Topper 1937

     Cosmo Topper has his everyday life managed by his wife.  On Sunday they have lamb, during the week the meals are also regulated according to the days.  He is always running a little late to catch the train but the butler and his driver remind him of the exact time constantly.  He is president of a bank and the largest stockholders are the fun loving Kerbys.  They have been out on the town all night and they sleep in their parked car in front of the bank until time for the annual business meeting.  Many people on the sidewalk stop and stare at them sleeping.  The Kerbys decide they will try to add some spice and variety to Cosmo’s regulated life. 

     This is funny.  Mrs. Topper doesn’t see any need for a change in their lives.  Cosmo wonders if he is taking on too much change and sometimes the Kerby’s are not helping but hindering.  Eugene Pallette is known for his deep frog voice and he has the role of the hotel detective.  A lot of things happen at the hotel that he doesn’t understand and he is nearly fired!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

97 min, Comedy directed by Norman Z. McLeod with Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, Roland Young, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, Eugene Pallette, Arthur Lake, Hedda Hopper, Virginia Sale, Theodore von Eltz.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 262 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Pasadena, Los Angeles, Culver City, California.  The finned-back car driven by the Kerbys was a custom built by the Bohman & Schwartz Co. using a 1936 Buick Roadmaster chassis.  There are supercharger pipes on the side but they are just decorations.  After making the film, the car was bought by the Gilmore Oil Co. and used for promotional purposes for many years.  It was updated in 1954 with a Chrysler Imperial chassis and drive train.