Topper Returns (1941)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Thorne Smith (characters)
Jonathan Latimer (original screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Comedy

Tagline:

Topper's having girl trouble again!

Plot:

Topper is once again tormented by a fun-loving spirit. This time, it's Joan Blondell, who was accidentally...

Plot Keywords:

Housekeeper | Sniper | Doctor | Estate | Chauffeur

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Joan Blondell	...	Gail Richards
Roland Young	...	Cosmo Topper
Carole Landis	...	Ann Carrington
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Clara Topper
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Bob
Patsy Kelly	...	Emily - Maid
H.B. Warner	...	Mr. Henry Carrington
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Eddie - Chauffeur
George Zucco	...	Dr. Jeris
Donald MacBride	...	Police Sgt. Roberts
Rafaela Ottiano	...	Lillian
Trevor Bardette	...	Rama - Butler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddy Chandler	...	Jim - Police Sergeant (uncredited)
John Kelly	...	Engine Room Sailor-Henchman in Striped Shirt (uncredited)
George Lloyd	...	Boat Captain (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Second Butler (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Darryl - Police Officer (uncredited)
Duke York	...	Engine Room Sailor-Henchman in Black (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy Del Ruth

Writing credits
Thorne Smith		(characters)
Jonathan Latimer		(original screenplay) &
Gordon Douglas		(original screenplay)
Paul Girard Smith		(additional dialogue) (as Paul Gerard Smith)

Produced by
Hal Roach	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Werner R. Heymann

Cinematography by
Norbert Brodine

Film Editing by
James E. Newcom		(as James Newcom)

Art Direction by
Nicolai Remisoff

Set Decoration by
William Stevens		(as W.L. Stevens)

Costume Design by
Royer		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Carr	....	assistant director

Sound Department
William Randall	....	sound recordist
Elmer Raguse	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Seawright	....	photographic effects

Music Department
Irvin Talbot	....	conductor

Other crew
Hal Roach	....	presenter
Irene Martin	....	stand-in: Joan Blondell (uncredited)
H.W. Winston	....	animal trainer: Slicker the seal (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios

Distributors

• United Artists (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• Favorite Films (1946) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Státní Pujcovna Filmu (194?) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6963) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:6 | Sweden:15

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

In the film, Eddie (played by Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) says that he's going back to "Mr. Benny", an in-joke reference to the fact that Anderson played Rochester, the valet, on Jack Benny's radio program and later TV show.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bob the cab driver goes after Ann's attacker on the balcony, his hair is messed up by the wind, but when he comes back in and confronts Lillian the housekeeper, his hair is neatly combed.

Quotes:

Eddie, the Chauffeur: Doors opening by themselves. People talkin' to nuthin' and gettin' answers. I'm going back.
Clara Topper: Back where?
Eddie, the Chauffeur: To Mr. Benny. Ain't nuthin' like this ever happened there.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Penny Dreadful (2005)

Possibly the best in the Topper trilogy

Thorne Smith is just now beginning to be taken seriously as a writer. Often brushed off as just another pulp fiction fabricator, Smith's works are filled with satirical, humorous jibes at American culture concealed in well-written stories of fantasy. Though all three Hollywood versions of one of his best character creations leave out much of the satire they are each highly entertaining romantic comedies with many sexual innuendos considered bawdy when released in the late 30's and early 40's. This third film adds an element of mystery, suspense and chills to the comedy. Even the humor comes faster than in the first two Topper's. Billie Burke as Mrs. Cosmo Topper is given more clever lines this go around. Being one of the best actresses around, she knows exactly how to use the lines for ultimate comedic effect.

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson was one of the funniest men around at the time. Mainly a radio comedian and sidekick to the inimitable Jack Benny, he stands out in every movie role he was given. He was one of the few African-Americans of his day who was able through sheer talent to rise above the racist Hollywood stereotyping rampant in the media at the time. Later during the civil rights movement Jack Benny told Rochester to do an errand for him. He replied, "Mr. Benny, we don't do that anymore." There's one scene in "Topper Returns" involving Rochester that's a gem when the raven flies to his shoulder and he gives a double take. Don't miss it. I don't know whose idea it was to have him wear a fur coat but that one prop adds tremendously to the fun.

So much has already been said by IMDb reviewers about the sensational Joan Blondell who deservedly got top billing in this film. She was a multi-talented actress who could play any role given her better than anyone else. She was also a topnotch comedienne as she shows in this outing when she somewhat assumes the role played by Constance Bennett in the first two outings. Donald MacBride as the police sergeant in charge of investigating the murders plays the part of a dumb policeman (typical for Hollywood in those days) in such a lofty comic manner than his stupidity is actually believable and this time funny. Adding to the creepiness of this truly scary comedy is the performance of Rafaela Ottiano as the housekeeper. She would frighten the pants off Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. The rest of the cast made in heaven is just as effective.

Special note should be given to the special effects which were nominated for an Oscar. The man behind them, Roy Seawright, had also been in charge of the special effects for the first two Topper's. I've read that he had a hand in doing the special effects for the 1933 horror classic "The Invisible Man," although he is not credited with that in his profile.

Roland Young is for many viewers the definitive Topper but the later TV Topper, Leo G. Carroll, did a fine job too. Plus the later TV series added a ghost St. Bernard named Neil who just happened to be an alcoholic. Except for this the three movie versions are superior. The made for TV "Topper Returns" actually deals with Cosmo Topper Jr. and though OK is nowhere near the caliber of this "Topper Returns."