Topaze (1951) YIFY - Download Movie TORRENT

Reviewed by ricardojorgeramalho 7 / 10

A Classic in the Author's Definitive Version

Topaze is a delightful old play, written by Marcel Pagnol and premiered in Paris in 1928, in which we witness the transformation of an obsessive moral teacher, deeply committed to the principles he teaches, into an unscrupulous millionaire, master of corruption and influence peddling. It's an ironic look at capitalist society, where honor is replaced by the power of wealth.Interestingly, the first film adaptation of this play was made in Hollywood, in a 1933 film directed by French-Argentine aristocrat Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast, starring John Barrymore and Myrna Loy. However, in the same year, a French adaptation directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Louis Juvet premiered. Pagnol only produced and directed a film adaptation of the play in 1936, with Alexandre Arnaudy in the lead role, but, perhaps dissatisfied with the result, he made a new film in 1951, this time with Fernandel as the protagonist. This is, therefore, the fourth film adaptation of the play and the author's second, but others would follow, including one directed and starred by Peter Sellers in 1961.I've seen Barrymore's Topaze and now this one by Fernandel, so I can only compare these two. However, the majority opinion places this 1951 version as the more successful.It's true that Fernandel's performance is magnificent, and other actors excel in their respective roles, such as Marcel Vallée as the greedy and amoral director Muche. But unlike the American adaptation, which is simpler and more direct, with a more refined, yet succinct, cinematic rhythm, this 1951 Topaze emerges as more theatrical, more rigorous, more loquacious, and perfectionist. The performances, especially Fernandel's, enhance the play's monumentality and integrity, but the film's rhythm suffers. While intelligent and insightful, it can still tire the viewer, being so long and dramatic, always filmed indoors, almost as if we were in a theater.The play is a comedy, but not a farce; it doesn't generate easy laughs or have the lightness of burlesque. It's a long and profound satire on morality in contemporary society. Therefore, while highly appreciated for its irony and quality of writing, it's not a light experience for the viewer, failing by being overly long and slightly tiring. This is perhaps the reason why it has had so many film adaptations, two by the playwright himself, without any of them standing out as a true masterpiece, especially when compared to Pagnol's great cinematic successes of the 1930s, such as the Marseille trilogy or The Baker's Wife.A work that belongs, in its essence, to the world of theater and has never proved easily adaptable to film. It lacks rhythm and a healthy dose of burlesque to soften the plot and win over moviegoers. But it still gaves memorable performances, at least from John Barrymore and Fernandel, the only ones I had the opportunity of seeing.

Reviewed by writers_reign 8 / 10

Teacher's Pot

Reviewed by corvinello 10 / 10

The loss of innocence

The setting: a small private school run by a Scrooge-y director. Topaze, a thirty-something teacher, scrupulously honest, who is fond of his job and full of indulgence and devotion for his pupils, is brutally expelled for refusing to cheat by upgrading the bad scores of a rich-family pupil, as demanded by both his mother and the director.Clueless and still honest through it all, circumstances lead him next to be recruited to "work" - unknowingly - as a front for a corrupted city counselor who uses his position to get all sorts of paybacks. But as Topaze "wisens" up, his view of life, of the values of virtue and the utility of money will evolve in a new direction.The plot is simple enough, but listen to those dialogs! Topaze seems dumb but is in fact generous and refuses to admit, not being corrupt himself, the mere existence of corruption in the people that surround him. He truly believes in the goodness of man. Events will challenge this belief, as it does for most of us.This tale rings astonishingly true in the present times. It has not aged a bit. Though at times cynical, it is a deep and touching reflexion on the importance of money, wealth and power, the supremacy of appearances over substance, and the ordeal of those that are deprived of any of those things. In my opinion, being a Pagnol fan (of both his books and films), this is Marcel Pagnol's most personal opus. It features an extraordinary cast; as in all of Pagnol's movies, event the smallest parts are well-cast. Fernandel is outstanding as he goes from naive to cynical. Perdrière is adorable and smart, and Marcel Vallée plays the part of the school director with verve: watch him closely in the scene where he is with the outraged mother who demands that the "error" in his son's scores is "discovered" and corrected.If you have a chance to see this, don't miss it.

Topaze

1951 [FRENCH]

Comedy

Topaze

1951 [FRENCH]

Comedy

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A Classic in the Author's Definitive Version

Teacher's Pot

The loss of innocence

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