Topper (1937)

Directed by Norman McLeod with a screenplay co-written by Eric Hatch (My Man Godfrey (1936)) this essential screwball comedy features Roland Young in the title role; the role which would earn him his only Academy Award nomination (Supporting Actor). The film’s Sound Recording was also nominated. But the stars of this fantasy are Constance Bennett and Cary Grant; they play an irresponsible carefree younger couple named Marion & George Kerby that die in a car accident only to find themselves stuck in limbo. That is because the wealthy Kerbys have never been particularly good or bad. Formerly the largest stockholders in Cosmo Topper’s bank they now appear only as ghosts literally materializing and disappearing (to rest … it takes a lot of energy to activate their "ecoto-plasm") at will. The film-makers displayed some pretty good special effects skills (two years before the Academy would recognize the category). The Kerbys decide that their good deed to be done (in order to get into Heaven) will be to help "their" bank president loosen up and enjoy life. As it happens Topper has wanted to escape his suffocating wife’s controlling ways. His wife Clara played by Billie Burke (one year before she would receive her only Oscar recognition as a Supporting Actress nominee in Merrily We Live (1938)) with help from their butler (Alan Mowbray) has her husband’s every minute planned until the Kerbys start getting Topper in trouble. Eugene Pallette plays a hotel detective; Hedda Hopper among others (credited and uncredited) also appears. #60 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

Followed by two sequels – Topper Takes a Trip (1938) & Topper Returns (1941) – (both without Grant the second without Bennett as well) a TV series and a TV remake.