Burt Topper
Encyclopedia
Burt Topper was an American
film director
and screenwriter
best known for cult film
s aimed at teenagers.
Born in Coney Island
, New York
, Topper moved to Los Angeles
at the age of 8, and served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. After his first film Hell Squad he produced films at American International Pictures
for Sam Arkoff and narrated some of AIP's film trailers.
Topper died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
best known for cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
s aimed at teenagers.
Born in Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Topper moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at the age of 8, and served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After his first film Hell Squad he produced films at American International Pictures
American International Pictures
American International Pictures was a film production company formed in April 1956 from American Releasing Corporation by James H. Nicholson, former Sales Manager of Realart Pictures, and Samuel Z. Arkoff, an entertainment lawyer...
for Sam Arkoff and narrated some of AIP's film trailers.
Topper died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Selected filmography
- The Day the Lord Got Busted (1976)
- The Hard RideThe Hard Ride (1971 film)The Hard Ride is a 1971 action film about a U.S. Marine who promises to take care of a dead buddy's motorcycle, and is threatened by a rival biker gang in the process. The film was written and directed by Burt Topper, and stars Robert Fuller, Sherry Bain, and Tony Russel....
(1971) - The Devil's 8 (1969)
- Thunder AlleyThunder Alley (film)Thunder Alley is a 1967 film directed by Richard Rush and starring Annette Funicello and Fabian.-Plot:A race car driver retires after a blackout causes the death of another driver on the motorway. After the accident, he then begins working at a "Thrill Circus" as a stunt driver. There he meets the...
(1967) - The StranglerThe StranglerThe Strangler is a 1964 crime thriller, directed by Burt Topper and starring Victor Buono, David McLean, Davey Davison and Ellen Corby, with a screenplay by Bill S. Ballinger. The film was inspired by the Boston Strangler, a serial killer of the 1960s....
(1964) - War Is Hell (1963)
- Diary of a High School Bride (1959)
- Tank Commandos (1959)
- Hell SquadHell Squad (1958 film)Hell Squad is a 1958 American film produced, written and directed by Burt Topper in his motion picture debut. Filmed in Indio, California in 1957, the film was originally titled The Ground They Walk but was retitled upon being picked up by American International Pictures who released it as a double...
(1958)