Topaze (1933) 1080p Myrna Loy, John Barrymore

Comedy | Drama | Pre-Code | USA | B&W | 78min | Director: Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast Cast: John Barrymore, Myrna Loy, Reginald Mason, Jobyna Howland, Jackie Searl, Albert Conti, Luis Alberni, Frank Reicher, Lowden Adams 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. Professor Auguste A. Topaze (John Barrymore) is a simple, naïve schoolteacher with a good name and an impeccable reputation. When the wealthy and corrupt Baron Philippe de La Tour-La Tour (Reginald Mason) and his mistress, Coco (Myrna Loy), take advantage of the professor's good nature in a fraudulent business scheme, Topaze learns a harsh lesson on the consequences that exist outside the world of academia. He soon finds his sense of ethics and honesty being pushed to the limit. Adapted from the 1928 Marcel Pagnol stage play of the same name. Not an easy play to make into a movie, but director Harry D'Arrast made a good job of it by getting a fine performance from John Barrymore in the lead role. Trivia: Although the movie was passed by The National Board of Review for showing in the USA in 1933, it was refused a Production Code Administation (PCA) certificate for re-release in 1936, when the Code was more strictly enforced.