Topaze

This is quite en engaging "worm that turned" style story that centres around the genial and honourable academic "Prof. Topaze" (John Barrymore). Refusing to enhance the grades of the dimwit son of an influential family, the boy's mother sees he is drummed out of his job. Just at the moment, as luck ... would have it, the Baron de La Tour la Tour (Reginald Mason) - who just happens to be the father of that child - finds himself looking for someone to endorse his rather dubious bottled water product that claims some fanciful enhancements. Dazzled by the job offer, the money and armed with a degree of scientific knowledge to actually make improvements to the germ-ridden water, the professor signs up. Snag is, his employer is making no such augmentations to the water he is selling - and when "Topaze" finds out he determines to make a stand. Myrna Loy is quite effective as the Baron's girlfriend who has quite a shred of decency in her, too, and the moral of the story is lightly, but firmly applied as the pupil learns from the master. The production is maybe a little set-bound, but it flows well with a decent script and a strong leading performance. read more