Watch Top Banana Online

Top Banana (1954)iMDB Rating: 5.7
Date Released : 22 February 1954
Genre : Comedy, Musical, Romance
Stars : Phil Silvers, Rose Marie, Danny Scholl, Judy Lynn
Movie Quality : BRrip
Format : MKV
Size : 870 MB

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A filmed version of Phil Silvers' hit Broadway show about a television comic who tried to regain his ratings on TV.

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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.