The Asheville Film Society will screen Topper Returns on Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at The Grail Moviehouse, hosted by Xpress movie critic Scott Douglas.
Topper Returns
Movie Information
In Brief: The third and final of producer Hal Roach's films based on Thorne Smith's novel Topper, this hidden gem has long been overlooked due to the absence of original stars Cary Grant and Constance Bennett — and that's unfortunate because this iteration easily equals the first Topper film and blatantly bests the second. Topper Returns (1941) ditches the screwball model in favor of an old-dark-house comedy/mystery hybrid, a genre mashup that serves its supernatural premise ideally. Roland Young returns as Cosmo Topper, the hapless banker with an undesired knack for attracting the attention of helpful ghosts, but this time around his spiritual guide is played by the exceptional Joan Blondell. It's every bit as funny as it's predecessors (more so at times), and distinguishes itself by virtue of its mystery premise.
| Score: | |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Director: | Roy Del Ruth |
| Starring: | Joan Blondell, Roland Young, Carole Landis, Billie Burke, Dennis O'Keefe, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson |
| Rated: | NR |
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