/hFJ1mantYbTWJ3sOZ1nLLC6rNBg.jpg
ComedyFantasyRomance

Topper

- 90 ROARING MINUTES OF LAUGHS!

Madcap couple George and Marion Kerby are killed in an automobile accident. They return as ghosts to try and liven up the regimented lifestyle of their friend and bank president, Cosmo Topper. When Topper starts to live it up, it strains relations with his stuffy wife.

Release Date : 1937-07-16

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hal Roach Studios

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Constance Bennett

Character Name : Marion Kerby

Original Name : Constance Bennett

Gender : Female

Cary Grant

Character Name : George Kerby

Original Name : Cary Grant

Gender : Male

Roland Young

Character Name : Cosmo Topper

Original Name : Roland Young

Gender : Male

Billie Burke

Character Name : Mrs. Topper

Original Name : Billie Burke

Gender : Female

Alan Mowbray

Character Name : Wilkins

Original Name : Alan Mowbray

Gender : Male

Eugene Pallette

Character Name : Casey

Original Name : Eugene Pallette

Gender : Male

Arthur Lake

Character Name : Elevator Boy

Original Name : Arthur Lake

Gender : Male

Hedda Hopper

Character Name : Mrs. Stuyvesant

Original Name : Hedda Hopper

Gender : Female

Virginia Sale

Character Name : Miss Johnson

Original Name : Virginia Sale

Gender : Female

Theodore von Eltz

Character Name : Hotel Manager

Original Name : Theodore von Eltz

Gender : Male

J. Farrell MacDonald

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : J. Farrell MacDonald

Gender : Male

Elaine Shepard

Character Name : Secretary

Original Name : Elaine Shepard

Gender : Female

Doodles Weaver

Character Name : Rustic

Original Name : Doodles Weaver

Gender : Male

Si Jenks

Character Name : Rustic

Original Name : Si Jenks

Gender : Male

Irving Bacon

Character Name : Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Irving Bacon

Gender : Male

Lionel Belmore

Character Name : Bank Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Lionel Belmore

Gender : Male

Clem Bevans

Character Name : Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Clem Bevans

Gender : Male

Betty Blythe

Character Name : Mrs. Goodrich (uncredited)

Original Name : Betty Blythe

Gender : Female

Ward Bond

Character Name : Eddie (uncredited)

Original Name : Ward Bond

Gender : Male

Hoagy Carmichael

Character Name : Hoagy - Piano Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Hoagy Carmichael

Gender : Female

Claire Du Brey

Character Name : Sales Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Claire Du Brey

Gender : Female

Bess Flowers

Character Name : Patron at Rainbow Club (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Pat Gleason

Character Name : Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Gleason

Gender : Male

Kenneth Harlan

Character Name : Hotel Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenneth Harlan

Gender : Male

Grace Hayle

Character Name : Outraged Heavy Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Grace Hayle

Gender : Female

George Humbert

Character Name : Tony - Nightclub Owner (uncredited)

Original Name : George Humbert

Gender : Male

Syd Saylor

Character Name : Car Salesman (uncredited)

Original Name : Syd Saylor

Gender : Male

Martha Tilton

Character Name : Member of 'Three Hits and a Miss' (uncredited)

Original Name : Martha Tilton

Gender : Female

Lana Turner

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Lana Turner

Gender : Female

Russell Wade

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Russell Wade

Gender : Male

Ruth Warren

Character Name : Hen-Pecked Motorist's Wife (uncredited)

Original Name : Ruth Warren

Gender : Female

Claire Windsor

Character Name : Mrs. Simpkins (uncredited)

Original Name : Claire Windsor

Gender : Female

Ernie Alexander

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernie Alexander

Gender : Male

Marvin Bailey

Character Name : Member of 'Three Hits and a Miss' (uncredited)

Original Name : Marvin Bailey

Gender : Male

Davison Clark

Character Name : Police Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Davison Clark

Gender : Male

Dona Dax

Character Name : Hat-Check Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Dona Dax

Gender : Female

Vince Degen

Character Name : Member of 'Three Hits and a Miss' (uncredited)

Original Name : Vince Degen

Gender : Male

Eddie Fetherston

Character Name : Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Fetherston

Gender : Male

Tom Herbert

Character Name : Hen-Pecked Motorist (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Herbert

Gender : Male

Shep Houghton

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Shep Houghton

Gender : Male

William Irving

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : William Irving

Gender : Male

Eddie Kane

Character Name : Maitre d' (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Kane

Gender : Male

Harold Miller

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Miller

Gender : Male

Frank O'Connor

Character Name : Sea Breeze Hotel Doorman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank O'Connor

Gender : Male

Bill Seckler

Character Name : Member of 'Three Hits and a Miss' (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Seckler

Gender : Male

Walter Walker

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Walker

Gender : Male

Billy Wayne

Character Name : Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Wayne

Gender : Male

Harry Wilson

Character Name : Onlooker at Street Brawl (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Wilson

Gender : Male

Harry Adams

Character Name :

Original Name : Harry Adams

Gender : Male

Marie Barde

Character Name :

Original Name : Marie Barde

Gender : Male

Ralph Brooks

Character Name :

Original Name : Ralph Brooks

Gender : Male

James Carlisle

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : James Carlisle

Gender : Male

Eddy Chandler

Character Name :

Original Name : Eddy Chandler

Gender : Male

Dick Cherney

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Cherney

Gender : Male

Dorothy Christy

Character Name :

Original Name : Dorothy Christy

Gender : Female

Lester Dorr

Character Name : Bank Teller (uncredited)

Original Name : Lester Dorr

Gender : Male

Tom Ferrandini

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Ferrandini

Gender : Male

Sam Flint

Character Name : Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Flint

Gender : Male

Kay Garrett

Character Name :

Original Name : Kay Garrett

Gender : Male

Anita Garvin

Character Name :

Original Name : Anita Garvin

Gender : Female

Dick Gordon

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Gordon

Gender : Male

Herschel Graham

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Herschel Graham

Gender : Male

Robert Haines

Character Name :

Original Name : Robert Haines

Gender : Male

Max Hoffman Jr.

Character Name :

Original Name : Max Hoffman Jr.

Gender : Male

Sheldon Jett

Character Name :

Original Name : Sheldon Jett

Gender : Male

Crauford Kent

Character Name :

Original Name : Crauford Kent

Gender : Male

Carl M. Leviness

Character Name :

Original Name : Carl M. Leviness

Gender : Male

Leota Lorraine

Character Name :

Original Name : Leota Lorraine

Gender : Female

Jack Mulhall

Character Name :

Original Name : Jack Mulhall

Gender : Male

Jack Perry

Character Name :

Original Name : Jack Perry

Gender : Male

Alexander Pollard

Character Name : Maitre d' (uncredited)

Original Name : Alexander Pollard

Gender : Male

Jack Raymond

Character Name : Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Raymond

Gender : Male

Cyril Ring

Character Name :

Original Name : Cyril Ring

Gender : Male

Art Rowlands

Character Name :

Original Name : Art Rowlands

Gender : Male

Scott Seaton

Character Name :

Original Name : Scott Seaton

Gender : Male

Eric Wilton

Character Name :

Original Name : Eric Wilton

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Jovial ghosts in pleasant purgatory. George & Marion Kerby like to live life to the max, they party hard and pursue the good time with carefree abandon. During one devil may care drive home fuelled with excess, they crash into a tree and are instantly killed, yet strangely their spirits are still on earth, and it would seem they need to achieve something of value before they can hit the big house in the sky. Enter regimental prig Cosmo Topper, a friend and colleague of the Kerby's, and someone who is about to become their pet make over project! Based on Thorne Smith's novel, "The Jovial Ghosts", this is a truly delightful picture, it steams along at a fair old clip, and clocking in at just one and half hours in length, it never outstays its welcome. It would have been very sad if this had become a one joke movie, I mean just how many ghost gags can you pull off before it gets tiresome? Thankfully the makers of this breezy romp have pulled it all together to consistently tickle the ribs. The spooky effects for 1937 certainly hold up well, for sure they are far from perfect, but with the tone of this particular piece being one of mirth and cheekiness, one finds that the effects carry a decidedly uplifting charm. The film boasts a wonderful turn from Roland Young as Cosmo Topper, as he lurches from one incredulous situation to another, he carries the film with consummate ease. As the Kerby's we get the bright Constance Bennett and the irrepressible comic talent of Cary Grant, with Bennett only bagging the role of Marion when the already cast Jean Harlow sadly passed away a month before the shoot. Grant stepped into the role of George after W.C. Fields vacated it, and we can only guess what sort of picture we would have got with the original cast choices. Yet I simply can't envisage the film being improved upon because Grant & Bennett literally do bounce of each other with cracking results. From one spooky set up to the next, Topper is a cure for the blues, be it fisticuffs with cops, or turning a hotel inside out, it is quite simply a delicious piece of 30s comedy pie. 8/10