora, preventing the disclosure of the letter, and hides it in a secret compartment of the mantel clock. The treacherous plan ties Nora's fate to the letter and to the broader conspiracy in which Danbury is implicated. Greenway's scheming continues as he plots to thwart Horatio further.

1780 Kings Point estate

Melody witnesses the betrayal and Horatio's quest to warn Washington

Melody Allen, Danbury's fiancée, witnesses the betrayal from outside the window and recruits Horatio to ride to Washington's army and warn them. Horatio accepts the danger and sets out with Melody's aid to deliver the warning. The alliance between Horatio and Melody marks a fateful turn in the estate's history.

1780 Kings Point estate

Troops overrun the estate and tragedies unfold

American troops move toward arrest Danbury, overrun the estate, loot it, and set it ablaze. In the chaos, Horatio and Melody are shot, and their bodies are cast into a well. The lovers' deaths cement the estate's dark legacy and bind their spirits to the grounds.

1780 Kings Point estate

Souls bound to the estate

With their deaths, Horatio and Melody become trapped on the property, their souls doomed to roam the grounds until their innocence can be proven. The curse ensures they cannot rest, setting the stage for centuries of haunting. The estate remains their imprisonment across generations.

1780s Kings Point estate

1946: a weekend for the living begins

More than 166 years later, the Kings Point estate has been rebuilt and restored. Playwright Sheldon Gage invites his fiancée June Prescott, her Aunt Millie, and his psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenway for a weekend visit. The clairvoyant maid Emily welcomes the guests and hints at the ongoing hauntings.

1946 Kings Point estate

Ghostly mischief and a séance

Horatio and Melody reveal themselves, playing tricks on the guests and especially startling Greenway, who they initially mistake for Cuthbert. They are unsettled by modern inventions like electricity and radio. The living respond by organizing a séance led by Emily to seek answers.

1946 Kings Point estate

Clues point to the letter that can free them

During the séance, clues from Horatio and Melody, along with Tom's repentant spirit, reveal that a letter exists and could exonerate them. The group realizes that restoring Horatio and Melody's innocence hinges on finding the missing letter. The mystery deepens as the past and present collide.

1946 Kings Point estate

The mantel clock's letter lies in New York

The group learns that the mantel clock containing the letter is currently housed in a New York museum. This revelation spurs a plan to retrieve the letter and bring justice to the spirits. Emily and the others prepare to act on this new lead.

1946 New York museum

Greenway steals the clock

Dr. Ralph Greenway travels to the museum to retrieve the letter but finds the clock guarded; after officials refuse to allow him access, he steals the mantel clock and returns to the estate. His act is intended to atone for his ancestor's misdeeds, but it brings the police to the scene. The theft triggers the ongoing confrontation with the law and the curse.

1946 New York museum

Police confrontation at the estate

Greenway arrives back at the estate with the clock, and state police arrive to arrest him. The curse binds Horatio and Melody to the estate and prevents the officers from taking Greenway away, safeguarding the spirits' chance at redemption. The tension mounts as the legal battle unfolds on haunted grounds.

1946 Kings Point estate

The letter is opened; innocence proven

The clock is finally opened and the letter revealed, proving Horatio and Melody's innocence. The spirits are freed and offered a path to heaven, completing their long vigil. The living and the dead share a moment of reconciliation as justice is served.

1946 Kings Point estate

Farewell and the Washington's Birthday sign

Each ghost is called to heaven by a loved one: Melody by Tom and Horatio by Nora. Yet a sign at heaven's gate reads 'Closed for Washington's Birthday,' so Horatio must wait one more day to enter heaven. The haunting ends with a bittersweet reminder of unfinished business and enduring bonds.

1946 Heaven

The Time of Their Lives Characters

Explore all characters from The Time of Their Lives (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Horatio Prim

A resourceful master tinker who travels to Kings Point with a letter from George Washington, hoping to win Nora’s hand. His quest for love is thwarted by betrayal, casting him and his beloved Melody into a centuries-long spiritual bind. He embodies ingenuity tempered by heartbreak, returning as a guiding presence for the living.

🛠️ Inventive 👻 Ghostly 💖 Romantic

Melody Allen

Tom Danbury’s fiancée who witnesses a treacherous plot and pairs with Horatio to warn Washington’s army. She is shot as a traitor and destined to remain a benevolent presence until her name is cleared. Her spirit embodies devotion and enduring longing for justice and peace.

💔 Tragic 👻 Ghostly 💖 Romantic

Nora O'Leary

The housemaid and intended bride of Horatio, kept in indentured servitude until a chance romance blooms. She overhears the night’s treachery and helps trigger the collapse of the conspiracy that binds the lovers. Nora’s courage anchors the story’s moral center.

🧭 Hopeful 💕 Loyal 👗 Brave

Tom Danbury

The estate owner whose secret dealings tie Horatio’s fate to Benedict Arnold’s plot. His duplicitous actions catalyze the tragedy that brands the years between 1780 and 1946. He stands as the embodiment of aristocratic charm masking ruthless ambition.

💼 Aristocrat 👿 Villainous 🗝️ Secretive

Cuthbert Greenway

The devious butler who obstructs Horatio from delivering his letter, a man whose cruelty sows the seeds of a long familial curse. His scheming nature is later echoed by his descendant, Dr. Ralph Greenway. He represents the old guard’s calculated control.

🗝️ Secretive 👔 Aristocratic 🕵️‍♂️ Scheming

June Prescott

Sheldon Gage’s fiancée, outside the century-spanning plot, who partners with the living to sound the estate’s warning and to help translate the past’s lessons for the present. Her decisions propel the 1946 gathering’s emotional stakes.

💖 Hopeful 🕯️ Haunted 🗝️ Loyal

Sheldon Gage

A playwright who invites his fiancée and companions to the estate, bringing modern sensibilities to a place saturated with history. His curiosity and creativity help bridge the 1780s mystery with the 1946 séance atmosphere. He serves as the narrative catalyst for uncovering truth.

🎭 Creative 🧠 Intellectual 🕯️ Curious

Aunt Millie

Aunt to June Prescott, a comforting presence among the weekend guests. She provides a grounded perspective amid supernatural events and helps keep the group focused on resolving the century-old mystery.

👵 Wise 🕊️ Grounded 🤝 Caring

Dr. Ralph Greenway

A psychiatrist and descendant of Cuthbert Greenway who joins the weekend as part of the new generation’s attempt to understand and resolve the estate’s hauntings. He undertakes a personal atonement by helping recover the letter and correcting his ancestor’s misdeeds.

🧠 Intellectual 🕯️ Spiritual 🕵️‍♂️ Reconciling

Emily

The clairvoyant maid who senses the estate’s spectral activity and leads the séance that helps uncover the truth behind the haunting. Her awareness acts as a guiding force for the living to connect with the past.

🔮 Clairvoyant 👁️ Insightful 🕯️ Spiritual

The Time of Their Lives Settings

Learn where and when The Time of Their Lives (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1780s; 1946

The primary events begin in the late 18th century, when Horatio Prim visits the estate and becomes entangled in a conspiracy. Almost 166 years later, the action shifts to 1946, during a modern weekend stay that reawakens the estate’s ghosts. The narrative braids these two eras as past secrets echo into the present.

Location

Kings Point estate, New York museum

The story centers on the Kings Point estate, a sprawling historic manor whose past secrets drive the plot. The mantel clock at the heart of the intrigue houses a letter that could alter loyalties in 1780. By 1946 the estate has been rebuilt and opened to a weekend gathering, with a New York museum later housing the clock that seals the tale’s revelations.

🏛️ Haunted 🗺️ Historic

The Time of Their Lives Themes

Discover the main themes in The Time of Their Lives (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💔

Love and Betrayal

Two would-be lovers, Horatio and Nora, pursue marriage against a backdrop of class and deceit. Danbury’s manipulation exposes how trust can be weaponized to control lives. The betrayal near the tale’s start triggers a haunting that persists across centuries, shaping every decision the characters make.

🕯️

Redemption

The Ghosts’ longing for truth drives the living to uncover the letter that proves innocence. Dr. Ralph Greenway, a descendant of the betrayer, seeks atonement by recovering the clock and revealing the letter’s truth. Through revelation and courage, past wrongs are confronted and corrected.

👻

Haunted Heritage

The estate bears the weight of its history, with Horatio and Melody’s souls bound to its grounds. Their appearances synchronize with séances and modern surprises, showing how memories linger where power and secrets once resided. The haunting becomes a pathway to justice rather than mere fright.

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The Time of Their Lives Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Time of Their Lives (2017). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the sun‑drenched corridors of a quiet English suburb, the ordinary rhythm of daily life is quietly threatened by an invitation that feels both urgent and impossible. Helen, once a dazzling Hollywood star whose name still flickers in faded posters, now lives far from the flashbulbs, carrying the weight of a past that glitters only in memory. Across the Channel, Priscilla, a modest English housewife whose world is defined by tidy gardens and quiet evenings, receives a note that nudges her out of her well‑kept routine. Together they embark on an impulsive, cross‑country road trip, driven by a promise to attend a funeral on the tranquil French island of Île de Ré—a ceremony that ties them to a lover whose shadow still stretches over Helen’s life.

The journey itself unfolds against a backdrop of rolling landscapes, bustling roadside cafés, and the ever‑changing moods of the open road. The film’s tone balances wistful nostalgia with a subtle, ever‑present humor, allowing moments of introspection to shimmer alongside fleeting, unexpected joys. As the duo navigates winding highways and the occasional bureaucratic hiccup, their contrasting personalities—Helen’s lingering glamour and Priscilla’s steady restraint—create a dynamic that feels both tense and tender. The road becomes a moving stage where past regrets and present desires clash, hint at secrets, and whisper possibilities, all while a gentle Mediterranean breeze promises renewal.

Amidst the ticking clock of an impending departure, the two women find themselves confronting more than just logistical obstacles. The trip offers a quiet arena for companionship to bloom in unlikely places, for laughter to bridge gaps, and for the lingering ache of unfinished business to soften. In this delicate dance of self‑discovery and reconciliation, the film invites viewers to wonder what it truly means to honor the past while daring to step forward, all without revealing the specific outcomes that await them on the island’s shore.

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