A Dupla do Outro Mundo

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.

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.

"Topper", the delightful and original film directed by Norman Z McLeod, should be seen more often. It is one of the best things Hollywood ever produced at the height of the madcap comedy craze of the thirties. In fact, just to watch Roland Young, Constance Bennett and Cary Grant in the same film is a dream come true.

"Topper" has always been an old time favorite. We were treated the other night to watching it again, courtesy of TCM. The film's great black and white cinematography by Norbert Brodine looks good, even after these many years.

Constance Bennett and Cary Grant made a fabulous couple. Ms. Bennett had the uncanny gift of blending with all her leading men well. She was a charming actress with such a sense of style and an amazing figure to boot that made her an irresistible presence on the screen. Cary Grant is also seen at his best in the film as the careless and fun loving George Kerby.

Roland Young, in our humble opinion, steals the show! He plays the staid banker Cosmo Topper, who is all business until he starts being made the object of the Kerby's antics. Cosmo Topper's wife is the incomparable Billie Burke, one of the most gracious actresses of that era.

The rest of the cast is not too shabby. Alan Mowbray, Eugene Palette, Ward Bond, Hoagy Carmichael, and as an extra, Lana Turner could be seen backing the principals with their usual elegance and enormous screen presence.

"Topper" is a film that should be "rediscovered" by new audiences, as it shows how great Hollywood could be when it wanted to be original. But above all, "Topper" should be seen for the fantastic Roland Young, who is nothing short of perfection in the film!

'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.

When better than Christmas-time to watch a classic Hollywood fantasy feature, especially as it stars the great Cary Grant and sexy, sophisticated Constance Bennett. The film makes one obvious mistake in not naming the film after them, as the live-on-the-edge 24-hour-party-people couple who finally crash, literally, over to the other side when their car (and what a car it is!) hits a tree, leaving them as two disembodied spirits requiring to do a good deed before they can quit their earthly ties completely.

This then, they decide, is to be the emancipation of their middle-aged, henpecked bank manager friend, the only mildly rebellious thing about whom is his name, Cosmo Topper, played by Roland Young. Ordered about by his dull wife and domineering butler, Topper's worm gradually turns due to the influence of alcohol, Grant and in particular Bennett's coaxing but finally his own suppressed natural spirit coming to the surface.

A great screwball comedy, directed at high speed by Norman Z MacLeod, "Topper" is great fun from start to finish. The two separate lengthy opening scenes perfectly encapsulate the contrast between the high-flying Kerbys and the low-lying Toppers and it's no great surprise as to who changes who for the better by the final reel.

With the usual 30's comedy mix of sharp dialogue, slapstick and fine-for-the-time special effects to suggest ghostly comings and goings, the film entertains from first to last. Most surprising is the prominence given to a racy pair of lady's drawers not only in clearing a fashion store of its occupants but in later proving the catalyst for Topper's wife to go from strait-laced to frilly-laced and put the fire back into their staid marriage.

Grant and Bennett are great as the high-society duo who aren't on the screen enough (and I don't just mean when they're invisible in spirit form). Shame they didn't make another movie together, they're well-matched here. Young is fine too as the mousy manager who finally learns to roar.

This was a fun romp of a movie, with just a gentle live-for-today (but not too fast!) moral at its heart.