THORNE SMITH COMEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 5

THORNE SMITH COMEDY

ROLAND YOUNG IN “TOPPER”

To obtain the stars best qualified for the portrayal of the distinctive characterisations in Thorne Smith s novel, “Topper,” which will be commenced to-day at the Empire Theatre, the start of production on the Hal Roach-M.-G.-M. feature comedy was delayed a full month. Constance Bennett was lured back to Hollywood while on her vacation in New York by the role of “ Marion Kerby,’ the uninhibited wife of the irresponsible “ George Kerby.” As the lovely but madcap ghost, Miss Bennett is credited with the finest performance .in her entire career, portraying whimsical, sophisticated comedy with subtlety. Mis; Bennett is noted for being one of the best-groomed actresses on the kinema Cary Grant, the most soughtafter leading man in motion pictures after the hit he scored with Grace Moore in "When You’re in Love, was considered the ideal star to play “ George Kerby,” Miss Bennett’s screen husband But there were prior commitments. and only Grant’s keen enthusiasm enabled him to complete his orior engagements in time to enact his role in “Topper.” Roland Young fits the reouirements of “ Cosmo Topper,” the president of a Wall street bank, whose dignified wife moulded and renressed his life But this piece of casting was not an accident: Thorne Smith, the author of "Topper, dedicated one of hi; books to Young, whom he considered over nine years ago as the only “ Topper." Featured players were selected with the same painstaking care Billie Burke was borrowed from M.-G.-M. to play “Mrs. Topper. Alan Mowbray as “ Wilkins. the “Topper’s proper English butler, seemed the most perfect selection. Eugene Pallette. as “Aloysius Casey, the house detective, filled the bill to nerfection