Topper (1937)

A fun-loving couple, finding that they died and are now ghosts, decide to shake up the stuffy lifestyle of a friend of theirs.

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Jack Jevne (screen play), Eric Hatch (screen play)

Stars:

Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, Roland Young

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Constance Bennett	...	Marion Kerby
Cary Grant	...	George Kerby
Roland Young	...	Mr. Cosmo Topper
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Clara Topper
Alan Mowbray	...	Wilkins
Eugene Pallette	...	Casey
Arthur Lake	...	Elevator Boy
Hedda Hopper	...	Mrs. Grace Stuyvesant
Virginia Sale	...	Miss Johnson
Theodore von Eltz	...	Hotel Manager
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Policeman (as J. Farrell McDonald)
Elaine Shepard	...	Secretary
Doodles Weaver	...	Rustic
Si Jenks	...	Rustic
Three Hits and a Miss	...	Three Hits and a Miss

Storyline

The funloving Kerbys, stockholders in the bank of which henpecked, stuffy Cosmo Topper 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 takes a keen personal interest in the job. Will Topper survive the wrath of jealous ghost George? Will Mrs. Topper find that a scandalous husband isn't all bad?

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | accident | screwball comedy | car crash | afterlife | 

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Taglines:

Constance BENNETT Showing a man a good time was her daily "Good Deed"

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Songwriter and pianist Hoagy Carmichael makes an uncredited cameo appearance early in the film as the piano player in the sequence where George and Marion are on the town the night before the meeting at the bank. He introduces the song "Old Man Moon", which is sung by George and Marion. (It's also sung later by Three Hits and a Miss.) It was Carmichael's screen debut. As the couple leave the bar, George says, "(Good) night", and Carmichael replies, "So long; see ya next time."

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Goofs

When Topper leaves the shower to get the towel held up by Wilkins (9:35 min), he can be seen to be wearing white boxers and isn't wet.

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Quotes

Marion Kerby: Oh, George, I can see right through you.
George Kerby: Say, that's funny. I can see through you, too.
Marion Kerby: [seeing her body lying next to George's beside the car, which has just crashed] George, look. You know something George? I think we're dead.
George Kerby: I think you're right. Funny; I don't *feel* any different.

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Connections

Featured in The 56th Annual Academy Awards (1984)

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Soundtracks

Old Man Moon
(1937)
Music & Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael
Sung by Hoagy Carmichael (uncredited), Constance Bennett (uncredited) and Cary Grant (uncredited)
Played as dance music by nightclub orchestra and
Sung by Three Hits and a Miss (uncredited)

User Reviews

The Kerbys in purgatory

"Topper", the delightful and original film directed by Norman Z McLeod, should be seen more often. It is one of the best things Hollywood ever produced at the height of the madcap comedy craze of the thirties. In fact, just to watch Roland Young, Constance Bennett and Cary Grant in the same film is a dream come true.

"Topper" has always been an old time favorite. We were treated the other night to watching it again, courtesy of TCM. The film's great black and white cinematography by Norbert Brodine looks good, even after these many years.

Constance Bennett and Cary Grant made a fabulous couple. Ms. Bennett had the uncanny gift of blending with all her leading men well. She was a charming actress with such a sense of style and an amazing figure to boot that made her an irresistible presence on the screen. Cary Grant is also seen at his best in the film as the careless and fun loving George Kerby.

Roland Young, in our humble opinion, steals the show! He plays the staid banker Cosmo Topper, who is all business until he starts being made the object of the Kerby's antics. Cosmo Topper's wife is the incomparable Billie Burke, one of the most gracious actresses of that era.

The rest of the cast is not too shabby. Alan Mowbray, Eugene Palette, Ward Bond, Hoagy Carmichael, and as an extra, Lana Turner could be seen backing the principals with their usual elegance and enormous screen presence.

"Topper" is a film that should be "rediscovered" by new audiences, as it shows how great Hollywood could be when it wanted to be original. But above all, "Topper" should be seen for the fantastic Roland Young, who is nothing short of perfection in the film!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Topper

Filming Locations:

Hill Grove Estate at 1051 Benedict Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1