REGENT THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 178, 31 July 1933, Page 12

REGENT THEATRE

JOHN BARRYMORE IN “TOPAZE.” Those who appreciate John Barrymore on the talking screen saw him at the Regent Theatre on Saturday night in a far different role from that which he played in “Grand Hotel” and “Rasputin and the Empress.” But ho was as successful in the title role of “ Topaze, ” which rests upon a novel plot that is as French as cognac and as easy to teke! There is nothing ponderous or melodramatic, about this RKORadio Pictures’ adaptation of Benn W. Levy’s adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's successful French play. It is the essence of absurdity made important by expert mood juggling, brittle lines and superlative acting. John Barrymore has the title role, that of Auguste Topaze, a French schoolmaster. Incredibly honest and altogether lacking any mood tor adventure, even mentally, he is constantly bewildered by the sophistication about him. Then chance takes him very suddenly from the schoolroom to the position of consulting chemist and head of the Latour Chemical Works with a mineral water of his own formula named after him —“Sparkling Topaze.” You laugh with a tear in your eye as you see him in the midst of gold and crystal cafes and spun glass boudoirs. His innocence is evident when, after seeing his first movie—a picture called “Women of Passion”—he observes that he never imagined people comported themselves in that manner, and he didn’t quite understand how the title fitted. But poor Topaze! He also finds he is a principal actor in a great fraud being practised on the public. “Sparkling Topaze” is alive with germs, but the profits are enormous. His honesty is up in arms! He also discovers that the enchanting and beautiful Coco, whom he admired, respected and thought no evil of, is the mistress of Baron de Latour-Latour, the arch conspirator. Thon his chivalry is assaulted! If a. worm can turn, it can also discover that the creed of “honesty is the best policy” can be reversed. Tt isn’t long before Topaze is a more impudent scoundrel than his teachers and has even stolen the baron’s mistress. Myrna Loy is delightful as the siren, who is almost as eaive as Topaze. for she really believes tho baron intends to marry her. “Topaze” is a treat to eye, ear and one’s love for really clever comedy drama, something too seldom found in entertainment these days.

Included in the excellent supporting programme is another of those Walt Disney cartoons in colours which mol with unqualified approval of Saturday night’s largo audience.