Cosy Theatre, Woodville

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 12

Cosy Theatre, Woodville

THORNE SMITH’S “TOPPER” THIS AFTERNOON AND TO-NIGHT

Constance Bennett and Cary Grant, co-starred for the first time, and Roland Young as “Topper,” achieve a joint triumph in the Ha.l Iloach-M.G.M. feature comedy, ‘ ‘ Topper. ’ ’ The screen play is sensational and refreshingly novel in its motivating theme. Adapted from the late Thorne Smith’s book, the lverbys are lilmatised as a rich, madcap couple who, after death in an automobile accident, are low plane spirits with the ability to materialise mortally and domaterialise. Tho Kcrbys resolve to obtain heavenly eternity through tire exercise of a

“good deed.” Cosmo Topper, a staid Wall Street bank president—perfectly portrayed by tho expert farceur, Roland Young—who lives a routine, suburban existence under the dignified but domineering ambitions of his wife (Billie Burke), is considered by the Kcrbys as a perfect specimen of repression. How the captivating Connie and the rollicking i/ary proceed to upset the normal life of the droll Roland and Miss Burke to mould it to their own hectic ways of living set audiences into the spontaneous hilarity of hysterics. The astound ing adventures and ribald escapades in wbi£h the gay ghosts involve Young bursts all bounds of comedy. In the end they lift Topper from his smug existence, make him a happy human being, and joyously escape themselves from their -earth-bound existence. The supporting programme includes another of the popular “Crime Doesn’t Fay” series.