Topper Returns 1941

     Cosmo Topper and his chauffeur pick up two hitchhiking women who were originally riding in a taxi but it had a flat tire.  Mrs. Topper is upset when she sees them drive by and one of the women is on Mr. Topper’s lap!!  They take the women to Carrington Hall and return to the Topper home.  This is the first time Ann Carrington has been to the hall and she is meeting her elderly father for the first time.  She has brought along her friend Gail Richards for moral support.  When Ann crosses the foyer, a very large chandelier falls from the high ceiling and just misses hitting her!!  The women decide to change rooms because Gail really likes the decor of Ann’s room much more than her own. 

    This is very funny!!  Once again Cosmo Topper becomes involved in a mess involving another woman other than his wife.  I think his chauffeur Rochester gets the worst of the adventure.  He’s in trouble many times and you can see the whites of his eyes when he's scared or something is happening to him!!  It doesn’t take much to rattle or startle him!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

88 min, Comedy directed by Roy Del Ruth with Joan Blondell, Roland Young, Carole Landis, Billie Burke, Dennis O’Keefe, Patsy Kelly, H.B. Warner, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, George Zucco, Donald MacBride.

Note:  Imdb 7.0 out of 10, TCM Leonard Maltin 3* out of 4*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 262 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Culver City, California.  ‘Rochester’ worked with Jack Benny on his radio program in 1937.  They continued working together and moved on to television and they were together for 23 years.  There is a mistake in this film when Gail is driving Toppers’ car, 'Rochester' is in the back seat but he is missing in some of the shots.