Topper Takes a Trip (1938)

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Now that I've seen "Topper Takes a Trip", I have seen the three original Topper films. They are all mildly amusing, at best, but the shtick gets a little old after a while.In the original film, Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) is visited by two ghosts (Cary Grant and Constance Bennett). The film surprised the filmmakers, as it was a hit and folks were clamoring for more...but for some reason Cary Grant didn't agree to do the sequel. I can only assume he had better film projects and in hindsight I think he was probably wise to avoid this one. Instead, believe it or not, they replaced him with a ghost dog!! Uggh!This installment finds Cosmo fighting to stay married as Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke) is seeking a divorce. This really makes no sense, as she loved Topper...and her suddenly listening to bad friends who want to separate them is pretty awful and far from funny. Well, apparently American divorces take too long so she heads to Paris...and Cosmo goes there to try to stop her from doing this and marrying some Baron. Whatever. The bottom line is that this film seems to scream out "there is NO reason for this film"....and I would definitely agree. Not a terrible film...but not a good one. Oddly, the third film (starring Young, Burke and Joan Blondell as the ghost) is probably the best of the three movies.

Why is Marian Kirby still around after Cary Grant's George went off to his final resting place after they helped reunite pal Roland Young and his jealous, suspicious wife Billie Burke in the first film? She did as much as George did, but probably because Constance Bennett was available (and willing) and Grant went onto other projects, producer Hal Roach decided to suspend disbelief and bring her back, now with Asta from the "Thin Man" movies (and Grant's two screwball comedy classics, "The Awful Truth" and "Bringing Up Baby"), as her companion. Prodded by her best friend (Verree Teasdale at her absolute snootiest), Burke is once again separated from Young, and is off for a European trip where Teasdale has pushed her together with obvious gigolo Alexander D'Arcy. Young must once again rely on the ghostly help of Bennett to win his wife back, and this leads to more magical hijinks, which if not as classically funny as the first, are often amusing and clever.There's truly a sense here that a sequel concerning Marian Kirby was not necessary, and fortunately in the third and final Topper film, a new ghost popped in with one contained plot line that wrapped up neatly. Bennett is still gorgeous to look at, and there is one very clever sequence with invisible Bennett and the very visible Young having drinks, and befuddled bartender Paul Hurst's hysterical reactions to the whole goings on. Alan Mowbray is back as the droll butler, and Franklin Pangborn adds his usual pickle-pussed humor into his role as the manager of the hotel where Burke is staying, and where Young ends up in a basement room that ain't so peaceful. Grant's scenes from the first film really serve no purpose other than to add him into the credits with a special "thank you" that also adds to the feeling that this really didn't serve any purpose other than to play on the success of the original. Other than that, the whole premise really does turn out to be an afterthought that is truly pleasant, but mostly unnecessary.

The film picks up where the original story left off. If you haven't seen the first Topper, there are several flashback scenes at the beginning to bring you up to speed. This is classic screwball comedy combined with supernatural fantasy, something that seems to match writer Thorne Smith's particular talents and Hollywood's fascination with anything and everything whimsical.Roland Young is impressive as the befuddled title character and Billie Burke delights audiences as his wacky wife. The issue one has with the series is not its continual use of thinly stretched gags (playing on the idea that only Topper can communicate with the dead), but rather its obvious use of camera editing to create magical special effects. For example, ghostly Constance Bennett drinks a martini that seems to disappear one gulp at a time (obviously accomplished by stopping the film, emptying some of the alcohol, then resuming camera action). Most viewers probably see such an effect as fake and contrived. Despite the basic technology, the film does retain appeal, thanks in large part to the winning performances of its actors. Especially Miss Bennett who adds an element of glamour to the whole affair.

After creating enough mayhem in the life of Cosmo Topper in the first Topper film, Marian Kerby comes back from the afterlife to do a little more damage than before. She means well of course and by chance things do work out in the end.Roland Young as Topper, Constance Bennett as Marian, and Billie Burke as the ditzy but patient Mrs. Topper are back again. Cary Grant as George Kerby is here too, but only in a flashback from the original Topper movie. The flashback occurs when Topper is on the witness stand in a divorce case as Billie Burke is filing for divorce. Topper takes the stand and tries to explain that wasn't a real woman in his room, just an other world spirit.Judge Spencer Charters won't grant a divorce, but come back the next day he might sign some commitment papers. So Billie Burke and her friend Verree Teasdale are off to France. Now it becomes clear what Marian Kerby is back on terra firma for.Connie and Roland are off to France where they have to deal with fussy hotel managers and pretentious gigolos like Franklin Pangborn and Alexander D'Arcy. Best scenes in the film, in the casino with Paul Porcasi as the manager and in the bar with Paul Hurst as bartender.It's not as good as the original Topper film, but still has a lot of laughs left in the old spirit.