Topper goes on a journey

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Topper goes on a journey
Original title Topper takes a trip
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1938
length 90 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Norman Z. McLeod
script Jack Jevne ,
Eddie Moran ,
Corey Ford
production Hal Roach ,
Milton H. Bren
music Hugo Friedhofer ,
Edward B. Powell
camera Norbert Brodine
cut William H. Terhune
occupation

Topper goes on trips (Original title: Topper Takes a Trip ) is an American comedy film from 1938 based on the novel of the same name by Thorne Smith . The film is the sequel to Topper - The blonde ghost from the previous year.

action

Meek New York bank director Cosmo Topper has marital problems. His wife Clara wants to divorce him. In the divorce court, she accuses Cosmo of adultery with another woman. Cosmo explains what the other woman is about. It is the ghost of Marion Kerby, who died in a car accident with her husband George. The court believes Cosmo and dismisses the lawsuit. Clara is persuaded by her friend Mrs. Parkhurst to travel to France and deal with the divorce there.

At the same time, Marion learns of Cosmo's problems. She returns as a ghost and challenges Topper to fight for his marriage. They travel to Clara and find her on the Riviera, where she is ensnared by the baron de Rossi, a soldier of fortune. Bizarre situations are inevitable with a ghost in company. So Topper and Marion have to share a room in the hotel. Marion also wants to try her luck in a casino. But after a while Marion is able to separate Clara from the baron. Clara and Cosmo are happily reunited.

background

The filmed story is only partly based on the book of the same name. As with other film adaptations of Smith's work, many of the more lewd jokes, insinuations of marital infidelity or the ever-present alcohol fell largely victim to the scissors of the Hays Code or the corresponding anticipatory obedience of the producer:

"For the screen version, Hal B. Roach retained the sympathetic view of France. [...] Other than that, the film titled Topper takes a trip contains no similarity to Smith's novel." ("In the film adaptation, producer Hal B. Roach retained the friendly view of France. [...] Beyond that, there is no similarity between the film Topper goes on a journey and Smith's book.")

The film premiered on December 29, 1938 in New York. In Germany, due to the Second World War, it did not appear in cinemas until April 16, 1951.

Except for Cary Grant , who played George Kerby in the first part, all the main characters were there again. Scenes in which George Kerby was seen were archive footage from the first part. In 1941 a third and last part of the series was created with the title Topper Returns (German: Topper 2 - Das Gespensterschloß ), again with Roland Young and Billie Burke.

Reviews

For the lexicon of international film , Topper Goes on Travel was "an at times very lengthy infusion of the successful grotesque fantasmagoria, which, however, still offers quite amusing entertainment with its pictorial tricks and quick puns". Variety saw the film as a delightful and very entertaining comedy.

Awards

At the 1940 Academy Awards , Roy Seawright was nominated for Best Visual Effects .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. Anthony Slide: A Man named Smith , Albany, Georgia 2015, pp. 70f.
  2. ↑ Topper is traveling. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed May 28, 2019 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  3. ↑ See Topper Takes a Trip . In: Variety , 1938.