Topaze **** (1951, Fernandel, Hélène Perdrière, Marcel Vallée, Jacqueline Pagnol, Pierre Larquey) – Classic Movie Review 9520

Marcel Pagnol directs the 1951 French comedy film Topaze, remaking his own 1936 film Topaze, based on his 1928 play of the same name, again as Topaze, this time starring Fernandel and Hélène Perdrière. It also features Marcel Vallée and Pierre Larquey, who also played school boss M Muche and Tamise in the original 1933 French version of the play, again as Topaze.

Fernandel is perfectly cast as naively honest school teacher Albert Topaze, who is unjustly dismissed, and then manipulated by artful Suzy Courtois (Hélène Perdrière), the mistress of crooked politician Régis Castel-Vernac (Jacques Morel), who needs an honest-seeming front man. Caught at around the right time, it is ideal material for Fernandel, who relishes his role and its sweet ironies.

Topaze is directed by Marcel Pagnol, runs 136 minutes, is written by Marcel Pagnol, is shot in black and white by Philippe Agostini at the Saint-Maurice Studios in Paris on sets designed by art director Robert Giordani, is produced by Les Films Marcel Pagnol and distributed by Gaumont Distribution, and is scored by Raymond Legrand.

The cast are: Fernandel as Albert Topaze, Hélène Perdrière as Suzy Courtois, Jacqueline Pagnol as Ernestine Muche, Marcel Vallée as M Muche, Jacques Castelot as Roger Gaëtan de Bersac, Milly Mathis as the Baroness, Yvette Etiévant as Topaze’s typist, Robert Moor as the venerable old man, Rivers Cadet as policeman, Marcel Loche as a domestic, Pierre Larquey as Tamise and Jacques Morel as Régis Castel-Vernac.

Pagnol’s play has been adapted for the screen a number of times, including the original 1933 French Topaze, the American 1933 remake Topaze with John Barrymore and Myrna Loy, Pagnol’s own 1936 film Topaze, the 1951 Topaze, and Peter Sellers’s 1961 Mr Topaze, aka I Like Money.

Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971) became France’s top comic actor for more than 40 years. He was so attentive to his wife that her mother referred to him as Fernand d’elle (her Fernand), hence Fernandel.

Jacqueline Pagnol was born on 6 October 1920, known for Manon of the Spring (1952). She was married to Marcel Pagnol (6 October 1945 – 18 April 1974) (his death) (with two children). She died on 22 August 2016, age 95.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9520

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