Poor Topper doesn't stand a ghost of a chance when his two friends decide to haunt him.
Intro.
Okay, so I know Topper isn't really in the realm of this month's horror/thriller/Hitchcock themed films, but it does star two mischief making ghosts and I couldn't resist. I'm also bending one of the rules in the Production Code, as I had seen this movie previously. It had been many years since I had seen it though, and I didn't remember much of it, so I decided to watch it again the other night. I'm so glad I did!Overview
George Kirby (Cary Grant) and his beautiful wife Marion (Constance Bennett) are an extremely wealthy, fun-loving couple. They are the typical roaring twenties type of couple living in the thirties, leaving a 3 day anniversary party at their penthouse to go into town for the annual bank stockholder meeting. Their friend Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) is the bank president, and while annoyed at George's adolescent remarks during the meeting, he nevertheless cares deeply for his friends. Marion decides that she wants to help Topper shake off his stuffy, responsible attitude and enjoy life. However, Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke) is the exact opposite of Marion, and insists that her husband remain the uptight, respectable businessman. Everything changes though when an awful car crash kills the Kirbys. George and Marion's spirits cannot move on then, presumably because they were so busy enjoying themselves in life that they hadn't done any good deeds. Topper soon becomes their good deed. Together, George and Marion follow Topper, appearing and disappearing at their whim. It causes quite a bit of confusion and pretty soon they've not only gotten Topper to drink for the first time in his life, but get him into a fight with the police, resulting in his arrest and name in the paper. He and Mrs. Topper fight and he leaves. Marion goes with him to the Seabreeze Hotel, presumably for the first night where he can drink and dance and enjoy himself. Many comedic moments follow, as the house detective finds something funny about a man talking to a woman who is there in voice, but not visible. Then a very jealous George appears and has a row with Marion. However, to help George avoid more trouble with the police, they trash the hotel while invisible, much to the shock and terror of all the guests. They get an unconscious George safely back home to his wife, and when he awakens, both are relieved that he is alright. More than that, Mrs. Topper agrees that she has been too rigid and wants to relax and enjoy life again. Happy at last, Topper and his wife finally rekindle their love and the Kirbys get to pass into the afterlife. Highlights
I don't recall ever seeing Constance Bennett before, and after a quick search on IMDb, I realized that I didn't recognize any of the films she had made. It often amazes me how many Hollywood films were made in the 30s and 40s and how many of them aren't shown anymore. I'm not saying it's because of quality so much as it is just a staggering number. TCM is always having first showings of films they'd never aired previously. I think I could spend my whole life watching every film that came out of each of the studios in Hollywood in the 30's and 40's and never have to watch the same film twice. Granted, this was also a time when the movies didn't have to compete with television - higher demand and supply. Still, I would really enjoy watching more of Ms. Bennett, as she is a wonderful, bright and fashionable woman. She's the perfect match to the comedic, light-hearted side of Cary Grant (whose performance in Topper reminded me of his role in Holiday). Overall, the film struck me for its commentary on high society. True, their foolhardy recklessness gets them killed, but even in the afterlife, the Kirbys are much happier than Topper is in his own life. It isn't about money so much as it is about enjoying the little things - taking time to spend with your husband/wife or go out dancing. But more than that, it's about loosening up a bit. Mrs. Topper is shocked when the wives of the highest members in society ask her for lunch only after they see that Mr. Topper was arrested. Apparently that made the Toppers "interesting" and worthy of joining that slightly eccentric upper crust. That seems odd but somewhat typical of the time - most people in America with money during the Great Depression are usually depicted as more than a bit strange. That may be why the main point of the film is so well done - all the Toppers need to be happy are each other, not all that money. The Kirbys are proof enough of that, making up after their big fight in the afterlife.
Finally a word about the special effects. I'm not familiar with the history of special effects or what was cutting edge at the time of a film's release. However, I was impressed by how well the effects were done in this film. The fading on and off screen might seem a bit silly, but it works well for the story. The best parts are when things start to move and float seemingly by themselves - the car almost fixes itself, papers are thrown up into the air at Topper's (and Marion's) passing, and general chaos like that. A few of the tricks I could figure out, but most of them are just entertaining and believable enough because the perpetrators are two such likable characters.
Review and Recommendation
While not a very well-known film, Topper is a classic example of comedies from the 1930s. It is warm, silly and entertaining. I recommend it to fans of Cary Grant and Constance Bennett, and to anyone interested in depictions of the upper class.
P.S. Best line was from Cary Grant. Marion asks George what he's doing walking along the roof peak like a tightrope. His response? "I'm practicing to be an angel!" It's nice to think that he'd make a great angel too, years later in The Bishop's Wife.
