Topaze (1933)

Topaze: Directed by Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast. With John Barrymore, Myrna Loy, Reginald Mason, Jobyna Howland. An honest and naive schoolteacher gets a lesson in how the world works outside the classroom, when a rich Baron and his mistress use the teacher’s name and outstanding reputation in a crooked business scheme.

“Hapless schoolmaster Auguste TOPAZE becomes the dupe of a duplicitous baron attempting to sell worthless tonic water.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJohn Barrymore is wonderfully cast against type as the gently pedantic professor in this sadly obscure comedy from RKO. For much of the picture he dithers delightfully, well aware that often less is more in the game of cinematic scene stealing. Living his life by the simple maxims of honesty u0026amp; decency, Barrymoreu0026#39;s character is stunned when his good name is threatened by his powerful new employer. But he has a scheme…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLovely Myrna Loy, as cool u0026amp; untroubled as an icy glacier, does well by her role as the baronu0026#39;s levelheaded mistress. Refreshingly, the story allows only an innocent platonic friendship between herself u0026amp; Barrymore. It is enough.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAristocratic Reginald Mason gives an enjoyable performance as the crooked baron, while the massive Jobyna Howland revels in her small role as his unspeakable wife. Young Jackie Searl scores as their repellent little son.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGood assist is given by Albert Conti as a corrupt politician, Luis Alberni as an outraged chemist, and, in the same year heu0026#39;d captain the steamer to Kongu0026#39;s Skull Island, Frank Reicher takes the role of the stern headmaster of the boyu0026#39;s school which employed Topaze.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBen Hechtu0026#39;s script for the film was based on the original play by Marcel Pagnol.”