Topper/Topper Returns
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Movie Reviews of Topper/Topper Returns
Movie Review: Oldie Fans
Summary: 4 Stars
Topper is a great classic Cary Grant Movie. It's quite old so it's slower paced than today's movies but great none the less.Movie Review: Topper/Topper Returns dvd
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered the new DVD. It arrived in a timely manner, well wrapped, protectively packaged and in excellent condition.Movie Review: Hats Off To "Topper"
Summary: 3 Stars
I originally bought this DVD because I couldn't find the original "Topper" anywhere. At the chance of buying both films on one DVD I thought it was a steal.
Given that there are two films on here I'm going to briefly review each on its own.
"Topper" (Dir. Norman Z. Mcleod, 1937) - "Topper" stars Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as a rich fun loving couple, George and Marion Kirby, that happens to get into a car accident and die. But there ghost remains. It is their feeling that in order to get to Heaven they must committ one good deed. So they decide to help an uptight Bank executive, Topper (Roland Young, in an Oscar nominated role) learn to loosen up. The movie has plenty of wonderful sight gags and at times I found myself laughing out loud, very loud. But one wonders why does Grant and Bennett think that helping a rich man learn to loosen up qualifies as a "good deed"? What if they helped a poor man become rich?
The movie's director Norman Z. McLeod was a comedy director of expericence having directed several Bob Hope movies including "My Favorite Spy" and "Alias Jesse James" along with a Cole Porter musical "Panama Hattie" and returned to "Topper" material in "Topper Takes A Trip"
Spot Arthur Lake as the elevator boy. He is known to many as Dagwood in the "Blondie" series. Also co-starring is Billie Burke as Mrs. Topper
The movie was also named by AFI as one of the 100 funniest films of all-time. *** out of *****
"Topper Returns" (Dir. Roy De Ruth, 1941) - Despite having a great cast this sequel doesn't live up to the original. This time around Joan Blondell, H.B. Warner, Patsy Kelly, Dennis O' Keefe and Rochester join in on the fun.
Joan Blondell (Gail Richards) is murdered when mistaken for Carole Landis (Ann Carrington) so her ghost goes to Topper (Young again) to seek out the real killers. And immediately I was asking myself how would she know to go to him? What if she went to Landis instead to warn her? But I guess we're not suppose to think of such things in this movie. The movie does have some laughs but none I found as funny as the ones in the original. Also something to wonder about is why does the taxi-driver (O' Keefe) arrive so late at the house to ask for his fare? Couldn't he wait until morning. But, there I go again, thinking when I shouldn't be! ** 1\2 out of *****
Roy Del Ruth like McLeod had been around a long time and is known mostly be me as a musical director. He directed "On the Avenue" (An Irving Berlin musical) and "Du Barry Was A Lady (A Cole Porter musical). He also directed Eddie Cantor in "Kid Millions".
Bottom-line: Buy this DVD for "Topper" it is well worth the price plus "Topper Return" is not so bad. But, who says you have to watch both anyway if you don't want to?
Movie Review: The Touch of a Pair of Ghosts
Summary: 3 Stars
This comedy is an adaptation of Thorne Smith's novel by Eric Hatch, and directed by Norman McLeod (1937). This screwball slapstick was a great success, and Roland Young won a nod from Academy, in the nomination process, in the best supporting actor category. This success was translated into two more sequels; Topper Takes a Trip (1939), and Topper Returns (1941); followed by a TV series during 1953 to 1956.
George Kirby (Cary Grant) and his beautiful wife Marion Kirby (Constance Bennett) are fun loving couple. They are successful stockholders in a bank, never knew what problems in life are, and enjoyed life like an open ended party. Life takes an unexpected turn for Kirby's when they die in a car accident, and reappear as ghosts to fill the void of the lives they left behind, like doing some good deeds. When George's boss, Cosmo Topper (Roland Young), crashes his new car in the same spot, the Kirby's take him under their wing, and try to "liven" of his boring life. Until then Topper would have lead an ordered life with his wife Clara Topper (Billie Burke), who schedules his day at work and home. When Cosmo is subjected into an (mis)adventure after another, he becomes a care free man. The two ghosts never give up their wild party lifestyle. Clara Topper becomes concerned with Cosmo's behavior, and Butler Wilkins (Alan Mowbray) finds it odd. No matter how drastically the intentions backfire, leading to arrest & scandal, Cosmo Topper remains as cool as ever. My favorite scenes are physical contortions brought by invisible ghosts which are hilarious. Roland Young offers an outstanding performance, and Constance Bennett is beautiful and funny.
1. Topper/Topper Returns
2. Topper Takes a Trip
3. Topper, Vol. 2
4. The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 1
Movie Review: THIS TWOSOME TOPS OUT IN HILARITY!
Summary: 3 Stars
"Topper" is the supernatural screwball comedy about a pair of fun-loving ghosts who wreak havoc on the life of henpecked banker, Cosmo Topper (Roland Young). Cary Grant and Constance Bennett simply glow as George and Marion Kirby, a couple of devil-may-care free spirits who accidentally kill themselves by wrapping their car around a tree. They return as a couple of blithe spirits, determined to introduce Cosmo to the good life. Billie Burke costars as Cosmo's stuffy and hilarious bubble-head wife. The sequel, "Topper Returns" uses this same premise but replaces Grant and Bennett with Joan Blondell. Although she's amply cast, she doesn't quite eclipse the memory the original. The engaging murder mystery plot of "Topper Returns" with its sumptuous setting and elegant cinematography compensate, particularly the surreal visual splendor of Blondell's haunting death and her ghostly reincarnation. THE TRANSFER: "Topper" is a little bit worse for the wear than "Topper Returns". This is to be expected since, after years of being a late night television fav', the rights to this classic have fallen into public domain. MGM is credited with originally making this classic. The gray scale is a trifle underexposed on "Topper" well seemingly close to dead on in "Topper Returns." Age related artifacts are more heavy and noticeable on "Topper" as well. Over all, the image has a dated appearance but contrast and black levels are generally good on both movies. Edge enhancement is present slightly on "Topper" only. The audio is mono for both films. "Topper" suffers from slight hiss and popping but "Topper Returns" is generally more natural sounding on the ears.
EXTRAS: None.
BOTTOM LINE: "Topper" is an outstanding Cary Grant comedy with few equals - save "Bringing Up Baby." Perhaps one day we'll see the release of that classic on DVD!