Daily Archives: September 18, 2013

Topper (1937)

Posted on September 18, 2013 | 2 comments

Topper
Directed by Norman Z. McLeod
Written by Jack Jeyne, Eric Hatch, and Eddie Moran based on the novel by Thorne Smith
1936/USA
Hal Roach Studios
Repeat viewing

 

[box] Cosmo Topper: So I’m a ditherer? Well, I’m jolly well going to dither, then![/box]

I was thoroughly entertained by this sophisticated comedy.

George (Cary Grant) and Marion (Constance Bennett) Kerby are a madcap wealthy young couple somewhat in the mode of Nick and Nora Charles but without the crime solving. One night they go on a spree and then visit the office of stuffy banker Cosmo Topper (Roland Young).  George is speeding back when the brakes on their fancy convertible fail and they crash into a tree. Their ghosts emerge from their dead corpses at the scene of the accident.  They cannot meet their maker without doing a good deed and they decide it should be showing the henpecked Topper how to have a good time.  With Billie Burke as Topper’s wife, Alan Mowbray as the Toppers’ butler, and Eugene Pallette as a hotel detective.

Cary Grant and Constance Bennett are just the epitome of urbane charm in this escapist fable.  Roland Young is at his whimsical best, too.  I thought it was refreshing that everybody could see the ghosts when they materialized, not just Topper.  It was just that they had to conserve their ectoplasm so didn’t materialize unnecessarily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnWDdTt9XXo

Clip – George, I think we’re dead

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Posted in 1937, Movie Reviews

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Pépé Le Moko (1936)

Posted on September 18, 2013 | 11 comments

Pépé Le Moko
Directed by Julien Duvivier
Written by Henri Le Barthe, Julien Duvivier et al based on a novel by Henri Le Barthe
1937/France
Paris Film
Repeat viewing
112 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Pépé le Moko: Blame it on the Casbah.[/box]

Jean Gabin made two must-see movies in 1937.  This is one of them.

The French authorities are baffled by the inability of the provincial police to capture master criminal and jewel thief Pépé Le Moko (Gabin) in Algiers.  The police explain that while Pépé remains within the walls of the Casbah where he lives with his Algerian mistress, he is perfectly safe.  Algerian detective Slimane prefers to wait for just the right moment to pounce but the French insist on moving right away.  They hatch a play to entrap Pépé using informer Régis (the superb Fernand Charpín) but he is too smart for them.  In the meantime, sensing his moment is near, Slimane introduces Pépé to the beautiful bejeweled Gaby.  With Dalio in a small but choice part as an Arab informer.

Jean Gabin is on screen for 95% of this film, virtually guaranteeing that I would adore it. He’s not just there, though.  He is very effective as the suave criminal whose haven in the Casbah is becoming a prison, including in a most convincing drunk scene.  Director Duvivier masterfully stages the action.  I love the scene where Pépé and his gang are holding and toying with the terrified Regis while all wait for the return of another character.

This was the first time I noticed how really beautiful Gaby’s diamonds were.  You can see the clips she is wearing on her silk blouse in the photo above.

This film was remade in 1938 by Walter Wanger as Algiers with Heddy Lammar and Charles Boyer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KqAYxxkLkE

Photo Slideshow with song from film

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Posted in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, 1937, Movie Reviews