Search DVDBeaver

 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
USA 1933

 

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 (Wings) with a screenplay by Ben Hecht (Notorious), based on the play by Marcel Pagnol (The Fanny Trilogy).

***

It was during his tenure as Vice President in Charge of Production at RKO (1931-33) that David O. Selznick solidified his reputation as a producer of uncommon taste, imagination and ambition. One of Selznick's most impressive talents was his knack for finding just the right vehicles to bring out the best in performers. Among his triumphs in that regard at RKO were casting Katharine Hepburn in her star-making role in A Bill of Divorcement (1932), signing Fred Astaire to appear in film musicals and tapping into the comic talents of John Barrymore and Myrna Loy in Topaze (1933).

A year before Howard Hawks' "discovery" of Barrymore as a first-rate comedian in Twentieth Century (1934), Selznick cast him in Topaze. It was an adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's satire about an honest yet naive science teacher who loses his job because he won't pass an undeserving student who is the son of a wealthy man. After inventing a formula for a questionable health tonic called "Sparkling Topaze," however, the teacher risks losing his integrity by marketing the product with an unscrupulous businessman (George Mason). Loy is cast as the businessman's mistress, who falls for the teacher and eventually joins him on the road to redemption.

 Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Posters etc.

Theatrical Release: February 8th, 1933

Reviews                                                                        More Reviews                                                            DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Covers

 

   

 
Distribution

Kino
Region 'A' Blu-ray
Runtime

1:18:53.728

Video

Disc Size: 20,005,579,762 bytes

Feature Size: 17,897,693,184 bytes

Average Bitrate: 26.89 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Bitrate:

 

Kino Blu-ray

 

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

Disc Size: 20,005,579,762 bytes

Feature Size: 17,897,693,184 bytes

Average Bitrate: 26.89 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
• Theatrical Trailers for 4 other films

Blu-ray  Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters: 8

 

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray - February 18': Kino's transfer is 1080P and the HD presentation has some surprisingly strong moments - it's quite clean - a small amount of light scratches - and there is even depth in spots although predictably consistent softness. It looks better than I would have expected for a 1933 film. The contrast is on the lighter side but detail is pleasing.  

DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (16-bit) lossless audio, for the original English audio, with the limitations of the production's era but the score by Max Steiner (The Garden of Allah, Since You Went Away, Sergeant York, Key Largo, Casablanca, The Caine Mutiny, Bird of Paradise, Beyond the Forest, Pursued etc. etc.) sounds rich and authentically flat if a bit tinny. It sounds, suitably, imperfect and on par with the video in the lossless transfer. There are no subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is Region 'A' - locked.

Extras offer an audio commentary with Kat Ellinger who discusses the film, it's witty dialogue, the less risqué pre-code elements, the humor, performers, themes of ambition and much more. I thought it was very educational and certainly added to my appreciation. There are also trailers for 4 other films.

Kino have given us this wonderful Pre-code in a new 1080P transfer with an informative commentary identifying its value. I loved the decor, fashion, and beautiful Myrna Loy - all so classic. There is plenty to extol with this Blu-ray - loved it. Strongly recommended! 

 - Gary Tooze

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Box Covers

 

   

 
Distribution

Kino
Region 'A' Blu-ray

 



Search DVDBeaver
 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!