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7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Topaze remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a stage play—where the dialogue does all the heavy lifting—you’ll probably dig Topaze. It is not for people who need constant movement or big, loud set pieces. If you get annoyed by characters who are too pathetic, you might want to skip this one because the lead spends a good chunk of the movie being a complete doormat.
Honestly, the first twenty minutes felt a little slow. It’s just this guy, Topaze, being so incredibly good-natured that you want to reach through the screen and shake him. He’s the kind of guy who probably thanks the person who steps on his toes.
Then the movie flips. Seeing him realize that the world doesn't reward 'good' people is genuinely satisfying. It’s not some grand, epic transformation; it’s just him getting tired of being the butt of the joke.
Louis Jouvet is just fantastic here. He has this way of blinking when he’s processing a lie that is hilarious. You can practically hear the gears turning in his head as he realizes he can actually get away with being a jerk. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Three Cornered Moon, but way more calculating.
The cinematography is… well, it’s functional. It’s not trying to win any awards for lighting, that’s for sure. Most of it is just static shots of people talking in rooms. But honestly? The script is sharp enough that I stopped noticing the lack of camera movement after a while.
It’s not a perfect film. Sometimes the pacing drags when it tries to explain the business plot, which honestly doesn't matter as much as the character work. Who cares about the scheme? Just show me more of him being terrible at being a bad guy.
It’s a neat little time capsule. It feels much lighter than the heavy dramas you might see from that era, like Hunted People. It’s got a bit of a mean streak, which I appreciate. 🎥