Has Anyone seen the movie? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

*ShortCake* · 09-18-2003, 09:14 AM

Has anyone seen the movie?? It is so great!! Ihave that and Topper Returns. I am ordering the third Topper movie tomorrow

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vedastone · 09-19-2003, 10:39 AM

Wow, a Hoagy Carmichael and Constance Bennett fan!

Yeah, the Topper movie is great. The characters are quite different in some ways from the TV show. Even Topper's wife has a different name (Clara in the movie and Henrietta on TV). Roland Young is great as Topper. Leo G. Carroll gave his own flavor to the role on TV and I think they were both really funny.

I also have Topper Returns. It is a good movie, but doesn't quite measure up to the original, especially since George and Marion are not in it. Joan Blondell does a good job filling in for the ghosts, but it is not quite the same without Cary and Constance.

I think all the main characters in both the orignal movie and the TV show were great.

I may have seen Topper Takes a Trip long ago but don't really remember it. Please let me know how you like it.

hawaii five-o · 09-19-2003, 06:21 PM

I saw it a long time ago. I love 30's slapstick movies.

Mr. Television · 09-19-2003, 06:25 PM

Never saw it but want to. For some reason it never plays on tv.

*ShortCake* · 09-24-2003, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vedastone
Wow, a Hoagy Carmichael and Constance Bennett fan!

Yeah, the Topper movie is great. The characters are quite different in some ways from the TV show. Even Topper's wife has a different name (Clara in the movie and Henrietta on TV). Roland Young is great as Topper. Leo G. Carroll gave his own flavor to the role on TV and I think they were both really funny.

I also have Topper Returns. It is a good movie, but doesn't quite measure up to the original, especially since George and Marion are not in it. Joan Blondell does a good job filling in for the ghosts, but it is not quite the same without Cary and Constance.

I think all the main characters in both the orignal movie and the TV show were great.

I may have seen Topper Takes a Trip long ago but don't really remember it. Please let me know how you like it.

I love Constance!! I thought she was a great person/actress/singer. I love Topper Returns too, but not as much as the first topper. I love Cary Grant too hehe. I havent had a chance to see the tv show yet!! I know its out on dvd though ( well six episodes of it anyways), so hopefully ill be able to find those and get them!!

Lvanett · 02-15-2007, 07:06 PM

I haven't seen the first movie with Cary Grant (I think), but I have seen Topper Takes A Trip, which was recently on TCM.

The Great One · 03-02-2007, 09:19 PM

I saw it a few times. There's nothing better than classic movies from the Golden Age Of Hollywood.

PattiB · 04-27-2009, 08:03 PM

I used my DVD recorder to put Topper (1937) and Topper returns (1941) on DVD's. They show both on TCM.

William Hogan Jr · 08-31-2009, 12:57 PM

I have all three movies. Topper(CZ), Topper Takes a Trip(CZ), Topper Returns(Original B&W version).Still have them on tape. Anybody have them on DVD?

Fanofoldtvshows · 12-20-2009, 05:03 PM

I seen the movies and enjoyed them. My favorite is the 1st movie.

Schmoopie · 12-20-2009, 11:59 PM

I really want to see the original as well. I caught part of it about a year ago, and never got around to renting it. Thanks for reminding me!

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-21-2010, 01:40 AM

...were produced by Hal Roach, who wanted to prove that, as an independent producer, he could create feature-length comedies as successful as his one, two and three-reel comedy shorts had been- of all of his "short-subject stars", only Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy successfully made the transition to feature films; Charley Chase couldn't, and he went to Columbia in 1937; "Our Gang" went to MGM after Roach sold the series to his distributor in 1938; Patsy Kelly continued to appear as a supporting player in several Roach features [including "Topper Returns"] after her partner Thelma Todd died in 1935.

The first two films were adapted from Thorne Smith's original novels, and were very successful. The last one, "Topper Returns" (1941), was an original story {as Smith wrote no further "Topper" novels after his sudden death in 1934}. If World War II hadn't interrupted production at the Roach studio [it unofficially became "Fort Roach", where military training films were produced for the duration of the war, after 1942], there might have been at least one further "Topper" movie. After the war, Hal Roach found it difficult to sustain feature film productions as he had before the war, and eventually converted his operations towards television production....and one of the series filmed at his studio was- "TOPPER" [by independent producers John W. Loveton & Bernard L. Schubert]. George Oppenheimer slightly "revamped" the characters for TV ("Henrietta" Topper instead of "Clara", giving Topper a stereotypical crusty "bombastic" boss at the bank, George & Marion Kerby perishing in a skiing accident, along with a St. Bernard- "Neil"- who had a penchant for booze, with all three "haunting" Cosmo Topper after he moved into their home). That lasted two years (1953-'55), and 78 episodes, and they're what most people know about "Topper" today, because most of the episodes fell into public domain, and are reissued endlessly on "dollar DVD's"....

Zoneboy · 02-21-2010, 01:44 AM

I've seen the dvds in the dollar stores but it seems like I keep seeing the same episodes. If most of the 78 fell into the public domain then the religious channels I get on Sky Angel should look into adding them to their lineups instead of airing the same 16 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show over and over again.

vedastone · 03-01-2010, 10:26 AM

TVKF - thanks for the detailed background about the production of the movies. And you succinctly explained the major differences between the movie characters and TV characters.

Although I enjoy the films greatly, there are a few things about the TV show that make it more complex and amusing, especially the addition of Neil and Mr. Skyler. Bombastic Thurston Hall was a riot at times and quite important to a majority of the plots, and the ghostly dog was quite an attraction for kids and served as a device for many extra little jokes.

Zoneboy - yes it's frustrating to be able to find so few episodes commercially available. However, bootleg sets exist that contain up to 70 or so of the 78 eps (of course video quality and completeness may be lacking). Depending on how many eps are actually in public domain, these sets could possibly be legit.

stanwyckfan07 · 01-30-2011, 03:26 PM

TOPPER (1937) and TOPPER RETURNS (1939) play on TCM at least once a year; TOPPER RETURNS (1941) is public domain and easily found on cheapie DVDs and DVD pd collections. I actually prefer the third movie as Joan Blondell is a considerably more appealing actress than Constance Bennett IMO.

09-18-2003, 09:14 AM	#1
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	Has Anyone seen the movie? Has anyone seen the movie?? It is so great!! Ihave that and Topper Returns. I am ordering the third Topper movie tomorrow .
	__________________ Ashley "Nice girls don't throw tree's"- Jo Polniaczek.

09-19-2003, 10:39 AM	#2
vedastone Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2002 Posts: 120	Wow, a Hoagy Carmichael and Constance Bennett fan! Yeah, the Topper movie is great. The characters are quite different in some ways from the TV show. Even Topper's wife has a different name (Clara in the movie and Henrietta on TV). Roland Young is great as Topper. Leo G. Carroll gave his own flavor to the role on TV and I think they were both really funny. I also have Topper Returns. It is a good movie, but doesn't quite measure up to the original, especially since George and Marion are not in it. Joan Blondell does a good job filling in for the ghosts, but it is not quite the same without Cary and Constance. I think all the main characters in both the orignal movie and the TV show were great. I may have seen Topper Takes a Trip long ago but don't really remember it. Please let me know how you like it.
	Last edited by vedastone; 09-19-2003 at 10:56 AM.

09-19-2003, 06:25 PM	#4
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Never saw it but want to. For some reason it never plays on tv.
	__________________ Sonny

03-02-2007, 09:19 PM	#7
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	I saw it a few times. There's nothing better than classic movies from the Golden Age Of Hollywood.
	__________________ .

04-27-2009, 08:03 PM	#8
PattiB Classic TV Fan Occasional Poster Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 94	I used my DVD recorder to put Topper (1937) and Topper returns (1941) on DVD's. They show both on TCM.
	__________________ They can keep the Reality shows, give me The classics! Watching too much Reality TV causes "Truman Show Delusion."

09-19-2003, 06:21 PM	#3
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	I saw it a long time ago. I love 30's slapstick movies.

02-15-2007, 07:06 PM	#6
Lvanett Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2006 Location: Albany NY Posts: 28	I haven't seen the first movie with Cary Grant (I think), but I have seen Topper Takes A Trip, which was recently on TCM.

08-31-2009, 12:57 PM	#9
William Hogan Jr Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 28, 2008 Location: Mayodan, N.C. Posts: 324	I have all three movies. Topper(CZ), Topper Takes a Trip(CZ), Topper Returns(Original B&W version).Still have them on tape. Anybody have them on DVD?

12-20-2009, 05:03 PM	#10
Fanofoldtvshows Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 15, 2009 Posts: 42	I seen the movies and enjoyed them. My favorite is the 1st movie.

12-20-2009, 11:59 PM	#11
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I really want to see the original as well. I caught part of it about a year ago, and never got around to renting it. Thanks for reminding me!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

02-21-2010, 01:40 AM	#12
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	The "Topper" theatrical films... ...were produced by Hal Roach, who wanted to prove that, as an independent producer, he could create feature-length comedies as successful as his one, two and three-reel comedy shorts had been- of all of his "short-subject stars", only Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy successfully made the transition to feature films; Charley Chase couldn't, and he went to Columbia in 1937; "Our Gang" went to MGM after Roach sold the series to his distributor in 1938; Patsy Kelly continued to appear as a supporting player in several Roach features [including "Topper Returns"] after her partner Thelma Todd died in 1935. The first two films were adapted from Thorne Smith's original novels, and were very successful. The last one, "Topper Returns" (1941), was an original story {as Smith wrote no further "Topper" novels after his sudden death in 1934}. If World War II hadn't interrupted production at the Roach studio [it unofficially became "Fort Roach", where military training films were produced for the duration of the war, after 1942], there might have been at least one further "Topper" movie. After the war, Hal Roach found it difficult to sustain feature film productions as he had before the war, and eventually converted his operations towards television production....and one of the series filmed at his studio was- "TOPPER" [by independent producers John W. Loveton & Bernard L. Schubert]. George Oppenheimer slightly "revamped" the characters for TV ("Henrietta" Topper instead of "Clara", giving Topper a stereotypical crusty "bombastic" boss at the bank, George & Marion Kerby perishing in a skiing accident, along with a St. Bernard- "Neil"- who had a penchant for booze, with all three "haunting" Cosmo Topper after he moved into their home). That lasted two years (1953-'55), and 78 episodes, and they're what most people know about "Topper" today, because most of the episodes fell into public domain, and are reissued endlessly on "dollar DVD's"....

02-21-2010, 01:44 AM	#13
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	I've seen the dvds in the dollar stores but it seems like I keep seeing the same episodes. If most of the 78 fell into the public domain then the religious channels I get on Sky Angel should look into adding them to their lineups instead of airing the same 16 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show over and over again.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

03-01-2010, 10:26 AM	#14
vedastone Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2002 Posts: 120	TVKF - thanks for the detailed background about the production of the movies. And you succinctly explained the major differences between the movie characters and TV characters. Although I enjoy the films greatly, there are a few things about the TV show that make it more complex and amusing, especially the addition of Neil and Mr. Skyler. Bombastic Thurston Hall was a riot at times and quite important to a majority of the plots, and the ghostly dog was quite an attraction for kids and served as a device for many extra little jokes. Zoneboy - yes it's frustrating to be able to find so few episodes commercially available. However, bootleg sets exist that contain up to 70 or so of the 78 eps (of course video quality and completeness may be lacking). Depending on how many eps are actually in public domain, these sets could possibly be legit.

01-30-2011, 03:26 PM	#15
stanwyckfan07 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 26, 2011 Location: LA Posts: 106	TOPPER (1937) and TOPPER RETURNS (1939) play on TCM at least once a year; TOPPER RETURNS (1941) is public domain and easily found on cheapie DVDs and DVD pd collections. I actually prefer the third movie as Joan Blondell is a considerably more appealing actress than Constance Bennett IMO.