The first film in the Topper series included Cary Grant as Constance Bennett's co-ghost. In the present film, Cary's place is essentially taken by Mr. Atlas(Asta): the talented wire-haired terrier 'actor' in several of The Thin Man film series, and several Cary Grant comedies. I would say, in the context of the films, Mr. Atlas made a more interesting ghost than Cary. Also, the present film clearly is funnier than the original. Who said sequels never live up to the original? Not only Mr. Atlas, but Constance Bennett, as Marion, Roland Young, as Cosmo Topper, and Billie Burke, as Mrs. Topper. are all more animated and funnier than they were in "Topper". Like the other films in this series, it was shot in B&W, but a colorized version was later made of each. The copy at You Tube is colorized. The screen play is about Mrs. Topper seeking a divorce from Cosmo. But, her friend, Mrs. Parkhurst seems much more enthusiastic in pushing for the divorce than is Mrs. Topper. Whereas Mrs. Parkhurst painted Cosmo as an evil man, his wife provided a much more positive assessment of Cosmo. Throughout the film, I wondered about Mrs. Parkhurst's motive for promoting the divorce. Is she being paid by Mrs. Topper? Is she a gold-digger, hoping to wed Cosmo? This latter possibility would seem remote, given the animosity toward Cosmos in the court room. Near the end, she seemed to be getting friendly with the 'baron' she had picked out for Mrs. Topper to wed after the divorce, whom Mrs. Topper ultimately rejected. The basic plot is rather similar to that for "Topper". Marion wants to do a good deed so that she can return to heaven with her husband.(Perhaps, she did something naughty to be thrown out of heaven?). Namely, she wants to patch up the animosity between Cosmo and Mrs. Topper, which she feels partly responsible for(see "Topper"). She thought she had accomplished that at the end of "Topper", but apparently it didn't last. Since Mrs. Topper's attempt to obtain a divorce locally failed, Mrs. Parkhurst arranged for them to travel to the French Riviera to try there. But, Cosmo, Marion, and Mr. Atlas follow them to the same hotel(Nice detective work!). Mrs. Parkhurst finds a suitable gold digger as a possible replacement for Cosmo. Nothing is said about a divorce hearing there. Cosmo has difficulty explaining why he orders 2 meals and a dog bone with only him evident in his room.Marion makes Cosmo look foolish numerous times when invisible, but makes up for it in getting him out of bad situations, in winning a fortune for him at the casino, and in getting Mrs. Topper's attention away from the 'baron' and back on Cosmo. Marion now thinks she has done her good deed, and petitions God to let her back into heaven, to be reunited with George(Cary Grant).

This sequel to the funny Topper lacks the entire sophistication of that film yet is able to stand all by itself as a worthy successor based on the performance of Roland Young once again playing the amusing, befuddled Cosmo Topper - he who sees dead people way before it became fashionable by The Sixth Sense and on a cast of wonderful character actors doing their "bit." Topper Takes a Trip does have some major flaws; however. The film opens with Young in a courtroom going through divorce proceedings from his even more befuddled wife Billie Burke. Topper explains to the courtroom how he was befriended by the ghosts of Constance Bennet and Cary Grant(who could not join his former cast-mates because he was now too big a star but magnanimously agreed to allow them to use footage from the original - Swell Guy!). This whole beginning seems very forced as it tries to make sure that all is explained in case you missed the first film. Once they get out of the courtroom, Topper and one ghost and her ghostly dog go on a drinking binge and discover that Mrs. Topper's best friend has taken her to Paris to try and get her hooked up with a Baron there. Topper and companions follow and the laughs go from a trickle to an avalanche at times as Young does all kinds of crazy things with the aid of his spectral friend. The hotel is headed by Franklin Pangborn whose performance really is a comic treat. Pangborn made me laugh so hard with that sardonic look and witticisms. Butler Alan Mowbray follows and adds a fine turn as the Topper's butler. The rest of the cast is also suitably funny. It is important to remember just how influential these films were in this little sub-genre and that the special effects used were state-of-the-art at the time(Oscar nominated in this case. Many scenes stand out for me as truly masterful bits of comedic timing: Young dancing with a ghost on the dance floor, Alexander D'Arcy(the Baron) being bulldozed by a huge beach ball while shortless in the sand, and Young being cramped in his small room standing out particularly.

"Topper Takes a Trip" is a nice follow-up to "Topper," and has the same cast but no Cary Grant as George. He's shown in the beginning as the film goes over how George and Marion got to be ghosts in the first place. Alas, Grant's ghostly presence hangs over the entire film and puts a big hole in this movie.Constance Bennett is her usual gorgeous self as Marion. She is compelled to come back without George and soon realizes that she's there to help Cosmo once again - though the Kerby's idea of helping Topper leaves much to be desired. This time, though, she discovers a dog, Atlas, in spirit also and brings him along. Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke) learning that Cosmo was with a woman in a hotel has sued for divorce. At the trial, Cosmo claims the woman was the late Marion and begs to tell his story.The judge understandably gets too confused and throws the case out. Mrs. T sails for France and Cosmo, Marion, and Atlas follow. One of the best scenes takes place in a casino where Cosmo just can't help winning, thanks the ball landing on one number and then mysteriously jumping to another thanks to guess who.Very cute, with another fine performance by Roland Young as Cosmo. The special effects are still marvelous

Cosmo TOPPER TAKES A TRIP--with ghostly Marion Kerby and dead dog Atlas--to the French Riviera in hopes of winning back the estranged Mrs. Topper.Hal Roach Studios presents more of the adventures of Topper in this follow-up to their previous comedy success. Many of the comic situations are highly reminiscent of the first film, but they are still funny and enough new material has been added to engage and hold the viewer's attention.Roland Young & Billie Burke return as the Toppers and they are still a delight--Mr. Young owlish & serious in the silliest of situations and Miss Burke forever sweetly vague and befuddled. Gorgeous Constance Bennett, as ghostess Marion, remains free-spirited in her (unwelcome) attempts to help Cosmo out of his latest pickle. Somber Alan Mowbray is also back--and in top form--as the Toppers' devout butler.Some new costars are on hand to help liven things up: Verree Teasdale plays Mrs. Topper's catty friend; Franklin Pangborn is the oleaginous manager of the Hotel St. Pierre; and suave Alexander D'Arcy provides some laughs as a gigolo baron intent on acquiring Miss Burke's money.Movie mavens will recognize George Davis as a temperamental porter and Paul Porcasi as a suspicious casino manager, both uncredited. Atlas is played by that remarkable canine thespian, Asta. Cary Grant appears only in footage lifted from the first film.A couple of scenes in particular are worth waiting for--the first when Topper, with invisible ghostly help, breaks the bank at the French casino's roulette wheel; the second comes when D'Arcy is subjected to humiliating indignities on the beach, courtesy of Miss Bennett and Asta.This was the second of a 3-film series, coming after TOPPER (1937) and followed by TOPPER RETURNS (1941).