Topper (1937)

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

Though Cary Grant and Constance Bennett take top billing, this film definitely belongs to Roland Young. He’s the fastidious and rather henpecked boss of a bank who has to look after the interests of his wastrel shareholders “George” (Grant) and his wife “Marion” (Bennett). One day, though, his luck might just have changed when they wrap their car around a tree! Sadly for him, the come back to haunt him. Not in a terrifying way, indeed he becomes quite used to their ethereal presence, but more in a manner that will get him to lighten up a bit and start to let what’s left of his hair down with his loving but prudish wife  (Billie Burke). Alan Mowbray’s butler “Wilkins” makes up the quintet who keep this enjoyable story rolling along entertainingly the right side of slapstick. Of course, this mischievous pair use their powers to embarrass and annoy their quarry and the simple visual effects work quite well as we see a man manoeuvred skilfully whilst putting up quite a formidable struggle. There is plenty of fun from the writing and with Burke also turning in a charmingly flighty performance, this showcases Young as a capable foil for comedic antics and dialogue and in many ways has the spirit of something “Blithe”!