Topaz - 3rd version (1950)

Topaze: scene with Fernandel (Topaze), Marcel Vallé (Mr. Muche), and Milly Mathis (Mrs the Baroness).

Synopsis

A teacher at the Muche boarding school, Topaze, a lousy tutor unable to cheat on the grades of rich dunces, is fired. Reduced to unemployment, he gives private lessons to the nephew of Suzy Courtois, a semi-mondaine… He then becomes aware of the vanity of his educational mission and becomes a cynical scoundrel…

Technical data

Genre: Comedy
Duration: 2h15
Direction, script and dialogues: Marcel Pagnol after his play Topaze
Assistant director: François Gir
Sets: Hugues Laurent, Roger Jodelay and Robert Giordani for the models
Costumes and dresses by Hélène Perdrière: Schiaparelli
Photography: Philippe Agostini
Cameraman: Jean-Marie Maillols, assisted by Pierre Ancrenoy and Clément Maure
Editing: Monique Lacombe, assisted by Jacqueline Bultez
Music: Raymond Legrand
Sound: Marcel Royné, assisted by Barthelmy and Henry Girbal
Production manager: Jean Martinetti
Make-up: Nicole Bouban and Ralph
Set photographer: Igor Kalinine
Assistant editor: Jacqueline Bultez
Scriptwriter: Régine Hernou
Production Secretary: Annette Millet-Julian
Director: Marcel Bryau and Georges Baze
Outside director: Géo Saudry
Accessory designer: Dubouilh and Max Lecointre
Production company: Les Films Marcel Pagnol
Shooting: Franstudio in Saint-Maurice

Distribution

Fernandel: Albert Topaze, teacher at the Muche boarding house
Hélène Perdrière: Suzy Courtois
Marcel Vallée: Mr. Muche, the director of the boarding house; Marcel Vallée played the same role 18 years earlier in the adaptation by Louis J. Gasnier.
Jacqueline Pagnol: Ernestine Muche, her daughter
Pierre Larquey: Thames, a teacher; Pierre Larquey played the same role 18 years earlier in the adaptation by Louis J. Gasnier.
Jacques Morel: Régis de Castel-Vernac
Jacques Castelot: Roger Gaëtan de Bersac
Milly Mathis: the baroness of Pitart-Vergniolles
Yvette Etiévant: the typist of Topaze
Robert Moor: the venerable old man
Rivers Cadet: the police officer
Marcel Loche: a servant
Georges Montal