John Barrymore stars as Professor Auguste A. Topaze, a dedicated and beloved schoolteacher in an elite private school, in this satirical 1933 comedy adapted from the play by French writer Marcel Pagnol. Barrymore, who tended to embrace his hammy side, is more restrained here as a naïve, idealistic professor who is blind to the corruption of the real world and winds up being fired when he refuses to give a passing grade to a failing student. Through the kind of screwball coincidences that exist only in plays and movies, he lands a job with the aristocratic Baron de La Tour-La Tour (Reginald Mason)--father of the failing student that got him canned--as the representative of a phony tonic. Ben Hecht, a master of American cynicism and barbed wit, adapted the play, filling it with satirical jabs at the hypocrisy of the rich and powerful that was only possible pre-Code: in fact, the film opens with the Baron telling his mistress Coco (Myrna Loy), "You know I have to get home to my wife." Director Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast brings an elegant touch and worldly attitude to this cynical portrait that features a satisfying twist of poetic justice. Extras include audio commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Topaze
Kino Lorber, 78 min., not rated, DVD: $19.99, Blu-ray: $29.99 Volume 33, Issue 3
Topaze
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