A filmed version of Phil Silvers' hit Broadway show about a television comic who tried to regain his ratings on TV.A filmed version of Phil Silvers' hit Broadway show about a television comic who tried to regain his ratings on TV.A filmed version of Phil Silvers' hit Broadway show about a television comic who tried to regain his ratings on TV.
Walter Darewahl
- Walter
- (as Walter Dare Wahl)
George Marcy
- Featured Dancer
- (as George Marci)
Flash Hogan
- Singing Dog
- (as 'Flash' Hogan the Singing Dog)
Carolyn Anderson
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
Mike Barton
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
Iris Burton
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Alfred E. Green
- Albert Zugsmith(uncredited)
- Writers
- Hy Kraft(uncredited)
- Johnny Mercer(uncredited)
- Gene Towne(screen version)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOriginally shot and edited in 3-D, the idea of this film was to for the audience to experience a major Broadway show in the best seat in the house for the price of a movie ticket. Unfortunately, the film was released flat when the 3-D craze ended and no longer exists in that format. The broadcast version now used is the truncated version. According to The 3D Film Archive "the only material in the United Artists archive is an edited 35mm release print of the right side. That is the version which has been released on home video and it's missing about 15 minutes of footage. There are no negatives, color separations, inter-positives, dupe negatives, nothing. However, the missing 15 minutes does survive in both an uncut 16mm Kodachrome print struck in 1954 and an original, faded 35mm release print now at the UCLA Film and Television Archive."
- Quotes
Jerry Biffle: "He's in love" - that's why tenors were born.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Muppet Show: Milton Berle (1977)
- SoundtracksMy Home Is in My Shoes
Music and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Featured review
To Eschew Reality
I imagine that Top Banana was a Broadway show that was difficult to adapt to the big screen. The producers decided to eschew reality and settle for a photographed stage play. Not unlike the early musicals made when the talkies arrived. Guys And Dolls did that also, but it was a much better show.
Fans who liked old time burlesque flocked to see Top Banana on Broadway which ran for 350 performances. Phil Silvers, Rose Marie, Jack Albertson and a whole bunch of the cast repeated their roles. For all the other talent Top Banana is essentially a showcase for Phil Silvers. You'd better be a big fan of his otherwise you will not enjoy this film.
Silvers was a guy who scored his biggest success on the small screen as Sergeant Ernie Bilko. For me he's fine in small doses, but I've often wondered what he was like in private life, was he always 'on' as he is here.
The plot such as it is has Silvers unwittingly playing cupid for the singer in his show Danny Scholl with Judy Lynn whom he likes. In the meantime Rose Marie likes Silvers, but he can't see her. Do I need to go any further.
Johnny Mercer one of the most talented men of music ever, mostly wrote lyrics to other's melodies, but occasionally did music as well. Here he wrote the music and lyrics for the whole score, but you'll find nothing here that especially stands out.
For fans of Phil Silvers and others curious to see what his comedy style was about this film is recommended.
Fans who liked old time burlesque flocked to see Top Banana on Broadway which ran for 350 performances. Phil Silvers, Rose Marie, Jack Albertson and a whole bunch of the cast repeated their roles. For all the other talent Top Banana is essentially a showcase for Phil Silvers. You'd better be a big fan of his otherwise you will not enjoy this film.
Silvers was a guy who scored his biggest success on the small screen as Sergeant Ernie Bilko. For me he's fine in small doses, but I've often wondered what he was like in private life, was he always 'on' as he is here.
The plot such as it is has Silvers unwittingly playing cupid for the singer in his show Danny Scholl with Judy Lynn whom he likes. In the meantime Rose Marie likes Silvers, but he can't see her. Do I need to go any further.
Johnny Mercer one of the most talented men of music ever, mostly wrote lyrics to other's melodies, but occasionally did music as well. Here he wrote the music and lyrics for the whole score, but you'll find nothing here that especially stands out.
For fans of Phil Silvers and others curious to see what his comedy style was about this film is recommended.
helpful•61
- bkoganbing
- May 17, 2013
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $150,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
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