Topper

Starring:Topper
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Topper
Just as delightful as I remembered..............
Oldie Fans
Both Movies Are Classic
Funny

Topper/Topper Returns
Starring: Constance Bennett , Cary Grant , Roland Young , Billie Burke , and Alan Mowbray
Director: Norman Z. McLeod , and Roy Del Ruth
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Topper, Vol. 2
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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

ASIN: B00008ZZ7B
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Amazon.com

A classic screwball comedy with a supernatural twist, Topper stars the incomparable Cary Grant and sparkling Constance Bennett as George and Marion Kirby, a fun-loving couple who cap an evening of jazz and champagne by running their car into a tree. They return as ghosts with a mandate to liven up the straight-laced hen-pecked life of bank president Cosmo Topper (Roland Young), who's hungry for just such a shake-up. Before long he's boozing, dancing, and getting into fights, all of which gives him a rakish reputation--much to the consternation of his wife (Billie Burke, best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz). The sequel replaces Grant and Bennett with Joan Blondell, who can't quite compare, but she's charming in her own way. Topper Returns is a rambunctious murder mystery with some gorgeous sets and elegant cinematography--the sequence of Blondell's death and ghostly rise is dazzling. --Bret Fetzer

Description

In Topper, Cary Grant and Constance Bennett star as George and Marion Kerby, a fun-loving couple who find themselves in limbo as ghosts after an unfortunate auto accident. Deciding that heaven is just one good deed away, they turn their attention toward their dull friend Cosmo Topper. But Topper is one stodgy banker, and it'll take all the high jinks the Kerby's can muster to haunt Topper into loosening up and living it up. In Topper Returns, Cosmo Topper finds himself once again spooked by a ghost. This time, it's the young and beautiful Gail Richards, the accidental victim of a phantom killer whose intended target is wealthy heiress Ann Carrington. Set on finding her killer, Gail enlists the help of Topper with hilarious results in this zany and entertaining murder mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Topper.......2007-06-21

Uproarious comedy was yet another step to super-stardom for Cary Grant, who proves himself a gifted comic player as well as handsome leading man. Bennett (older sister of Joan) is the essence of high-toned style and beauty as wife Marion. Still the revelation is Young, who's a consistent delight as the put-upon Cosmo, a man who must cope not only with a rigid, controlling wife (Billie Burke), but a couple of goofy, upper crust specters who keep turning his well-ordered world upside down. A genuine screwball classic. Note: this DVD also includes the sequel "Topper Returns", which brings back Young (sans Grant and Bennett) and is good fun, though a tad contrived and not up to the first entry.

Just as delightful as I remembered.....................2007-06-08

I truly enjoyed this DVD set. I would recommend it to anyone. These movies are still fun to watch even today. The only thing I wish was that I could find the "Topper Takes a Trip" movie to complete my collection. That's even better than Topper and the story really seems somewhat incomplete without "Topper Takes a Trip" in the mix.

Oldie Fans.......2007-05-28

Topper is a great classic Cary Grant Movie. It's quite old so it's slower paced than today's movies but great none the less.

Both Movies Are Classic.......2007-03-06

The two films in this set are definitely worth watching. The hilarious antics of Roland Young, Billie Burke and their supporting casts make these a must-have for Film Noir buffs and car fans alike!

In Topper, Roland Young plays quiet bank president, Cosmo Topper, who alongside his wife, Clara (Burke), lead their quiet, highly scheduled life. On the other side of NYC, George and Marian Kerby (Cary Grant and Constance Bennet) live it up, every hour on the hour or until the manager kicks them out.

After a boring board meeting, George puts his foot down once too often and send himself and Marian off the road and into Limbo. In a quest for the important Good Deed that they lack, they decide to help their friend Topper out of his rut, turning his life, and marriage, on its ear!

While Young steals every scene from Grant, the uniqueness of this movie wouldn't be possible without the one uncredited star of the film, the Painted Jezebel, the Kerby's 1936 Buick Roadmaster roadster. This one-of-a-kind Bohman & Schwartz creation is the focal point for much of the film's important scenes: the wreck, Topper's rebellion against his wife and his discovery of the Kerbys, and the scene at the end. The car was one of the best examples of mid-'30s coachbuilding, and reflects the flash, style and vibrant youthfullness of the Kerbys perfectly.

While the Buick gives way to a Mercedes in Topper Returns, the cast makes up for it in a slightly non-canon sequel to the first film. This time, Cosmo gets a visit from another lady ghost, who earlier got him in hot water with Mrs. Topper (again!). Her insistant request to find out who killed her leads him to the suitably frightening Carrington house just down the road. Along with his chauffeur, Eddie (played by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson of Jack Benny fame), they explore the grounds to find out whodunit. Later, Mrs. Topper and the maid, Emily, end up looking for Cosmo in the midst of the murder investigation.

While Mrs. Topper is unusually ditzy in this film, it adds to the nuttiness of the story greatly. Anderson lends his sharp wit and inimitable style to the cast, providing much of the comedy scenes, which compete with Joan Blondell and Billie Burke's characters. While vastly different in feel to the original, it's a good film nonetheless, with an exciting and amusing chase scene at the end, where Blondell's ghost "drives" Topper's Benz in pursuit of the villain!

Funny.......2007-01-26

I thought Topper was good, but Topper Return's even funnier. If you've never seen any of Topper's series. Watch the first one "Topper' then watch Topper returns.

Average customer rating:

What's in it
Blast from the past!
Never seen so much cigarette smoke
Poor copy - fire sale?

The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 1
Starring: Adventures of Topper
Manufacturer: Critic's Choice
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Topper, Vol. 2
The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 2
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My Little Margie - DVD Collection #1

ASIN: B0009OE1G6
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Product Description

Perhaps the pinnacle of high-concept 1950s TV, The Adventures of Topper follows the day-to-day routine of an uptight banker whose life is disrupted by a ghostly couple who died at a young age after an unhappy life much like his own. Includes The Proposal, Henrietta Sells the House, Topper Goes to Las Vegas and Georges Old Flame. 1954/b&w/110 min/NR.

Customer Reviews:

What's in it.......2007-06-27

This contains four episodes:
The Proposal 2.19.54
Henrietta Sells the House 4.9.54
Topper Goes to Las Vegas 4.23.54
George's Old Flame 7.2.54
Some have the original comericals left in. (That's the reference to smoking in the other review. And yes people really smoked that much then.) Camel's by the way.
If you are looking for 21st century film, look somewhere else. Picture quality is very good. Sound not too bad. (No it's not surrond sound) The Proposal has the commericals chopped out and it jumps as the picture changes from one scene to another.
Overall they look better than they did when I watched them in the 50's when broadcast.
I think Critics Choice did a good job with what they had to work with.
Would like to have the complete 78 or so episodes....sure beats what's on TV now. Good clean fun with no body count. So if you are under 30 you won't like it.
I would have given 5 stars, but for the price it should have been more episodes (DVD5 disk).

Blast from the past!.......2007-01-19

Watching these episodes was like stepping into a time machine and I greatly enjoyed the nostalgia. The quality of the film is much better than I would have expected.

If you remember the originals, watching these again can be a lot of fun. Although I think, to be perfectly honest, the main value is in the memories. I don't see how they would interest viewers for whom the show isn't part of their own past.

Never seen so much cigarette smoke.......2006-12-05

This is a must have for this that lived thought the era. However I was surprised to see so much smoking. Has society change that much that most of the scenes look like one big cigarette commercial? It is hard to see the ghosts through all the smoke.

Although there is a series of Topper movies, this TV series is the Topper I came to know and love. Once in a while I see the actors in other movies and it reminds me of the character he/she played on this movie. Anne Jeffreys as Marion Kerby, can be seen again in the movie "Boys' Night Out" (1962) Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper, can be seen again as Rev. Dr. Mosby in "The Parent Trap" (1961).

Basic story is that a young fairly modern couple, George and Marion Kerby got caught in an avalanche along with there rescue St Bernard, Neil. They refused to give up the ghost and went home to live. Turns out that Cosmo toper and his wife Henrietta (Lee Patrick) Bought the Kerby house. Yep now Cosmo can see the Kerby's when they wish and Neil turns out to be a lush. The situation now has its plusses and minuses as everyone becomes one happy family.

Poor copy - fire sale?.......2006-02-28

I love the old Topper movies and kinda remember seeing reruns of the series many years ago on tv.

The first thing I noticed was the strong odor, smelled like the DVD I purchased via Amazon's Gold Box was salvage from a warehouse fire. The quality of the video overall was extremely poor, looked like those old extended play VHS videos, with many sound dropouts. The first episode didn't even play all the way through - the DVD may be damaged, although it looks OK. I tried it in 3 different DVD players. The menu options didn't work correctly either, took a lot of playing around to get it to another episode.

Overall I was disappointed, the show was not too bad, the Camel commercials were amusing but the quality of the DVD made this purchase a very poor decision. Yes , I could probably return it, but the costs of returning it and the hassle of getting a correction far outweighs the cost of the original DVD - next time I will be more careful.

Average customer rating:

What's in it
Time sure affects memory
Never seen so much cigarette smoke
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE...

Topper, Vol. 2
Starring: Topper
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000784XOY
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Customer Reviews:

What's in it.......2007-06-27

This DVD contains four episodes:
The Trip To Lisbon 2.12.54
Topper Goes West 4.30.54
The Sweepstakes (AKA A Ghostly Joke) 5.7.54
The Proposal 2.19.54
It is an Alpha Video single layer (DVD5) disk. Video quality only fair. Focus is a bit soft through out. Sound good.(However one episode has some sound loss in a few places)
There are no commercials in any of the episodes.
Three episodes are the same as the Critics Choice The Adventures of Topper Volume Two.
Different episodes are:
Alpha Video The Proposal 2.19.54.
Critics Choice. Second Honeymoon 1.8.54.
If this episode is one you want, then go ahead and get this. It is worth the money.
Other wise go with the Critics Choice as the picture quality is better. Sound about the same.

Time sure affects memory.......2007-03-12

I loved this series a child, but it sure is lame now.
We only made it through the first couple of episodes

Never seen so much cigarette smoke.......2006-12-05

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE..........2005-07-05

Having viewed the first volume of Topper, the television series, I looked forward to viewing volume two. This was a television series of which I am quite fond. It followed on the heels of the success of the Topper films that were made for the silver screen. The television series was also a hit and ran for several years during the nineteen fifties. I am not surprised at its success, given the quality of some of the writing. A number of the episodes were written by Stephen Sondheim, who later went on to greater fame and fortune. Mr. Sondheim's involvement in the television series was something of which I was previously unaware until I viewed the first volume of Topper, the television series.

While the television series is based upon the characters in Thorne Smith's best selling novel of the same names, it is not an actual adaptation of the book. Basically it takes the characters of the book and reformulates them to fit nineteen fifties sensibilities. In the series, Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) is vice-president of a bank. He is married to the sweet but dim Henrietta (Lee Patrick). They live in a house that they bought from the estate of an unfortunate young couple, George and Marion Kirby (Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys), who died in a skiing accident after being swept away by an avalanche. Their St. Bernard, Neil, who was unable to rescue them, also died with them. To Cosmo's surprise, his house is haunted by their ghosts and that of their alcohol imbibing St. Bernard. The problem is that only he can see or hear them. This allows for a lot of funny episodes, as the Kirbys tend to complicate Cosmo's life.

As does the first, this volume offers four episodes of the adventures of Topper. In one, the Kirbys believe that Cosmo is on a secret diplomatic mission, and they feel it is up to them to make sure nothing happens to him while he is on board a train. In the second episode, Cosmo's banking business takes him and Henrietta out West, but, unbeknownst to Cosmo, the Kirbys have meddled in his plans. In the third episode, the Kirbys play a trick on Cosmo, leading him to believe that he has won the Irish Sweepstakes and turning his world an its heels. In the fourth episode, Marion Kirby decides that she is no longer married to George. After all, marriage vows last until "death do us part." She reasons that since they are dead, they are no longer married, causing George to court her anew and inadvertently causing marital problems for Cosmo and Henrietta.

The role of Topper was perfectly cast, as Leo G. Carroll makes a delightful Topper. Lee Patrick is darling as his well-meaning, sweet and silly wife. Anne Jeffreys is terrific as the beautiful Marion Kirby, and Robert Sterling is great as her freewheeling husband. Of course, our cocktail loving St. Bernard is wonderfully portrayed by Buck. Kathleen Freeman is perfect as the Toppers' maid, Katie. All of them contributed to the success of this series. While some of the special effects of the series look hokey and amateurish in comparison to the special effects wizardry of today, for an early television series during the Golden Age of Television this was pretty heady stuff. I only wish that some television honcho would consider a remake of this wonderful television series.

In terms of the quality of the DVD, well, once again one gets what one pays for, as the quality of the DVD itself is simply dreadful. This DVD seems to have been made from an old, dirty print and not remastered or cleaned up in any way, shape, or form. At times, there is some very distracting background noise and some intermittent, although brief, issues with the audio. Moreover, the visuals are somewhat grainy, at best. Still, notwithstanding these issues, I would buy this DVD again in a heartbeat, simply because I love this series. While the quality of the DVD rates about a one, the substantive content of the DVD rates a high five.

Average customer rating:

The Only Band That Matters
Way, way less than what it could have been
"Either you became a power or you were crushed"
Good For Clash Fans
This is your father's punk rock.

The Clash - Westway to the World
Starring: Mick Jones , Shane MacGowan , Topper Headon , Terry Chimes , and Jordan (III)
Director: Don Letts
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000063UQN
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Customer Reviews:

The Only Band That Matters.......2007-04-14

This DVD could be 2 hours of Joe Strummer farting into a telephone and it would still be immensly more interesting and entertaining than anything by today's "punks". Sure, I'd rather have some full song clips, but Strummer (and Topper, Paul and Mick for that matter) make up for it. Don't watch this if you're not already fairly knowledgeable about the band and the culture at the time...many of the soundbites, without context, may seem a little confusing. But even with the abbreviated live clips, you can get an idea of what this band meant at the time. I saw them 4 times between 1979 and 1981...best 4 concerts of my life.

Way, way less than what it could have been.......2007-03-24

I'm a huge Clash fan. I've been one since 1978, and I can't begin to tell you how much I've been wanting to get a documentary dvd on the only band that matters. So, I was excited to see this available, as well as the other dvd that highlights their videos. I bought both at the same time. Westway to the World could have been so much more. So very, very much more. While I really liked the interviews with the band members and the documentary itself, it was just too short. The lack of adequate live footage of them performing was very irritating. I kept waiting to be blown away, but it didn't happen. I was also disappointed that there weren't more "outside" sources commenting on the band. Surely the producers could have found ten to fifteen people who were associated with the band that could have rounded out what they had. I found myself going to the extra features, but they were pretty lame, as well. It's too bad that this piece may become the definitive dvd on the band, as it is just not enough. They deserve more. Joe deserves more. I find this dvd to smack of commercialism, something Epic records put out to take our money and cash in on the band.

"Either you became a power or you were crushed".......2007-01-29

So says the ever-sagely punk rock poet Joe Strummer, the featured player in this high-quality documentary about his legendary, incendiary and influential band, The Clash.

Don Letts, a one-time DJ at the band's favorite club, the Roxy (and subsequent member of Mick Jones' post-Clash project, Big Audio Dynamite), culls from his catalog of amazing archival footage and draws upon his unparalleled access to the band to show us just how the Clash rose to the be the powers they were (and, to some extent, how crushed they became).

The film starts out as an almost standard, run-of-the-mill rockumentary, with two exceptions: 1) this particular rock-doc is about one of the greatest bands of all time, so the music clips, although short, are stunning. And 2) Joe Strummer was one of the world's more interesting and compelling narrators in both thought and tone. He's immensely quotable and the timbre and tenor of his voice would no doubt have you captured and enraptured no matter what he was commenting on.

Some great stories are told about the formation of the band and the origins of songs like "I'm So Bored With The USA," "Garageland", "White Riot", and "London's Burning". And it's a real treat to see outtakes of the band in the studio actually recording some of their albums (the shot of Joe, with headphones on, recording the vocal for "All The Young Punks" sends chills down my spine).

But the movie really takes off toward the end, with the descriptions of how the band began to crumble and implode. Letts' history with the band members grants him an access much more important than mere physical access - he has an emotional intimacy with them as well, so he really gets them to open up.

Thus, it is very powerful to hear Strummer's stinging yet bittersweet words about Mick Jones. Because on one hand, he says Jones began behaving like "Elizabeth Taylor in a filthy mood" (ha!) and that "punctuality wasn't one of his talents." But at the same time he adds: "his was a talent worth waiting for." And later, he implores all would-be bands out there: "If it works, don't mess with it - do what you have to do to bring it forward."

In watching the film's captivating conclusion, you get the sense that if just one little thing had gone differently for them (i.e. drummer Topper Headon not doing drugs, or Mick Jones having "a little more self-control") they might have played together for another twenty years.

Such is the fine line between the powerful and the crushed, and Letts does a mostly-excellent job in showing us how this line is drawn, and what happens if it is crossed.

p.s. of the 44 minutes of bonus interview footage, make sure to listen to the 11 minutes with Paul Simonon - he tells some very amusing stories with topics including (but not limited to): a night in a Scottish jail with assorted Clash fans, abusing Legs McNeil, and wearing a rabbit suit. Actually, one of my favorite things about this film is being able to hear more from Paul, because - much as I love them - I'd already heard plenty over the years from Mick and Joe and almost nothing from Paul. (That said, Joe tells a particularly hilarious tale of his own about stealing a mic from 200 ft above the stage of the English National Opera).

Good For Clash Fans.......2006-07-15

What You Can Expect: A documentary fashioned after The Beatles Anthology, only about 9 hours shorter. Instead of using a narrator, the story of the Clash is told mostly by Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and Paul Simonon. The documentary doesn't have a great deal of depth, but you get a quick overview of how the guys met, their earlier work, their influences, and their politics. They talk about growing up on the Beatles and the Kinks and not wanting to end up playing concerts with symphonies, like Rod Stewart.

They go on to cover their early concerts, writing songs, recording the albums, and the eventual dissolution of the band. Overall you get a decent amount of information and some interesting stories. The best aspect is watching the guys seemingly come to a few conclusions about their career right in front of the camera as they share some of their regrets. For any fan of the Clash, this is a great source of information and a way to learn a bit more about the band.

What Not to Expect: This is not a great introduction to the Clash. If you're not at least familiar with the band and punk rock in general, there's not much here to bring you up to speed. You might feel a little lost. This is really a better fit for Clash fans who would like to see some extra interviews with the band.

You also shouldn't expect to see a lot of songs. If that's what you're looking to find, go for a concert film. There are a lot of snippets from tracks throughout their career, but no song is played in it's entirety.

This is your father's punk rock........2006-02-24

Pity the poor mall punks.
Seems like any dink with a Hot Topic frequent buyer card and a labret piercing can be "punk" these days...well kids, I'll be quite honest with ya...you have it easy.

Do yourself a favor...hell, do ALL of us a favor...take a look at your CD collection and if ANY of the bands therein have been in any sort of rotation on the music video channel of your choice....THROW THEM OUT.

Then go buy this DVD and see what punk was, is and always will be about.

You see kids, "back in the day", as we old timers like to refer to it, being a punk wasn't exactly the "hip" thing to be...you got your ass kicked by just about everyone.
Jocks, cops, rednecks...being a punk was a dangerous prospect....shows were often broken up by the police...it was violent, vital and very real.

This DVD is just a gimpse into that era.
An era that changed the way the world looked to a whole lot of us.
I was a suburban kid...bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols and The Damned opened my eyes to a whole different segment of society that I never knew existed.

So take some time and learn a little about the history of "The Only Band That Matters"...you'll be better for it.

For us older types...this DVD is an amazing document.
The live footage is great...the interviews are entertaining...and, frankly, seeing Joe Strummer talk about the history of the band brought a little tear to my eye.

The bonus footage is killer too.
Anyone who calls themselves a fan probably already owns this disc...but for those who want to discover more about a band that important to so many, it's a must see.

Average customer rating:

What's in it (Volume Two)
Topper: The Adventures of Topper

The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 2
Starring: Adventures of Topper
Manufacturer: Critic's Choice
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Television | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 1
Topper, Vol. 2
Topper/Topper Returns
Topper Returns
Topper

ASIN: B0009O9TO0
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Product Description

Marion and George Kerby spend their afterlives trying to lighten up an uptight banker who lives in their former home. Includes the episodes Second Honeymoon (1/8/54), Trip to Lisbon (2/12/54), Topper Goes West (4/30/54) and Sweepstakes (5/7/54). B&w/104 min/NR.

Customer Reviews:

What's in it (Volume Two).......2007-06-27

This DVD contains four episodes:
Second Honeymoon 1.8.54
Trip To Lisbon 2.12.54
Topper Goes West 4.30.54
A Ghostly Joke (AKA Sweepstakes) 5.7.54
Critics Choice single layer DVD (DVD5) Video very good. Sound fair.
First there are no commericals on this DVD. (Volume one has some old Camel commericals) Very watchable for someone who grew up with broadcast TV. This (Volume 2) and Volume one give eight different episodes of Topper the TV series. Critics Choice seems to have a better quality video than Alpha. Without the Platinum logo in the lower right corner (TV Classics, The Adventures of Topper by Platinum).

Topper: The Adventures of Topper.......2007-06-27

I was disappointed, not a good as I remebered as a kid and surely did not like cigarett commercials still intact, but probably a good keepsake to remind you of days gone by

Average customer rating:

Rainy Day Movie
What a fun movie.
"Hollywood's Golden Age of Classic Comedies (2006) ... Passport Video"
"You mean you've got a room for that?"
Great, Wonderful, Hysterical!

Topper Returns
Starring: Joan Blondell , Roland Young , Carole Landis , Billie Burke , and Dennis O'Keefe
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Topper

ASIN: B00005R87L
Release Date: 2002-01-22

Customer Reviews:

Rainy Day Movie.......2007-05-07

This is the type of movie when you do not feel like doing the work you should be doing, it's raining and you need a little comedy, a little mystery and a good story line. That's Topper Returns. I've always loved Rochester and I enjoy the part when he says "I'm going back to Mr. Benny. Nothing like this ever happens with him." This can be watched with the family without putting your hands over little eyes and ears. I am positive you'll get a chuckle out of this one.

What a fun movie. .......2007-01-11

I wish we really had a here-after like in this film. Then I wouldn't fear death so much. This was fun to watch. I loved the mansion on the hill. Where on earth do they have places like this? I'd love to stay in one sometime. Wouldn't it be nice? Only, I wouldn't want to end up like the girl in this movie. I liked this movie. The DVD skips in a few places though and is frustrating, only when that happens.

"Hollywood's Golden Age of Classic Comedies (2006) ... Passport Video".......2006-10-21

Passport Video and Koch Entertainment Distribution present "Classic Comedies >From Hollywood's Golden Age"
(Dolby digitally remastered)... relive the laughter from Hollywood's Golden Age...spanning the early years of comedy ('20s--'40s)...this collection features signature films from comedy's greatest names...besides that you just discovered the essential collection of classic comedy performances...this compilation features more hours of the best routines in comedy history than you could shake a stick at...laugh along with your favorite film, scene and actors that keep you coming back for more.

15 Fabulously Funny Feature Films (in alphabetical order in which they appear)

1. FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND (1951) Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor & Joan Bennett
2. GENERAL, THE (1927 Buster Keaton
3. GOLD RUSH, THE (1925) Charlie Chaplin
4. HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell
5. INSPECTOR GENERAL,THE (1949) Danny Kaye & Elsa Lanchester
6. JUDGE PRIEST (1934) Will Rogers & Hattie McDaniel
7. LIFE WITH FATHER (1947) William Powell, Elizabeth Taylor & Irene Dunne
8. MILKY WAY,THE (1936) Harold Lloyd & Adolphe Menjou
9. MR. ROBINSON CRUSOE (1932) Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
10. MY MAN GODFREY (1936) William Powell & Carole Lombard
11. NOTHING SACRED (1937) Fredric March & Carole Lombard
12. PALOOKA (1934) Stu Erwin & Jimmy Durante
13. SPEAK EASILY (1932) Buster Keaton & Jimmy Durante
14. THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING (1941) Merle Oberon & Melvyn Douglas
15. TOPPER RETURNS (1941) Joan Blondell & Roland Young

Great job by Passport Video for releasing "Classic Comedies From Hollywood's Golden Age", the digital transfere with a somewhat clean and clear print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s...order your copy now from Amazon or Passport Video where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch performances mixed with laughter...they're funny, they're sad, but most of all they're passionate...here's a side-splitting collectioin of classic comedies that appeal to every sense of humor from slapstick to sophisticated... they say that laughter is always the best medicine, try some you just might like it..

Total Time: 1315 mins on 5-DVD's ~ Passport Video DVD #5870 ~ (7/11/2006)

"You mean you've got a room for that?".......2006-05-20

A great cast and the perfect blend of humor and mystery make this entry in the series based on Thorne Smith's characters one of the very best. Roy Del Ruth's direction and a better than average screenplay by Jonathan Latimer and Gordon Douglas, and an added bit of dialog from Paul Gerard Smith make this one a lot of fun.

Lovely Carole Landis is Ann Carrington, traveling to see her very ill father with her good pal Gail Richards (Joan Blondell). A sniper shoots out the tire on their cab and the girls are stranded until Topper and his driver Eddie (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) happen by and before you know it, and with reservations by Eddie, they are dropping off the two at the old haunted Carrington Castle. Cosmo (Roland Young) may think the only trouble he is in is from his wife (Billie Burke) but events will soon occur which will make that problem pale by comparison.

It is obvious right away that someone wants Ann out of the way when a chandelier mysteriously falls from the ceiling and just misses its target. Landis is terrific as the soon-to-be wealthy Ann and Blondell shines as her wise-cracking friend fond of nice things. Gail's penchant for luxury will be her undoing when Ann switches rooms with her friend so she can have the swanky one.

Gail is murdered in the night and her ghost wants to know why. She walks on moonlit clouds to Topper's house and, once again, Cosmo is having trouble with the netherworld. He's also having trouble with Eddie, who sleeps in a full-length fur coat and wants nothing to do with spooks!

Rochester nearly steals the film from Blondell and Young at this point. His reactions to Topper's interaction with someone he can't see, followed by the discovery of the body, which soon disappears, has Eddie running back home to pack. His line about going back to Mr. Benny is an endearing reference for fans of old radio.

Bille Burke has some hilarious moments when she comes to help Topper. Her conversation with the detective is priceless. Landis' Ann has some nice moments also as a love interest develops with the cab driver. Blondell is great, of course, and Young does a nice job of being frustrated as usual.

When Eddie has a confrontation with a seal and sees the missing body being taken to sea in an underground cavern just beneath the house, he and Cosmo and Gail aren't too far from solving the mystery.

There is a fine ending to this fun and atmospheric mystery with a lot of humor. Landis and Blondell look great in gowns by Royer but get to show off their talent as well here. This is a topflight production with the easy likability of a good "B" film but the classy surroundings of an "A" film. An excellent time at the movies.

Great, Wonderful, Hysterical!.......2005-07-05

Your whole family should enjoy this hysterically funny suspense/comedy that stars Topper and a blonde ghost. Hal Roach lavished this l941 production with opulent sets--especially that enormous mansion where all the action takes place--and a dazzling cast of comedians and supporting actors. Joan Blondell plays the curaveous ghost who wants Roland Young (Topper) to help find the villain who killed her. Billie Burke is in top form as the ditzy, screaming Mrs. Topper. But its Rochester who steals all of his scenes with his double-takes and priceless one-liners. Patsy Kelly is terrific as Mrs. Topper's long-suffering maid. "Topper Returns" is that rare example where the third episode of a series is ten times better than the original "Topper" (1937. You can't go wrong with this comedy to watch with your family or laugh like a hyena alone in your own home.

Average customer rating:

A BLAST FROM THE PAST...

Topper
Starring: Topper
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000C8AU6
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Customer Reviews:

A BLAST FROM THE PAST..........2005-07-05

I bought this DVD, because I had a vague recollection that I had loved this television series as a child. I also have always had a great liking for the actor Leo G. Carroll. Moreover, the price of the DVD seemed to be a bargain.

Based upon the characters created by Thorne Smith in his best selling book of the same name, this television series followed on the heels of the success of the Topper films that were made for the silver screen. The television series was also a hit and ran for several years during the nineteen fifties. I am not surprised at its success, given the quality of some of the writing. A number of the episodes were written by Stephen Sondheim, who later went on to greater fame and fortune. Mr. Sondheim's involvement in the television series was something of which I was unaware, until I received the DVD.

The thrust of the story is that the dapper and elegant Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) is vice-president of a bank. He is married to the sweet but dim Henrietta (Lee Patrick). They live in a house that they bought from the estate of an unfortunate young couple, George and Marion Kirby (Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys), who died in a skiing accident after being swept away by an avalanche. Their St. Bernard, Neil, who was unable to rescue them, also died with them. To Cosmo's surprise, his house is haunted by their ghosts and that of their alcohol imbibing St. Bernard. The problem is that only he can see or hear them. This allows for a lot of funny episodes, as the Kirbys tend to complicate Cosmo's life. As soon as I heard the theme song for the series, I was transported back in time.

There are four episodes on the DVD. Everyone one of them is guaranteed to bring a smile to the viewer's face. The role of Topper was perfectly cast, as Leo G. Carroll makes a delightful Topper. Lee Patrick is darling as his well-meaning, sweet and silly wife. Anne Jeffreys is terrific as the beautiful Marion Kirby, and Robert Sterling is great as her freewheeling husband. Of course, our cocktail loving St. Bernard is wonderfully portrayed by Buck. Moreover, the sponsor for the series is Jello and several of the episodes include some of the original commercials, which certainly takes the viewer on a trip down memory lane and provides its own share of laughs.

In terms of the quality of the DVD, well, one gets what one pays for, as the quality of the DVD itself is dreadful. This DVD seems to have been made from an old, dirty print and not remastered or cleaned up in any way, shape, or form. At times, there is some very distracting background noise, as well as visuals that are somewhat grainy, at best. Still, notwithstanding that, I would buy this DVD again, simply because I love this series. While the quality of the DVD rates a two, at best, the content of the DVD rates a high five. I only wish that some television honcho would consider a remake of this wonderful television series.

Bach - Mass in B Minor / Gundula Janowitz, Hertha Topper, Horst Laubenthal, Hermann Prey, Karl Richter, Munchener Bach-Orchester

Average customer rating:

old tried and true
Great soloists in a fine, idiosyncratic performance

Bach - Mass in B Minor / Gundula Janowitz, Hertha Topper, Horst Laubenthal, Hermann Prey, Karl Richter, Munchener Bach-Orchester
Starring: Karl Richter , Bach , Janowitz , Prey , and Munich Opera Bach Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000C1XGCQ
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Customer Reviews:

old tried and true.......2006-04-16

I have given this DVD a 5 star only because the soloists are superb by any criteria and the chorus parts are overwhelming.
30 to 40 years ago Richter's interpretation of Bach's music was considered the last word and indeed his earlier soloists of the 1961 Mass recording topped this ensemble. In hindsight with the availability of modern/original instruments interpretations, it is clear that these much maligned "cool & analytical" peformances are more in line with the austere Lutheran world view.
I have heard the B Mass performed at the St. Thomas church in Leipzig and was deeply moved by what I saw and heard.
The entire ensemble, players, soloists and the Boys' choir fit in the organ gallery. The sound volume was just right for the size of the church and small was beautiful. The Richter performances are Hollywood Bowl size. Nevertheless they should be treasured for their interprative powers and historical importance. The camera work is good and the sound quality more than adequate.

Great soloists in a fine, idiosyncratic performance.......2006-03-29

Bach's majestically beautiful, deeply moving Mass in B Minor began life during the early months of 1733 as a 2 movement five-part Missa containing only a Kyrie and Gloria; often called "a Lutheran Mass" because Luther had reduced the Mass Ordinary to just those 2 sections for the Protestant service. The Missa was intended to enhance his authority with the Leipzig town council with whom he had been engaged in a ten-year long cold war regarding his conditions of service and his method of conducting his duties (not least of which was the onerous responsibility for teaching Latin, a task Bach despised and relegated to others). These 2 movements lasted nearly an hour in performance. Thus, they were far too long for performance in Protestant Leipzig but they were perfect for a festival service performance at the Catholic court in Dresden. There is no evidence they were performed there, however. Bach, ever the practical composer, later extracted 3 movements from the Gloria for a Latin cantata BWV 191, probably first performed Christmas Day 1745. Still later, and for no specific purpose in mind, Bach conceived the idea of expanding his 2 movement Missa into a full Mass. He added a six-part Sanctus that he had written for the Christmas Day service in Leipzig in 1724 for the third section. He expanded the Credo turning it into the much longer Nicene Creed and created a vast second section. Lastly, he combined the Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei and Dona nobis pacem to create a fourth section. By creating the Mass via this long-term accretion, many abrupt changes in choral and instrumental writing characterize the piece. Resultant textures can sound somewhat odd. The bass varies from section-to-section; Bach sometimes indicates the double bass, other times the organ and cello. Choral textures vary from four to five to six then eight-part writing. In the Benedictus it is unclear as to what instrument should play the solos. Ultimately, the music is not new but an expertly chosen combination of reused sacred and secular cantatas and instrumental concertos.

More importantly, perhaps, the resultant "Catholic" portions of the B Minor Mass make it unsuitable for a Protestant service. And the Mass is liturgically unacceptable to the Church of Rome. The unavoidable conclusion is that Bach never intended this Mass to be performed at all. He wrote it through some inner compulsion because he COULD write it, perhaps as some vast compendium of knowledge he meant to bequeath to the world. A great summation of his life-long involvement in Church music. A "specimen book" or teaching tool meant to be studied free from all practical issues as a pure example of musical thought, a contemplative masterpiece. In this, Bach's motives are reminiscent of those that drove Mozart to create his final 3 symphonies over six weeks during the Summer of 1788; symphonies also created for no known practical consideration. The pressure on genius is to create and to do so for it's own sake!

Karl Richter provides a lovely interpretation of the Mass. Using modern instruments but some of the nascent "authentic performance practices", he also incorporates the choral tradition of the great oratorio choirs in upper Germany in his disposition of vocal forces. His disposition of instrumental forces are likewise idiosyncratic. What Richter creates is a unique and hybrid Bach performance: neither traditional nor "period performance" but highly musical, deeply devotional, immensely entertaining and often thrilling. His Munchener Bach-Chor and Orchester are fine performers. They sound quite good, though they will not supplant, for example, John Eliot Gardiner's splendid recording of the B Minor Mass on Arkiv more than 20 years ago. Rather, this performance will occupy a niche. Bach's music is so great that many interpretations can coexist. In that light, this performance recorded 12-28 September 1969 in the Klosterkirche in Diessen am Ammersee can easily be recommended.

Richter's soloists are splendid, including soprano Gundula Janowitz, contralto Hertha Topper, tenor Horst Laubenthal and bass Herman Prey. This DVD is worthwhile for their performance alone. The singing is old-school in many ways, but beautiful. We are not used to such emotional Bach these days. Perhaps, a more emotive style will eventually merge with the somewhat colder and analytical period performance style, creating Bach much closer to the real devotional Baroque sound. I've always believed that what Bach heard in his day was more emotional than what today's period performers have been presenting, a depth of feeling operatic in nature. Perhaps that is why Bach never felt compelled to compose opera: his vocal scores were already as dramatically and emotionally charged as the finest operas of his day! Religious belief had an even greater immediacy and force in those long-ago days of ever-present death. This hypothetical performance hybrid is similar to Richter's style. His performance of the B Minor Mass is idiosyncratic in it's sound, in his choice of choral voices and in the nature of his interpretation. Nonetheless, it is musical and entertaining. I will return to listen to it often.

This DVD has a picture format of NTSC color shot full-screen 4:3 with a region code of 0 worldwide. The picture appears digitally remastered and is quite clear. Sound is recorded in PCM stereo and DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound. The sound is slightly thinner than modern recordings but still nicely present and immediate. DTS 5.1 Surround provides good spatial localization so that voices and instruments are easily visualized in space, imperative in a work of such polyphonic complexity. Menus are in English. Subtitles are in Latin (!), English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese. Total time of the disc is 129 minutes. There are no extras.

This is a splendid disc, enjoyable (and educational) as a window into an older world of Bach interpretation. It is not only musical and entertaining but ultimately deeply moving. Bach's B Minor Mass is a profound and devotional masterpiece and this disc emphasizes those aspects of the Mass. Most highly recommended.

Mike Birman

Average customer rating:

Winner of WORST SUBTITLES award

2 by 4
Starring: Norman Barbera , Ronan Carr , Bradley Fitts , Conor Foran , and Karen Giordano
Manufacturer: Ariztical
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002J4ZS2
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Product Description

Irish Construction worker Johnny Maher likes roughing it up, in the North Bronx. At night he sings Karaoke and drinks whiskey with his mates. This great American life with girlfriend Maria is threatened by the horrors of Johnny's paste and the torment of his childhood. Johnny turns to his uncle, the only person who may hold the key to his past. Johnny has no choice but to confront the demons of his past or be destroyed by them.

Customer Reviews:

Winner of WORST SUBTITLES award.......2004-11-09

In 1998's "2 X 4" (2 BY 4), the writer/director Jimmy Smallhorne plays Johnnie Maher, an immigrant Irishman who works as a foreman for his uncle's construction company in the Bronx (NY). His coworkers, friends, and (it seems) neighbors are also all recent Irish immigrants, who spend their day working at non-union cheap labor, and their nights drinking, singing (badly) Karaoke and doing cocaine. But Johnnie has some deeper problems, manifested in terrifying nightmares, that hint of something in his past he is trying to repress. This is one more problem which his girlfriend Maria has to deal with, besides the fact that Johnnie admits he has also had bisexual experiences.

The good news: The film won a prize at Sundance for cinematogrpahy, and I have to admit the photography is generally very good. Unfortunately, the acting is poor, the direction beyond awful (and Mr. Smallhorne can be blamed for most of those two), with very sloppy continuity (For example, there are three scenes throughout the film where Johnny is walking into the front door of his apartment building, and the building is different in all three!)

Last, but far from least: The film dialogue is in English, with English subtitles. (No, that's not a typo. Got that?) The *really* bad news is that the subtitles are often needed, since the actors (with the exception of Chris O'Neil, who plays Uncle Trump .... Trump, a construction company in NYC, get it?), besides all having heavy Northern Irish accents, rarely project their voice loud enough to be heard or speak clearly. And this definitely wins my award for WORST SUBTITLES in any film EVER, since they are rarely coordinated with what is actually being said on the screen (More often then not, they are a full 5 seconds early or late), they don't separate character's dialogue (If three people are talking, their dialogue is COMBINED on the screen, with no indication who is who), the subtitles include dialogue or lyrics being heard on a radio or TV (which has nothing to do with the movie) and, at one point, the subtitles included numbers which are likely used by the director to time scenes in editing. The final touch: the subtitles CANNOT be turned off, so you HAVE to look at them!

Some simulated sex scenes, but no nudity below the waist. No DVD extras beyond scene selection. Believe me, the 2 out of 5 stars is quite generous. And it is a shame, as the story could have been told a lot better.

Average customer rating:

Topper - 4 Full Length TV Episodes

Manufacturer: Television Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 1
Topper, Vol. 2
The Adventures of Topper, Vol. 2
Topper/Topper Returns
Topper

ASIN: B0008F703M

Product Description

Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) and his wife live quietly until two of Cosmo's favorite stockholders drive off the road and suddenly find that they've become ghosts!The cast includes Lee Patrick as Mrs. Topper in a fine invention (she was, of course, Sam Spade's secretary in The Maltese Falcon). Leo G. Carroll - Cosmo Topper Kathleen Freeman - Katie (1953-1954) Thurston Hall - Mr. Schuyler Anne Jeffreys - Marion Kerby Neil - Neil Lee Patrick - Henrietta Topper Edna Skinner - Maggie, the cook (1954-55) Robert Sterling - George Kerby Also included a POPEYE Cartoon "Out to Punch"

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Voyage to the Planets/Hyperspace

Les Amants Du Pont-Neuf

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DVD: Salaam Bombay! (Widescreen Special Edition)

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