“TOPAZE” AT PLAZA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 852, 28 August 1933, Page 3

“TOPAZE” AT PLAZA.

John Barrymore in Sparkling Comedy. Topuze,” a sparkling comedy, heads Hie current programme at the Plaza Theatre. The picture is an ideal vehicle for the genius of John Barrymore, who gives a distinguished performance in the whimsical role of Professor Topaze, a simple-minded French schoolmaster, who leaves his little world of copy-book maxims for the hard facts of the business community. M. Topaze is a most estimable man, whose scientific attainments are remarkable; but outside his classroom he is a scholarly lamb in whiskers and glasses. His simple belief that the moral maxims he teaches to his pupils are the only things which make for success in life, suffers a rude shock when he is dismissed for thinking that "honesty is the best policy ” regarding the marks of a dunce with an influential mother. A baron who is looking for a scientist to attach the eminence of his name to a worthless tonic water, which is being placed on the market, finds the childlike Topaze fair game. Given employment as chief chemist, Topaze discovers a pure but expensive tonic water, which he thinks is being sold to the public under his name. Disillusionment cpmes last, and Topaze tears up his copy book with a vengeance. The story is a triumph for John Barrymore, who dominates it- throughout. Myrna Loy and a brilliant supporting cast add to the success of the picture. The supporting programme is excellent.