There is quaint charm in the Topper movies. They speak of another era, yet are fun, witty and adventurous. The Topper Double Bill is a one-DVD set that contains two movies: Topper and Topper Returns.


The DVD

The DVD comes in a black plastic keepcase with beautiful cover art depicting Cary Grant and Constance Bennett above the movie title, and a scene from the movie where they are ghosts talking with Roland Young beneath the title. Inside the case is a folded card that lists the Chapter Indexes for both movies, and there is Topper trivia on the back of the card. The DVD itself also features well-reproduced images from the movies. Both of these movies were Hal Roach Studio presentations.

Topper has 16 chapters in the Chapter Index
Topper Returns has 15 chapters in the Chapter Index

The Menu is divided into two areas. The left of the screen is for the Topper movie, and the right of the screen for Topper Returns. Both sections offer "Play Movie" and "Scene Index" as well as "Audio Set-up". The Audio Set-up has two choices. The default setting is: Restored 2.0 Dolby Monaural Audio. However, if one wishes to hear the original sound, select the other option: Original 1.0 Dolby Monaural Audio, which has this rider after it, "Due to the age of the original audio there are areas of poor quality and/or missing sound."


DVD Quality

Movie quality is excellent. The movies are full screen and in Black and White. I remember seeing these movies on television, and I recall the quality as being okay but nothing special. The movies on this DVD are wonderfully rendered; sharp images with great resolution.

I only found one glitch, and this could be just on my DVD. In Topper, there is one spot near the end of the movie where the picture noticeably hesitates. Mrs. Topper has just spoken with the butler and begins to walk away. The movie drags a moment before playing at regular speed.


Topper – 97 minutes (produced in 1937)

Plot:

Mr. & Mrs. Kerby (Cary Grant and Constance Bennett) are a wild wealthy couple who enjoy night-clubbing and the good life. They die in an automobile accident and realize that during their life they have never done one good deed. Their banker, Mr. Topper (Roland Young), lives a narrow life ... restricted by his straight-laced wife (Billie Burke). The ghostly Kerby’s decide to spice up Topper’s life as their good deed ... much to Mr. Topper’s dismay.

Cast:

Marion Kerby – Constance Bennett
George Kerby – Cary Grant
Mr. Cosmo Topper – Roland Young
Mrs. Clara Topper – Billie Burke
Wilkins (butler) – Alan Mowbray
Casey – Eugene Pallette
Elevator Boy – Arthur Lake
Mrs. Stuyvesant – Hedda Hopper
Miss Johnson – Virginia Sale
Hotel Manager – Theodore von Eltz
Policeman – J. Farrell McDonald
Secretary – Elaine Shepard

Nightclub song sung by "Three Hits and a Miss"

This movie received two Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Roland Young) and Best Sound (recording).


Topper Returns – 87 minutes (produced in 1941)

Plot:

Spooky doings at a manor house in the middle of nowhere. An heiress (Carole Landis) returns to the family estate with a friend (Joan Blondell). Someone attempts to murder the heiress, and instead the friend is killed. The friend (now a ghost) is determined to protect the heiress and learn what dastardly doings are happening in the manor. Mr. Topper (Roland Young) is pulled into the adventure against his better judgment.

Cast:

Cosmo Topper – Roland Young
Gail Richards – Joan Blondell
Ann Carrington – Carole Landis
Clara Topper – Billie Burke
Bob – Dennis O’Keefe
Maid – Patsy Kelly
Mr. Carrington – H.B. Warner
Chauffeur (Eddie) – Eddie (Rochester) Anderson
Dr. Jeris – George Zucco
Sgt. Roberts – Donald MacBride
Lillian – Rafaela Ottiano
Rama – Trevor Bardette

This movie was co-written by Jonathan Latimer, a murder-mystery novelist. He also wrote for the Columbo episodes filmed in the 1970's. This movie received two Academy Award Nominations: Best Sound (recording) and Best Effects (special effects).


My Experiences

Both of these movies are terrific. If I had to pick my favorite, though, it would be the sequel Topper Returns. I enjoy the combination of ghosts, mystery, mayhem and humor.

Topper is a fun movie filled with excellent special effects, which were done in the camera ... groundbreaking technology at the time. The special effects still hold up and are seamlessly integrated into the movie. Topper is an entertaining vehicle to introduce all the main characters. The actors are wonderful, each nailing their character with delightful humor. The movie also features big band music as the Kerby’s hop from nightclub to nightclub.

Cary Grant and Constance Bennett are superb as the fun-loving Kerby’s, always after a good time and obviously very in love with one another. One-liners fly around the movie as fast as the ghosts appear and disappear. Roland Young is masterful as the uptight always worrying banker, Cosmo Topper. And Billie Burke turns in a stellar performance as Topper’s wife, eternally concerned with their image and gaining a better foothold in society.

Cary Grant and Constance Bennett do not appear in the movie sequel. Topper Returns features a return engagement by Roland Young as Cosmo Topper, still a banker, though a bit more comfortable with himself since his first encounter with the Kerby’s. It’s Topper’s good nature that introduces him to the two female leads in this movie, played by Joan Blondell and Carole Landis. They desperately need a ride to a nearby manor house, and before Topper knows what is happening ... he has a girl in the rumble seat and one sitting on his lap as his chauffeur drives by Topper’s house where a dismayed Mrs. Topper watches the car whiz past her.

In this sequel, Billie Burke plays Mrs. Topper as a "dizzy" blonde instead of the straight-laced wife as she did in the first movie. This isn’t as noticeable when the movies are viewed a time apart. However, the character discrepancy hit me in the face when I saw the movies back-to-back. In Topper, Billie Burke did have her scatter-brained moments. In Topper Returns, multiply those dizzy moments by five. I’m not saying this is a negative thing; however, the abrupt leap from a wife who took things very seriously to a woman who is humorous whenever she opens her mouth is a noticeable character shift.

One thing I was delighted to see in Topper Returns is the entire "freezer scene". Only one other time on television have I seen this scene complete. All other televised movie versions for some reason have this scene deleted. On the versions without the full "freezer scene" one wonders how Cosmo Topper ended up trapped in the kitchen walk-in freezer. It was a huge mystery, and when I finally saw the entire scene, it all made sense! It’s wonderful that this scene is shown in its entirety on this DVD.

Both of these movies are treasures that I’m pleased to own. There is something magical about the Kerby’s, their love for one another, and their determination to do a good deed in order to ascend to Heaven. Cosmo Topper brings one smile after another as the uptight banker who just wants to have some fun even though he knows his wife will disapprove.

The murder mystery in the sequel is a fun romp. I can’t help but laugh whenever Rochester is on screen. You may recall him from his time with Jack Benny. Rochester is just as funny in this movie. One calamity after another befalls him; and all he wants to do is stay out of trouble and away from ghosts.


More About the Casts

You may recognize some of these famous names. The movies are loaded with well-known actors. Here is a brief summary of other movies they have appeared in.

Cary Grant – Arsenic and Old Lace (Mortimer Brewster)
Constance Bennett – Moulin Rouge (Helen Hall / Raquel)
Roland Young – The Philadelphia Story (Uncle Willie)
Billie Burke – The Wizard of Oz (Glinda, the good witch)
Joan Blondell – Support Your Local Gunfighter (Jenny)
Carole Landis – One Million B.C. (Loana)
Eddie (Rochester) Anderson – Gone with the Wind (Uncle Peter)
Dennis O’Keefe – Brewster’s Millions (Monty L. Brewster)
Alan Mowbray – The King and I (Sir John Hay)
Patsy Kelly – Freaky Friday (Mrs. Schmauss)
Eugene Pallette – My Man Godfrey (Alexander Bullock)
H.B. Warner – The Ten Commandments (Amminadab)
Donald MacBride – The Seven Year Itch (Mr. Brady)
Arthur Lake – played Dagwood Bumstead in Blondie movies
Hedda Hopper – Artists & Models (Mrs. Townsend)


Purchasing

I bought this DVD from Amazon.com for $11.24. The retail price of this movie set is $14.98.


Summary

I enjoy the Topper movies. They are light-hearted fun. For pure entertainment, put aside your daily cares and watch these movies. The DVD doesn’t have anything in the way of extras (such as commentaries, which I enjoy) ... but the movies are worth the price. They are of excellent quality, and better yet, make me laugh. I highly recommend them.

I hope you have found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Additional Information

Black and White
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
Close Captioned
Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: pre-1954 standard (1.33.1)
Language: English


Please read my other reviews:

The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell (Bob Hope movie)

Grand Theft Auto (Ron Howard movie)

Tremors Attack Pack (three movies)

The Mummy: The Legacy Collection (five movies)

Riddick Trilogy (three Vin Diesel movies)

Quatermass & The Pit and Quatermass 2 (two movies)

Titanic movie

LiteOn DVD Recorder/Player


Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD