La via dell'impossibile

With a fine cast and some good and occasionally impressive special effect camera tricks, this is a decent fantasy feature. It makes its main gimmick work well, while also telling a light but interesting story about the main characters. The idea of ghosts returning to interact with the living is a simple and familiar idea, but in this movie it works pretty well.

Cary Grant is always entertaining in this kind of role, and Roland Young fit right into the role of "Topper" and made it his own, in this and the sequels. Constance Bennett gives a very lively and engaging performance that also drives much of the action. Billie Burke is well-cast as Topper's wife, and Eugene Palette makes very good use of his scenes as a grouchy hotel detective.

The 'ghost' effects are very good technically for their time, and they are used effectively in the story. There is a lot of variety in the various visual effects, and they show some clever ideas and careful planning. Only a couple of times do the seams show.

The story is kept very simple, probably by design, allowing the cast and the camera effects to carry the load. Although things move a little slowly at times, most of it is entertaining, and as light entertainment it works well.

'Topper' is a fun and playful movie which has several things going for it, starting with Cary Grant and Constance Bennett, who play a sophisticated married couple who enjoy staying out all night carousing. They are both delightful. Grant gets a little too reckless behind the wheel of his expensive sports car, and they end up ghosts, but there's no sadness here, and the only difference seems to be that they can now become invisible. They still have appetites (e.g. for alcohol) and can make physical contact with things. Does that make sense? I don't know, but who cares. The film works as a romantic comedy and relationship film, as Grant and Bennett are contrasted by a wealthy banker (Roland Young) who is stifled by his prim wife (Billie Burke), who has him on a tight leash and schedule. She needs to loosen up, and he needs to assert himself, and Grant and Bennett help that along in their own odd ways.

There are solid performances all around, and you'll recognize Burke from her role as Glinda the Good Witch in 'The Wizard of Oz'. The special effects are nice, including seeing Grant and Bennett fade in and out, and float various objects in the air (the tire changing scene is brilliant). It's also nice to see Hoagy Carmichael perform a catchy song, 'Old Man Moon'. Don't overthink it, and you'll enjoy this one.

Influential box office hit finds a couple of free spirited, newly deceased ghosts inspiring a dull banker to live life to the fullest. The simple, straightforward story is given a fresh approach by a witty script and terrific performances from the entire cast - Roland Young is divine in an Oscar-nominated performance in the title role, and Cary Grant and Constance Bennett are terrific as the dearly-departed couple. The film was followed by two sequels, a long-running television series, a made-for-TV remake, and a whole slew of imitators - although none of which ever approached the quality of the original. A delightful good time that remains arguably the best supernatural comedy that Hollywood has ever produced.

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

A carefree couple (Cary Grant, Constance Bennett) are killed in a car crash. They come back as ghosts to help their bank manager friend, Cosmo Topper (Roland Young), break out of his stuffy little rut and find happiness. I first saw this years ago and I remember being disappointed that Cary Grant isn't really the star of it, Roland Young is. This is probably the role Young is best remembered for, although it's very similar to some of his other roles. Namely that of a meek little man who mumbles and has funny deadpan reactions to things. He's likable and easy to root for. For their parts, Grant and Bennett are a lot of fun. They sing "Old Man Moon" with Hoagy Carmichael in one delightful scene. The supporting cast includes Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, and a very funny Eugene Palette. The film was a success and led to two sequels and a TV series. It's a light screwball comedy with enjoyable performances and a good script. People expecting it to be a vehicle for Cary Grant might be disappointed but hopefully they'll give it a shot anyway.