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Previously filmed twice in 1933, Marcel Pagnol's satirical stage comedy Topaze was again adapted to the screen in 1936, this time with Pagnol himself as director (he would have directed the first version, but was contractually prohibited from doing so). This time around, Arnaudy stars as M. Topaze, the incorruptible schoolteacher who loses his job when he refuses to pass the unruly son of a wealthy and powerful businessman. Topaze decides to apply his intelligence and integrity to the world of business, only to discover that he's as susceptible to corruption as the next man. But though he loses his "soul," he gains the love of the beautiful mistress (Delia-Col) of his ex-business partner. Pagnol later directed the fourth version of Topaze in 1951, this one starring Fernandel.