IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

Stage actor and early film heartthrob, John Barrymore (Drew’s grandfather) was well known for his emotive, romantic performances in everything from Hamlet to MGM’s multi-star vehicle Grand Hotel (1932).  However, age and alcoholism began to take a toll on the lothario’s looks as he hit his fifties, and he could no longer get away with playing the romantic leading man.  Taking a page from the career of his elder brother, Lionel (Mr. Potter of It’s a Wonderful Life), the younger Barrymore pivoted to playing character parts and comedy for his final decade on the silver screen.

Producer David O. Selznick provided the perfect vehicle for Barrymore’s initial comedic transition.  Selznick purchased the American rights to Marcel Pagnol’s popular French play, Topaze, about a naive professor who gets a lesson in the deceptive practices of the business world.  The Broadway production of the play had starred bumbling comic actor Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel in The Wizard of Oz) as the professor, but Selznick wanted a more bankable star as the lead in the film version.  Consequently, the florid, flamboyant Barrymore was cast very much against type.

Professor Auguste A. Topaze (Barrymore) is a soft-spoken teacher at a private school for boys, who exhorts the philosophy of honesty and hard work as the way to get ahead in life.  Although beloved by most of his students, Topaze is fired for refusing to give a passing grade to the class brat (Jackie Searl), the son of a rich and powerful Baroness (Jobyna Howland).  Coincidentally, the Baroness’ husband (Reginald Mason) had previously recommended the professor to his mistress (Myrna Loy) as a tutor for her nephew.  When Topaze shows up for his tutoring gig, the Baron decides that the unsuspecting scholar is just the pigeon he needs to pull off a crooked business scheme.  He uses the professor’s name and chemistry credentials to legitimize a tonic that is nothing more than tap water.  However, once the disillusioned professor gets a whiff of the deception, he proves that he can be just as cutthroat as his deceitful employer.

Adapted for the screen by the great Ben Hecht (His Girl Friday), Topaze is a smart, breezy comedy with more than a few subversive touches.  While the the National Board of Review named Topaze the best American movie of 1933, this Pre-Code picture was rejected for re-release just three years later, as it was considered morally objectionable.  Both the casual depiction of adultery and the message that “honesty is not always the best policy” didn’t fly in the scandal-phobic Hollywood of the Hayes Production Code era.  However, it is precisely the more salacious aspects of the story that make the film feel fresh today.

The supporting cast is excellent, especially Myrna Loy, as the knowing mistress who takes a liking to the honest professor; but the film is really Barrymore’s show.  One could argue that his performance is a bit too mannered and theatrical, but John Barrymore never gave a performance that wasn’t at least a little over-the-top.  It was natural for the thespian to emote flamboyantly or simply ham it up.  Consequently, even when approaching this meek, soft-spoken character, Barrymore goes a bit overboard.  Not only is his speech delicate and halting; he gives the character a stiff-backed, bowlegged gait, with his arms clinched close to his sides.  Yet, what would come across as overacting for most actors works well for Barrymore.  It just adds to the sense of fun.  And there’s plenty of fun to be had in Topaze.

USA/B&W-78m./Dir: Harrie d’Abbadie d’Arrast/Wr: Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, and Benn W. Levy (adapted from a play by Marcel Pagnol)/Cast: John Barrymore, Myrna Loy, Reginald Mason, Jobyna Howland, Jackie Searl, Albert Conti, Frank Reicher, Luis Alberni, Lowden Adams

For Fans of: If you like Barrymore’s more flamboyant performances, you may find Topaze to be an interesting change of pace.

Video: Kino Lorber has released a Blu-ray of Topaze (1933) with a very strong HD image for a 1933 film.  The image is sharp, silvery, and film-like.  For fans of classic film, it is a very pleasing presentation.

Blu-ray Extras Include:

• Audio commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger
• Trailers for several other David O. Selznick films

Streaming: Low resolution copies of the film can be found streaming on YouTube and elsewhere, but they are nowhere near as sharp and clear as the Kino Lorber Blu-ray.

More to Explore: One year later, John Barrymore gave his greatest comic performance, playing the flamboyant Broadway director, Oscar Jaffe, in the screwball comedy masterpiece Twentieth Century.  He also had the opportunity to play another mild-mannered scientist in one of his last roles, Professor Gibbs, the inventor of an invisibility machine in the Universal horror/comedy The Invisible Woman (1940).

Trivia: Marcel Pagnol’s play was adapted for the screen at least nine times, including French versions in 1936 and 1951, both directed by the playwright himself.  Peter Sellers also directed and starred in a British version, Mr. Topaze (a.k.a. I Like Money) in 1961.

For More Info: Several books have been written about Barrymore, including Damned in Paradise: The Life of John Barrymore by John Kobler and Good Night, Sweet Prince: The Life and Times of John Barrymore by his friend and drinking buddy Gene Fowler.