I have the first book, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. And yes, I love Topper! At least, I love the first one. I don't think I ever saw the second one. I just adore Cary Grant, and as he wasn't in the second movie, I probably didn't bother to watch it.
I loved the books but they were very different from the movie. Cary Grant is my all time favorite actor. The second movie Topper Takes a Trip and third movie Topper Returns were very different but still fun movies. I especially love Billie Burke in both movies.
My all-time favorite actress is Rosalind Russell. I thought she was fabulous in Auntie Mame (what a great character!) and His Girl Friday (with Cary Grant, woo hoo!).
I love the fast paced dialogue in His Girl Friday!! For favorite actress, I think it is a toss up between Catherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.
I'm not so sure it's a bad thing that they never remade the Thin Man movies. I can't imagine anyone else playing those parts. And they'd have to update the story lines and make them all PC, with special effects and everything to attract the audiences. I just don't think they'd be the same. It'd be like trying to remake Casablanca. It would never be as iconic (or as good) as the original. (Although I have to admit, I grit my teeth when Ilsa refers to Sam as a "boy.")
I think there could be a lot of fun things done with the technology we have now. I don't think they would have to make it PC but it would have to be the right combo of actor/actress to make it work!! It was just the times as when I watch other movies and see how the film industry stereotyped persons of Asian or color it is just maddening.
AMC ran a Thin Man marathon on New Year's Eve. We were all set to watch it with our favorite snackage and a bottle (or two) of champagne, but I woke up that morning with a nasty stomach virus and was asleep by 8:30.