George Kerby (Cary Grant) and his wife Marion (Constance Bennett) are swinging, sophisticated wealthy socialites. Driving recklessly, they have a fatal car accident and become ghosts. In order to enter heaven they must do a good deed, and they decide to "liberate" stuffy banker Cosmo P. Topper (Roland Young) and teach him to enjoy life.
Marion: "Oh, George, I can see right through you."
George: "Say, that's funny. I can see through you, too."
Marion: (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: "I think you're right. Funny, I don't feel any different."
The ghosts are only visible to Topper, and when he starts to live it up, it strains his relationship with henpecking Mrs. Clara Topper (Billie Burke). Topper is thrust into one madcap adventure after another, leading to his arrest and a temporary scandal. In court he is discovered to have women's lingerie hidden under his jacket.
Strange as it seems, TOPPER condones risque and anti-social behavior, including drunkenness, extra-marital affairs, and pinching wives' bottoms. In one funny scene Topper is followed around a hotel lobby by a chair pushed by the invisible George Kerby. With perfect deadpan timing Cosmo apologizes to the other guests, "I'm having a little chair trouble. Please don't pay any attention."
Marion: "Let's go have some dinner."
Cosmo: "Oh no, we cannot eat on an empty stomach."
Marion: "Then we better have a few drinks first."
Cosmo: "My wife objects to drinking."
George: "Then she shouldn't drink."
Cosmo: "She doesn't."
George: "What's her objection?"
The cast also includes: Alan Mowbray (Wilkins), Eugenene Pallette (Casey), Hedda Hopper (Mrs. Grace Stuyvesant), Virginia Sale (Miss Johnson), Hoagy Carmichael (piano player), Betty Blythe (Mrs. Goodrich), Ward Bond (Eddie), and many others. Norman Z. McLeod directed. Jack Jevne, Eric Hatch and Eddie Moran wrote the screenplay. Music is by Marvin Hatley.
This classic screwball comedy is an adaptation of Thorne Smith's 1926 novel. It's a delightful fantasy with good trick photography and special effects. In 1985 TOPPER was the very first black and white movie to be "colorized". Don't get me started.
TOPPER TAKES A TRIP (1939) is the first sequel, and it's just as good. Mrs. Parkhurst (Verree Teasdale) convinces Mrs. Topper to divorce Cosmo. Cary Grant appears in a flashback, but is absent from the film because he had entered heaven or had become too expensive. Marion returns to help Cosmo and brings a ghost dog, Mr. Atlas (as Skippy) played by "Asta". Bennett, Young, and Burke reprise their roles. Cosmo and Clara Topper end up on the French Riviera and the ghost of Marion Kerby prevents Mrs. Topper from being victimized by an aristocratic con man. Special effects are very good and Norman Z. McLeod directed again.
TOPPER RETURNS (1941), the second sequel was directed by Roy Del Ruth and is less a screwball comedy and more a spoof of films such as THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932). Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) helps the ghost of Gail Richards (Joan Blondell) solve her own accidental murder. She was staying with her wealthy friend Ann Carrington (Carole Landis), the intended victim. Clara (Billie Burke) is suspicious. She says, "Trying to make these policemen understand something is harder than doing it yourself." This film is just as good as its predecessors. It's a supernatural murder mystery comedy, with a haunted mansion, stupid cops, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Cosmo's chauffeur.
TOPPER (1953-1955) is a very good and justly famous CBS TV series starring Leo G. Carroll as Topper, Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby, and Robert Sterling as George Kerby. Lee Patrick plays Henrietta Topper. There are 30 episodes and the laugh track is sometimes annoying.
TOPPER (1979) is a dreadful TV movie remake starring Jack Warden as Topper, with Kate Jackson and Andrew Stevens as the ghosts. Turkey time!
