Topaze (1933)

A corrupt and powerful but wealthy businessman (Reginald Mason) hires a meek and naive academic (John Barrymore) to front his latest product ... a supposed health tonic which is nothing but water. Based on the play by Marcel Pagnol and directed by D'Abbadie D'Arrast. John Barrymore has a reputation as a great stage actor, one of the greatest of his generation. But his film performances often tend to be generous slices of ham. In TOPAZE, his acting is quite understated and we can see why he earned his reputation as a great actor. The screenplay by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur (THE FRONT PAGE) is intelligent and effective and as one of the last films of the pre-code era, it's quite adult. The relationship between the married Mason and his mistress (Myrna Loy) isn't just suggested, it's out in the open. There's a lot of charm and bite here as the film examines morality facing an uphill climb in a corrupt society. With Jackie Searl and Jobyna Howland.