Topaze **** (1933, Louis Jouvet, Edwige Feuillère, Pierre Larquey, Paul Pauley, Simone Héliard, Marcel Vallée) – Classic Movie Review 9519

Louis Jouvet is brilliant in his memorable film debut as Professor Albert Topaze in director Louis J Gasnier’s Topaze, the sophisticated comedy drama classic original 1933 French version of the Marcel Pagnol story about a meek, earnest-minded French school teacher who is fired from his job and finds out how to succeed in business after he is tricked by a greedy nobleman. The corruption of the business world finally teaches him that honesty is the best policy after all.

This highly amusing, adult and darkly satirical material makes an excellent film. Edwige Feuillère is also superb as the grasping and greedy Suzy Courtois. Also notable are the film’s sets, designed by art director René Renoux.

Also in the cast are Pierre Larquey as Tamise, Marcel Lesieur, Henri Vilbert, Maurice Rémy, Simone Héliard, Micheline Bernard, Camille Beuve, Raymond Debrennes, Jacqueline Delubac, Jane Loury, Paul Pauley (as Pauley) as Régis Castel-Bénac, Maurice Rémy as Roger de Tréville, and Marcel Vallé as Muche.

Topaze is directed by Louis J Gasnier, runs 103 minutes, is made by Les Films Marcel Pagnol and Les Films Paramount, is released by Les Films Paramount, is written by Louis J Gasnier and Léopold Marchand, based on Marcel Pagnol’s play, is shot in black and white by Fred Langenfeld, and designed by René Renoux, with Costume Design by Schiaparelli.

Pagnol’s 1928 play spun off two more French films both directed by Pagnol himself, who did not care for this 1933 French version with all its changes from his play – the little-seen 1936 Topaze and the 1951 Topaze with Fernandel – and two English-language versions (Topaze in 1933 with John Barrymore and Myrna Loy, and Mr Topaze, aka I Like Money with Peter Sellers).

It is made at the Joinville Studios in Paris by Les Films Paramount, the French subsidiary of Paramount Pictures. It was released on 6 January 1933.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9519

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com