Topper/Topper Returns
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Movie Reviews of Topper/Topper Returns
Movie Review: A classic ... and a sequel
Summary: 5 Stars
Thorne Smith (1892-1934) was one of the most popular American writers of the Prohibition Era. Like many clever and witty members of his generation, he punched in at the New Yorker Magazine. He wasn't especially successful there and he didn't stay very long but he associated with Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley and the usual crowd of assorted, egotistical boozers. His success came with a string of highly popular comic novels. He might be thought of as an American P. G. Wodehouse, although he was not nearly as accomplished a wordsmith as the great British master and his books dealt more in giddy titillation than in high comedy.
As a writer, Smith is best remembered for his novel "Topper" (1926) and its sequel "Topper Takes a Trip" (1932), but no less than five of his books were filmed and one generated a successful television series. The Hollywood versions of his novels were "Night Life of the Gods" (1935, all prints apparently lost), "Topper" (1937), "Topper Takes a Trip" (1939), "Turnabout" (1940) and "I Married a Witch" (1942, based on Smith's final, unfinished novel, "The Passionate Witch"). "Topper Returns" (1941) was not based on anything written by Smith but simply a commercial outing very loosely based on Smith's original set up.
In "Topper," the quiet, repressed and not very happily married banker, Cosmo Topper, finds himself haunted by the ghosts of the recently departed George and Marion Kirby. They are very much a Jazz Age couple and Marion, in particular, maintains some very earthy ideas for such an unearthly creature. In the sequel, "Topper Takes a Trip," Topper's marriage, as usual, is in a rocky state. The Toppers are in Paris in at attempt at reconciliation when George and Marion turn up again.
The movie version of "Topper" is a true classic. If it is not quite a comedy of manners, it is certainly a farce of manners. Of all the films of Thorne Smith's novels, it is the closest to the original, although Constance Bennett's Marion is more toned down and respectable than Smith's. The film boasts a Hollywood dream cast with Bennett, Cary Grant and Roland Young, as well as such stalwarts as Billie Burke, Eugene Pallette and Alan Mowbray. It is also a thing virtually unique in Cary Grant's career, for Roland Young neatly steals every scene they share.
The second movie of the series, "Topper Takes a Trip," is much more loosely based on the original book. Marion appears, but George is nowhere to be found. Cary Grant, I suspect, had no intention of ever again being a second banana.
The third and final film, "Topper Returns," included in this package, brings Roland Young back as Topper but now even Marion has disappeared. Topper is bedeviled by an entirely different feminine ghost. "Topper Returns" is a perfectly competent example of a class of movies that includes Abbot and Costello's "Hold That Ghost," Olsen and Johnson's "Haunted House" and even a couple of Bowery Boys outings. It abandons Smith's Jazz Age sensibilities for the newer, radio-era style of wisecracks with attitude.
Movie Review: Both Movies Are Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
The two films in this set are definitely worth watching. The hilarious antics of Roland Young, Billie Burke and their supporting casts make these a must-have for Film Noir buffs and car fans alike!
In Topper, Roland Young plays quiet bank president, Cosmo Topper, who alongside his wife, Clara (Burke), lead their quiet, highly scheduled life. On the other side of NYC, George and Marian Kerby (Cary Grant and Constance Bennet) live it up, every hour on the hour or until the manager kicks them out.
After a boring board meeting, George puts his foot down once too often and send himself and Marian off the road and into Limbo. In a quest for the important Good Deed that they lack, they decide to help their friend Topper out of his rut, turning his life, and marriage, on its ear!
While Young steals every scene from Grant, the uniqueness of this movie wouldn't be possible without the one uncredited star of the film, the Painted Jezebel, the Kerby's 1936 Buick Roadmaster roadster. This one-of-a-kind Bohman & Schwartz creation is the focal point for much of the film's important scenes: the wreck, Topper's rebellion against his wife and his discovery of the Kerbys, and the scene at the end. The car was one of the best examples of mid-'30s coachbuilding, and reflects the flash, style and vibrant youthfullness of the Kerbys perfectly.
While the Buick gives way to a Mercedes in Topper Returns, the cast makes up for it in a slightly non-canon sequel to the first film. This time, Cosmo gets a visit from another lady ghost, who earlier got him in hot water with Mrs. Topper (again!). Her insistant request to find out who killed her leads him to the suitably frightening Carrington house just down the road. Along with his chauffeur, Eddie (played by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson of Jack Benny fame), they explore the grounds to find out whodunit. Later, Mrs. Topper and the maid, Emily, end up looking for Cosmo in the midst of the murder investigation.
While Mrs. Topper is unusually ditzy in this film, it adds to the nuttiness of the story greatly. Anderson lends his sharp wit and inimitable style to the cast, providing much of the comedy scenes, which compete with Joan Blondell and Billie Burke's characters. While vastly different in feel to the original, it's a good film nonetheless, with an exciting and amusing chase scene at the end, where Blondell's ghost "drives" Topper's Benz in pursuit of the villain!
Movie Review: Each movie is stand alone enjoyment
Summary: 5 Stars
"Topper"
Never seen so much cigarette smoke
This is a must have for this that lived thought the era. However I was surprised to see so much smoking. Has society change that much that most of the scenes look like one big cigarette commercial? It is hard to see the ghosts through all the smoke.
Although there is a series of Topper movies, this TV series is the Topper I came to know and love. Once in a while I see the actors in other movies and it reminds me of the character he/she played on this movie. Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby, can be seen again in the movie "Boys' Night Out" (1962) Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper, can be seen again as Rev. Dr. Mosby in "The Parent Trap" (1961).
Basic story is that a young fairly modern couple, George and Marion Kerby got caught in an avalanche along with their rescue St Bernard, Neil. They refused to give up the ghost and went home to live. Turns out that Cosmo toper and his wife Henrietta (Lee Patrick) Bought the Kerby house. Yep now Cosmo can see the Kerby's when they wish and Neil turns out to be a lush. The situation now has its plusses and minuses as everyone becomes one happy family.
"Topper Returns"
Topper has a girl on his lap
And his wife caught him. Besides revisiting your favorite characters, there is a pretty good murder mystery going. There is an old dark house with secret passages and secret people. In the middle of this is Topper. And on top of Toper's lap there is a ghost.
Ann Carrington (Carole Landis) is returning to her old family estate. Traveling there with her friend Gail Richards (Joan Blondell), we see the front end of a rifle and soon the cab they are traveling in gets a flat tire at the most incontinent location. This sets the tone as later Gail gets ghostafied.
So who did it and why? Gail is determined to find out with the help of the only person who can see her Cosmo Topper (Roland Young).
The Parent Trap (Vault Disney Collection)
Movie Review: Funny 1937 Original w/1941 sequel now on remastered DVD!!
Summary: 5 Stars
ARTISAN Home Entertainment brings us a remastered DVD of Hal Roach Studios (who brought us Laurel & Hardy and the Little Rascals in 1920's through the 1930's on the side experimented with full length feature films,greater than 65 minutes in length) original 1937 Topper. In 1937 Hal Roach used trick photography, camera magic and ground breaking FX technology for the amazing ghost creations."Topper" with a Star studded cast Cary Grant as Millionaire George Kirby (at his comedic best), Constance Bennett as his wife Marion (a beautifully devine actress), Roland Young as their Banker Cosmo Topper (nominated for Best Supporting Actor as "Topper") and Billie Burke as Mrs. Topper (best known as Glenda the "Good Witch" from the 1939 "The Wizard of OZ"). Included is a very young song writer/singer Hoagy Carmichael.
This wonderfully remastered Black / White Standard Feature DVD is delightful. Worth the price of admission alone but the 1941 sequel "Topper Returns" is also included. Note: a very weak sequel but still a cute storyline featuring Roland & Burke in reprise. A double feature DVD with no extras.
Summary: The jet setting, ever partying Millionaire Kirby's die in an automobile accident on a late night country road. They enter a state of limbo (earthbound ghosts) until they perform a good deed. So they go about trying to free their banker "Topper" from his dull routine high collar lifestyle and make him a jet setting man of high society. This is a great story with ghosts, floating objects and Topper talking to himself. Mrs Topper has the hardest time trying to figure out whats happening to her timid obedient husband. Lots of laughs here. Enjoy.
Movie Review: And Lo, the Worm turns....
Summary: 5 Stars
The ghosts of a carefree and madcap couple redeem themselves by "liberating" a stuffy, hen-pecked banker. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But with Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as the ghosts and Roland Young and Billie Burke as the banker and his wife, plus some of MGM's best stock character actors in support, you get a light and breezy comedy classic. For deft comedic touch you can't beat Grant and Bennett, for propriety coming undone and deadpan delivery that will surprise you, Roland Young is a master. Young is like John Cleese in that he can be funny even delivering straight lines, straight-faced. The film builds on its comedic premise expertly right up to a series of sequences in a hotel, with Eugene Pallete as the "house dick" and Arthur Lake as a befuddled bellboy that are hilarious. Alan Mowbray, as the butler, deserves special mention as well. Top flight comedy done by pros. This gets the five stars.
Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Topper Returns. An undistinguished typical 40's Old Dark House-style murder mystery with a lot of mugging by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Dennis O'Keefe, Patsy Kelly and Joan Blondell as the ghost this time out. It benefits by having Roland Young and Billie Burke from the first film, but it has none of the efervescent fun of the first film, and the comedy is mostly tired comedy relief admidst the lame mystery. Reminded me of Red Skelton's "The Fox" films.
So you get a classic and a dud. Worth buying for the first film alone, and you may get something out of the second that I didn't. It's thrown in for free, so what the heck.