This week’s mystery movie was the 1933 RKO picture Topaze, with John Barrymore, Myrna Loy, Reginald Mason, Jobyna Howland, Jackie Searl, Albert Conti, Frank Reicher and Luis Alberni.
Screenplay by Ben Hecht. From the adaptation by Benn W. Levy of the play by Marcel Pagnol.
Associate producer Kenneth MacGowan.
Photographed by Lucien Andriot.
Continuity by Charles Lederer.
Art direction by Van Nest Polglase.
Interiors by Hobe Erwin.
Music director Max Steiner.
Recorded by D.A. Cutler.
Edited by William Hamilton.
Directed by D’Abbadie D’Arrast.
Produced by David O. Selznick.
More on the history of the film is available from the AFI catalog.
Topaze is available on Blu-ray from Critics’ Choice Videos.
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Topaze was a pleasant surprise. I chose it on the basis of trade reviews and was pleased to discover that John Barrymore wasn’t his usual mannered, leering, over-the-top self.
And, yes, it is a Pre-Code. And how!
Topaze was adapted from a Broadway play (with Frank Morgan in the title role), so I’m guessing the New York Times (Mordaunt Hall?) liked it.
Yes, it’s Mordaunt Hall! (Feb. 10, 1933):
John Barrymore is the leading figure in the pictorial translation of Marcel Pagnol’s play Topaze, which is now at the Radio City Music Hall. Notwithstanding differences in mood and action from the original work as it was offered on Broadway, it is an agreeable and effective film, and Mr. Barrymore lends no little artistry to the role of the benign Professor Auguste Topaze, a part played with rare skill on the stage by Frank Morgan.
For Monday, we have a mystery lad.
Update: This is Jackie Searl.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious gentleman and Back of the Head Guy, who will appear later in the week.
Update: This is Luis Alberni with Reginald Mason as Back of the Head guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery lad), Tim Doherty (Monday’s mystery lad), Mary Mallory (Monday’s mystery lad), Sheila (Monday’s mystery lad) and Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery lad).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
This is John Barrymore in a false beard and glasses.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery fellow and Back of the Head Guy), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guest and Back of the Head Guy, Incredibleinman (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Megan and Thom (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery lad and Tuesday’s mystery fellow) and Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery fellow).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mystery fellow.
Update: This is Reginald Mason.
And also this mystery woman. And mysterious dog. She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Jobyna Howland.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie with all mystery guests), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Benito (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
For Friday, we have our mysterious leading man without his false beard and pince-nez.
Update: This is John Barrymore, sans fake beard and glasses. Photobombed by Myrna Loy.
Also our leading lady.
Update: This is Myrna Loy looking especially lovely.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Jackie Searl in TOPAZE (1933).
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Jackie Searl
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Jackie Searl.
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Jackie Searle?
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Jackie Searl.
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THE WORLD CHANGES?
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An interesting guess, but alas….
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Luis Alberni, Reginald Mason.
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TOPAZE. Luis Alberni and REginald Mason.
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Luis Alberni today.
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Lloyd Nolan
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Alas, I’m afraid not….
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Luis Alberni in STRICTLY DYNAMITE.
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Today’s guest is Luis Alberni in, I think, Hats Off.
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Jackie Searl, Luis Alberni…in Topaze.
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Luis Alberni for Tuesday.
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John Barrymore.
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John Barrymore.
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For Monday we have Jackie Searl; for Tuesday, Luis Alberni, for Wednesday, John Barrymore. The movie is “Topaze.”
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John Barrymore in TOPAZE.
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John Barrymore in Topaze (1933), with Jackie Searl on Monday, and Luis Alberni (and Reginald Mason, perhaps, as BOTH guy) on Tuesday
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Our movie is Topaze, with John Barrymore for today.
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The ubiquitous Luis Alberni (173 actor credits on imdb). PS I know that little squirt from somewhere…
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I know it’s not but Tuesday’s mystery man looks like William Jennings Bryan.
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That would be interesting!
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Jackie Searl and John Barrymore in TOPAZE 1933
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Maybe “Once Upon a Time”
Ted Donaldson, John Abbott
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Reginald Mason and Jobyna Howland.
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Ah, TOPAZE! John Barrymore’s favorite among his own films.
Monday — Jackie Searl
Tuesday — Luis Alberni
Wednesday — Barrymore himself!
Thursday — Albert Conti, Jobyna Howland
And Myrna Loy not far behind . . .
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Reginald Mason; Jobyna Howland.
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Reginald Mason and Jobyna Howland.
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Topaze 1933
Didn’t have much time this week, but even if I had, I had no clue. Didn’t recognize “the Great Profile” at all until Howard’s comment today. Didn’t recognize anyone else either. Ms Loy has not yet arrived, so no go there. Watched some clips on the TCM site. Cute little story. There is a mention in some notes I read, that the trades of the time indicated that Robert Benchley was being brought in to punch up the dialogue – but he’s not in the credits. Wonder if Jenny will know more about that. She’s a Benchley fan, too.
Anyway, thanks to you and Howard for the hints. Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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Myrna Loy in photo with John Barrymore and by herself.
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Myrna Loy and a cleaned up John Barrymore.
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John B. and Myrna Loy.
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Topaze, 1933 with Myrna Loy and John Barrymore.
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