Now that I've seen "Topper Takes a Trip", I have seen the three original Topper films. They are all mildly amusing, at best, but the shtick gets a little old after a while.

In the original film, Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) is visited by two ghosts (Cary Grant and Constance Bennett). The film surprised the filmmakers, as it was a hit and folks were clamoring for more...but for some reason Cary Grant didn't agree to do the sequel. I can only assume he had better film projects and in hindsight I think he was probably wise to avoid this one. Instead, believe it or not, they replaced him with a ghost dog!! Uggh!

This installment finds Cosmo fighting to stay married as Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke) is seeking a divorce. This really makes no sense, as she loved Topper...and her suddenly listening to bad friends who want to separate them is pretty awful and far from funny. Well, apparently American divorces take too long so she heads to Paris...and Cosmo goes there to try to stop her from doing this and marrying some Baron. Whatever. The bottom line is that this film seems to scream out "there is NO reason for this film"....and I would definitely agree. Not a terrible film...but not a good one. Oddly, the third film (starring Young, Burke and Joan Blondell as the ghost) is probably the best of the three movies.

Really loved the first 'Topper' and found it a much needed sheer delight. Nearly everything worked, aside from the occasionally draggy pace but the production values, script and performance enlivened the proceedings significantly. It was succeeded by two sequels 'Topper Takes a Trip' and 'Topper Returns', hearing about them left me with mixed emotions. Either they could have been just as good and gone well with the original or they could have been completely pointless.

Both of them in my view are worth watching and while neither are as good or in the same league as the first 'Topper' they are nearly as good. The first of them 'Topper Takes a Trip' has almost everything that made the original such a delight, it may lack Cary Grant (excepting a not particularly necessary and shoehorned in flashback to the original) but Constance Bennett, Roland Young and Norman Z McLeod in the director's chair all return and have not lost what made them work so well in the first.

There are a couple of other things that stop 'Topper Takes a Trip' from being even better than it turned out to be. The beginning does go on for too long and felt very contrived.

Also found that Billie Burke overdid it in her part here and came over as irritating.

However, Bennett once again is a joy. She is very elegant and again has a lot of fun in her role while not over-egging. Young also looks like he was enjoying himself, he copes with the physical comedy with aplomb and grace and he is both amusing and likeable. The supporting cast standout is a riotous Franklin Pangborn with Verree Teasdale close behind, neither straining for laughs and looking completely natural. McLeod again does a spirited job with the directing without letting things get too manic.

Once again, the production values are great. 'Topper Takes a Trip' is beautifully shot with opulent art direction. The special effects hold up well. The music matches the whimsy of the film's tone more than fittingly and the sophistication and wit in the dialogue remains still. The story is silly but never loses its spirit and charm, it's always fun too.

In summary, lovely first sequel if not quite as good. Stick with it if put off by the start, it's worth it. 8/10

After creating enough mayhem in the life of Cosmo Topper in the first Topper film, Marian Kerby comes back from the afterlife to do a little more damage than before. She means well of course and by chance things do work out in the end.

Roland Young as Topper, Constance Bennett as Marian, and Billie Burke as the ditzy but patient Mrs. Topper are back again. Cary Grant as George Kerby is here too, but only in a flashback from the original Topper movie. The flashback occurs when Topper is on the witness stand in a divorce case as Billie Burke is filing for divorce. Topper takes the stand and tries to explain that wasn't a real woman in his room, just an other world spirit.

Judge Spencer Charters won't grant a divorce, but come back the next day he might sign some commitment papers. So Billie Burke and her friend Verree Teasdale are off to France. Now it becomes clear what Marian Kerby is back on terra firma for.

Connie and Roland are off to France where they have to deal with fussy hotel managers and pretentious gigolos like Franklin Pangborn and Alexander D'Arcy.

Best scenes in the film, in the casino with Paul Porcasi as the manager and in the bar with Paul Hurst as bartender.

It's not as good as the original Topper film, but still has a lot of laughs left in the old spirit.