About this episode
The episode discusses Peter Sellers' directorial feature Mr Topaze, exploring its themes and historical context.
This week we're discussing Peter Sellers' only directorial feature, Mr Topaze from 1961. Sellers plays Albert Topaze, an earnest, impoverished schoolteacher in provincial France whose rigid honesty ultimately proves his undoing. He teaches under the status-obsessed headmaster Muche (Leo McKern) and is in love with Muche’s daughter Ernestine (Billie Whitelaw). Living modestly with his colleague and friend Tamise (Michael Gough), Topaze supplements his income through private tutoring. His integrity leads to his dismissal when he refuses to falsify a report, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation. He is soon drawn into the orbit of the glamorous Suzy Courtois (Nadia Gray) and her corrupt associate Castel Benac (Herbert Lom), who install him as the front for their fraudulent business dealings. Initially oblivious, Topaze is horrified when he learns the truth, but agrees to continue in order to protect Suzy. Joining Tyler this week to chat about the film's background, themes and ultimate re-evaluation after decades languishing in obscurity is Vic Pratt of the BFI https://www.bfi.org.uk/profile/vic-pratt
People in this episode
Guest: Vic Pratt
Topics covered
- film analysis
- Peter Sellers
- directorial debut
- honesty and integrity
- manipulation
- French cinema
- character study
Keywords
- Mr Topaze
- Peter Sellers
- 1961 film
- French cinema
- film review
- character analysis
- integrity
- manipulation
- BFI
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BFI
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