Topper Returns (1941)

A sassy girl finds herself dead after trading bedrooms with her heiress friend. Her ghost seeks aid from banker Cosmo Topper to find out why and by whom.

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Thorne Smith (characters), Jonathan Latimer (original screenplay),

Stars:

Joan Blondell, Roland Young, Carole Landis

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Blondell	...	Gail Richards
Roland Young	...	Cosmo Topper
Carole Landis	...	Ann Carrington
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Topper
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Bob
Patsy Kelly	...	Maid
H.B. Warner	...	Mr. Carrington
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Chauffeur
George Zucco	...	Dr. Jeris
Donald MacBride	...	Sgt. Roberts
Rafaela Ottiano	...	Lillian
Trevor Bardette	...	Rama the Butler

Storyline

Topper is once again tormented by a fun-loving spirit. This time, it's Joan Blondell, who was accidentally murdered while vacationing at the home of her wealthy friend, Ann Carrington (Landis), the intended victim. With Topper's help, Joan sets out to find her killer with the expected zany results.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | ghost | attempted murder | corpse | jewelry | 

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Taglines:

Topper's having girl trouble again!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ich suche meinen Mörder

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, Eddie (played by Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) says that he's going back to "Mr. Benny", an in-joke reference to the fact that Anderson played Rochester, the valet, on Jack Benny's radio program and later TV show.

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Goofs

When Bob the cab driver goes after Ann's attacker on the balcony, his hair is messed up by the wind, but when he comes back in and confronts Lillian the housekeeper, his hair is neatly combed.

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Quotes

Sgt. Roberts: There's a pickpocket in the joint! Whoever stole that witness, put her back!

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Connections

References Charlie Chan in London (1934)

User Reviews

Sprightly ghost play

Unusual among films in the "old dark house" style for being about a ghost who comes back to solve her own murder. Disguised as a Topper film, and with Roland Young and Billie Burke again cast as Mr and Mrs Topper, this is really a clever murder mystery in reverse, a sort of "why he done it". Praise must be lavished on the script, co-written by murder-mystery novelist Jonathan Latimer (who also wrote some of the better Peter Falk Columbo episodes in the 1970s) and on the playing of Young, Burke and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, who steal the film from headliners Carole Landis and Joan Blondell -- it is Topper's film after all. More inspired by the late Thorne Smith's characters than based on anything he wrote, the film nonetheless will appeal to fans of this extraordinary novelist's humorous works. A must for anyone who like horror send-ups, Topper or Smith!