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Topper (film)
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Topper (film)
Topper is a 1937 American supernatural comedy film starring Constance Bennett and Cary Grant, and featuring Roland Young, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, and Eugene Pallette in support. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, it tells the story of a stuffy, stuck-in-his-ways man who is haunted by the ghosts of a fun-loving married couple. The film was adapted by Eric Hatch, Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran from the 1926 novel by Thorne Smith. It was produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Topper was a huge hit with film audiences in the summer of 1937. Topper was the first black-and-white film to be digitally colorized, re-released in 1985 by Hal Roach Studios.
George and Marion Kerby are as irresponsible as they are rich. When George wrecks their flashy custom roadster, they wake up from the accident as ghosts. Realizing they are neither in Heaven nor Hell because they have never been responsible enough to do good deeds nor sufficiently venal to do bad, they decide that freeing their old friend Cosmo Topper from his suffocatingly regimented lifestyle will be their ticket into Heaven.
Topper, a wealthy bank president, is oppressed by boredom and routine, compounded by his social-climbing wife Clara’s obsession with presenting a respectable façade. On a whim, he buys the late Kerbys’ car. Soon he meets the ghosts of his dead friends, and immediately they begin to liven up his dull life with drinking, dancing, flirting, and fun.
The escapades lead quickly to Cosmo's arrest, and the ensuing scandal alienates his wife. To her astonishment, some of New York City’s upper crust she has been desperate to socialize with are piqued by the incident and cozy up.
Cosmo moves out into a hotel with Marion, who claims she is no longer married since she is dead. Clara fears she has lost Cosmo forever. The Toppers' loyal butler suggests that she lighten up a bit; she decides he's right and dons the lingerie and other attire of "a forward woman".
After Cosmo has a near-death experience and nearly joins George and Marion in the afterlife, the Toppers are happily reunited, and George and Marion, their good deed done, gladly depart for Heaven.
Cast notes
After a long career producing comedy shorts, producer Hal Roach was looking to expand into long-form films to complement his Laurel and Hardy features, and found a property in Topper, a risqué 1926 novel by Thorne Smith (the film is relatively faithful to the first half of the book, but more or less cuts the latter). Roach immediately wanted Cary Grant to play George Kerby, but he had difficulty getting the actor to agree to play the part, since Grant was concerned that the supernatural aspects of the story would not work. Roach was successfully able to pitch the film to Grant as a screwball comedy instead—and a $50,000 payday.
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Topper (film)
Topper is a 1937 American supernatural comedy film starring Constance Bennett and Cary Grant, and featuring Roland Young, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, and Eugene Pallette in support. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, it tells the story of a stuffy, stuck-in-his-ways man who is haunted by the ghosts of a fun-loving married couple. The film was adapted by Eric Hatch, Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran from the 1926 novel by Thorne Smith. It was produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Topper was a huge hit with film audiences in the summer of 1937. Topper was the first black-and-white film to be digitally colorized, re-released in 1985 by Hal Roach Studios.
George and Marion Kerby are as irresponsible as they are rich. When George wrecks their flashy custom roadster, they wake up from the accident as ghosts. Realizing they are neither in Heaven nor Hell because they have never been responsible enough to do good deeds nor sufficiently venal to do bad, they decide that freeing their old friend Cosmo Topper from his suffocatingly regimented lifestyle will be their ticket into Heaven.
Topper, a wealthy bank president, is oppressed by boredom and routine, compounded by his social-climbing wife Clara’s obsession with presenting a respectable façade. On a whim, he buys the late Kerbys’ car. Soon he meets the ghosts of his dead friends, and immediately they begin to liven up his dull life with drinking, dancing, flirting, and fun.
The escapades lead quickly to Cosmo's arrest, and the ensuing scandal alienates his wife. To her astonishment, some of New York City’s upper crust she has been desperate to socialize with are piqued by the incident and cozy up.
Cosmo moves out into a hotel with Marion, who claims she is no longer married since she is dead. Clara fears she has lost Cosmo forever. The Toppers' loyal butler suggests that she lighten up a bit; she decides he's right and dons the lingerie and other attire of "a forward woman".
After Cosmo has a near-death experience and nearly joins George and Marion in the afterlife, the Toppers are happily reunited, and George and Marion, their good deed done, gladly depart for Heaven.
Cast notes
After a long career producing comedy shorts, producer Hal Roach was looking to expand into long-form films to complement his Laurel and Hardy features, and found a property in Topper, a risqué 1926 novel by Thorne Smith (the film is relatively faithful to the first half of the book, but more or less cuts the latter). Roach immediately wanted Cary Grant to play George Kerby, but he had difficulty getting the actor to agree to play the part, since Grant was concerned that the supernatural aspects of the story would not work. Roach was successfully able to pitch the film to Grant as a screwball comedy instead—and a $50,000 payday.
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