Mr. Topaze (1961)

An honest and incorruptible schoolteacher (Peter Sellers) at a private school is fired from his position when he refuses to alter a student's grade at the behest of the head (Leo McKern) of the school. A corrupt government official (Herbert Lom) and his mistress (Nadia Gray) then seduce the naive schoolmaster into unknowingly fronting their crooked business. Based on the play by Marcel Pagnol and directed by Peter Sellers in his only feature film as a director. Pagnol's play had been filmed twice before in 1933 in both an American (with John Barrymore) and French (with Louis Jouvet) versions. It's a rather cynical piece on an honest man in a corrupt society who eventually gives in to it rather than fight it. Sellers' direction doesn't display much flair but instead dutifully goes through the paces which leaves the film on the dry side. As an actor, Sellers is very restrained here which is appropriate for his character but his selling out happens too quickly. We don't get an opportunity to see the conflict within himself when he comes to his realization that nice guys finish last. With Billie Whitelaw (who has a subtle comic touch), Michael Gough, John Neville, Martita Hunt and John Le Mesurier.