Film-version of Marcel Pagnol's play about a naive professor, teaching at an academy for boys, getting the ax from the administration and becoming a chemist for a beverage company headed up by a businessman who turns out to be dishonest. Tale of morals and mores is sluggishly-paced and could use a little extra comedic relief, though it does have John Barrymore in the lead and he's very charming. One may say the script is dated and dim, however Barrymore creates an appealing character in Professor Topaze, and his gentle performance nearly makes up for the unimaginative handling and the disappointing supporting turns by Myrna Loy, Albert Conti and Reginald Mason. Remade in 1962 with Peter Sellers as "I Like Money". ** from ****
Review of Topaze
