Legendary screen lothario John Barrymore (Twentieth Century) turns in a great comedic performance in the 1933 David O. Selznick (Gone with the Wind) classic. After years of dedicated service, Professor Topaze (Barrymore) is summarily fired for flunking his worst student – who happens to be the son of the powerful Baron (Reginald Mason), a wealthy businessman who stands to make a fortune by peddling a worthless health tonic. All the Baron needs is one man with lots of academic credentials and few scruples to endorse his sparkling water. That’s where naïve Professor Topaze comes in and to complicate matters more, Topaze meets and falls in love with an enchanting temptress Coco (Myrna Loy, The Thin Man), the Baron’s beautiful mistress. Wonderfully directed by Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast (Laughter, Serenade) with a screenplay by Ben Hecht (Notorious), based on the play by Marcel Pagnol (The Fanny Trilogy).

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger

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