TOPAZE (RKO Radio, 1933), directed by Harry D'Abbadie D'Arrast, from the adaptation by Benn W. Levy, and play by Marcel Pagnol, stars John Barrymore in one of his finest film roles. Notable for his versatile performances on both stage and screen, ranging from Shakespearean tragedy to madcap comedies, Barrymore also excelled in playing character types such as this. In the title role, Barrymore plays a naive French teacher (with no French accent) sporting pointy beard and glasses who is taken for a fool. Myrna Loy, who assumed smaller parts in earlier Barrymore/Warner Brothers productions as DON JUAN (1926), WHEN A MAN LOVES (1927), and separate performances in the all-star musical revue, THE SHOW OF SHOWS (1929), and NIGHT FLIGHT (MGM, 1933), gets her chance in a major role opposite the "great profile" to best advantage, especially under a French director, D'Arrast, with the comedic style of wit in the manner of Paramount's own Ernst Lubitsch.
Set in France, the story opens with a snow fall with camera tracking inside the apartment building window on a couple, Baron Philippe De Latour Latour (Reginald Mason) and Coco (Myrna Loy) seated in front of a fireplace enjoying each other's company. At the stroke of 11 p.m., however, Philippe leaves Coco to return home to his wife. In his mansion, Philippe enters, awaking Hortense (Jobyna Howland), and their dog, Max. Philippe finds his wife more upset over the report card grades of their mischievous son, Charlemagne (Jackie Searl), containing zeros in every subject except general knowledge, by his schoolmaster, Topaze, whom Charlemagne calls a Communist. The following morning, Professor Auguste Topaze (John Barrymore) arrives at his place of employment, Stegg Academy, where he resumes his trying day to conduct his lessons to his students while Charlemagne disrupts the class. The lessons are interrupted when Topaze is called to the office of Doctor Stegg (Frank Reicher), minister of education, to meet with him and Charlemagne's concerned mother as to why the son of powerful and richest Baron has failing grades. Regardless of the truth, the dedicated and idealistic teacher, by orders of Mrs. LaTour, is immediately dismissed. Arriving at Coco's apartment to tutor her nephew, Alphonse, Topaze also makes the acquaintance of Philippe, Charlemagne's father and businessman. He intends on making amends of Topaze losing his teaching position by offering him a job as "consultive chemist" for his worthless tonic he intends to make a fortune, calling it "Sparkling Topaze." Unaware that Topaze is being played a fool by endorsing Latour's "soft drink" to make consumers "high," Topaze, working closely with Coco, learns the truth from Doctor Bomg (Luis Alberni) after being called a thief, followed by other unforeseen circumstances.
A well-rounded 79 minute story enacted by fine cast, TOPAZE (title not to be confused with Alfred Hitchcock's 1969 thriller, TOPAZ). relies more on John Barrymore's skills in straight comedy than anything else. Being the whole show here certainly merited him an Actor Academy Award nomination as Best Actor, which didn't happen. Myrna Loy (on loan from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), makes an enduring mistress of a notable statesman who, at one point, gets introduced as Mrs. Topaze by her lover when met face to face by his wife. Though the early ten minute classroom session is lengthy, Barrymore's teachings and coping with Searl's antics sure make this one of the film's highlights. No wonder Searl earned his reputation as a "movie brat."
Seldom shown on commercial television, TOPAZE did earn rediscovery in later years with video cassette in 1990 through CBS Fox tribute to David O. Selznick (who produced the movie), followed by DVD release. Cable television showings include American Movie Classics (1995-1999) and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: October 7, 2002) with original RKO Radio logo opening as opposed to Selznick International Pictures logo used in earlier broadcasts and video distributions. Recommended viewing. (***)
Set in France, the story opens with a snow fall with camera tracking inside the apartment building window on a couple, Baron Philippe De Latour Latour (Reginald Mason) and Coco (Myrna Loy) seated in front of a fireplace enjoying each other's company. At the stroke of 11 p.m., however, Philippe leaves Coco to return home to his wife. In his mansion, Philippe enters, awaking Hortense (Jobyna Howland), and their dog, Max. Philippe finds his wife more upset over the report card grades of their mischievous son, Charlemagne (Jackie Searl), containing zeros in every subject except general knowledge, by his schoolmaster, Topaze, whom Charlemagne calls a Communist. The following morning, Professor Auguste Topaze (John Barrymore) arrives at his place of employment, Stegg Academy, where he resumes his trying day to conduct his lessons to his students while Charlemagne disrupts the class. The lessons are interrupted when Topaze is called to the office of Doctor Stegg (Frank Reicher), minister of education, to meet with him and Charlemagne's concerned mother as to why the son of powerful and richest Baron has failing grades. Regardless of the truth, the dedicated and idealistic teacher, by orders of Mrs. LaTour, is immediately dismissed. Arriving at Coco's apartment to tutor her nephew, Alphonse, Topaze also makes the acquaintance of Philippe, Charlemagne's father and businessman. He intends on making amends of Topaze losing his teaching position by offering him a job as "consultive chemist" for his worthless tonic he intends to make a fortune, calling it "Sparkling Topaze." Unaware that Topaze is being played a fool by endorsing Latour's "soft drink" to make consumers "high," Topaze, working closely with Coco, learns the truth from Doctor Bomg (Luis Alberni) after being called a thief, followed by other unforeseen circumstances.
A well-rounded 79 minute story enacted by fine cast, TOPAZE (title not to be confused with Alfred Hitchcock's 1969 thriller, TOPAZ). relies more on John Barrymore's skills in straight comedy than anything else. Being the whole show here certainly merited him an Actor Academy Award nomination as Best Actor, which didn't happen. Myrna Loy (on loan from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), makes an enduring mistress of a notable statesman who, at one point, gets introduced as Mrs. Topaze by her lover when met face to face by his wife. Though the early ten minute classroom session is lengthy, Barrymore's teachings and coping with Searl's antics sure make this one of the film's highlights. No wonder Searl earned his reputation as a "movie brat."
Seldom shown on commercial television, TOPAZE did earn rediscovery in later years with video cassette in 1990 through CBS Fox tribute to David O. Selznick (who produced the movie), followed by DVD release. Cable television showings include American Movie Classics (1995-1999) and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: October 7, 2002) with original RKO Radio logo opening as opposed to Selznick International Pictures logo used in earlier broadcasts and video distributions. Recommended viewing. (***)