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Norman Z. McLeodTopper (1937)

From IMDb: The fun-loving Kerbys, stockholders in the bank of which henpecked, stuffy Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) is president, drive recklessly once too often and become ghosts. In limbo because they've never done either good or bad deeds, they decide to try a good one now: rehabilitating Topper. Lovely, flirtatious Marion (Constance Bennett) takes a keen personal interest in the job. Will Topper survive the wrath of jealous ghost George (Cary Grant)? Will Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke) find that a scandalous husband isn't all bad?


This movie is part of the collection: Comedy Films

Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Production Company: Hal Roach Studios Inc.
Audio/Visual: Mono, Black & White
Language: English
Keywords: comedy; ghosts

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: katpooh9 - - February 25, 2009
Subject: Funny movie!
What's the matter, jcliff, it didn't have Pee Wee Herman in it? This movie is worth watching. Anyway, that elevator boy, Arthur Lake; isn't he the one who played Dagwood?

Reviewer: jcliff - - February 19, 2009
Subject: garbage
this movie is the dumbist movie I ever seen,I wouldn't watch it again.I give it 1 star

Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf - - October 3, 2007
Subject: Screwball comedy classic
Topper is one of the best of the screwball comedies that came out in the mid to late 1930s. Roland Young is perfectly cast as the stuffy, meek Cosmo Topper. Billie Burke, best known as Glinda in Wizard of Oz, is her fluttery best as Clara Topper. The uptight nature of the Toppers is contrasted wonderfully by the devil may care attitude of Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. Grant did a lot of screwball comedies in the 1930s, and there's a good reason why. He has a wonderful sense of comedic timing that matched with dashing good looks and a sense of effortless style. His George Kerby easily overwhelms Cosmo, but at the same time, you know his heart is basically in the right place. The scenes with Bennett and Young, which make up the bulk of the movie have the right chemistry; Roland Young's Cosmo is befuddled by Bennett's Marion Kerby, but at the same time desires her. It never crosses the line, but there is a vital energy that crackles underneath.

What ensues is a funny movie that holds up. It has transcended time; the hallmark of all the great comedies. The gimmick of the ghosts is done for maximum laughs; George and Marion disappear and appear as needed. Interestingly, the term "ectoplasm" is used to explain when they can appear solid; this wouldn't come up again until 1984's Ghostbusters. The final sequence at the hotel reminded me of the best of the Marx Brothers (who were also working for MGM at this time); full of sight gags, misdirection, and verbal barbs.

Very recommended. (Note: video appears to be sourced from a Hallmark/Artisan tape or DVD, complete with copyright notices at the end.)