Topkapi (1964)

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writers:

Eric Ambler (novel)
Monja Danischewsky (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 September 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

(where the jewels were!)

Plot:

Caper film about the theft of a jeweled dagger from an Istanbul museum.

Plot Keywords:

Heist Movie | Great Expectations | Caper | Heist | Acrobat

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Sept. 10

12:00 AM

TCM

Cast

Melina Mercouri	...	Elizabeth Lipp
Peter Ustinov	...	Arthur Simon Simpson
Maximilian Schell	...	Walter Harper
Robert Morley	...	Cedric Page
Jess Hahn	...	Hans Fisher
Gilles Ségal	...	Giulio the Human Fly
Akim Tamiroff	...	Gerven the Cook
Titos Vandis	...	Harback (as Titos Wandis)
Ege Ernart	...	Maj. Ali Tufan
Senih Orkan	...	First Shadow
Ahmet Danyal Topatan	...	Second Shadow
Joseph Dassin	...	Josef
Despo Diamantidou	...	Voula

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Turkish | German | Greek | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Ireland:G | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Istanbul, Turkey

Company:

Filmways Pictures

Trivia:

Six weeks after the release of Topkapi, a similar, real-life heist took place at a New York City museum. Although 22 gems were stolen, they were recovered within 48 hours.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Elizabeth returns to her seat at the wrestling match, Hans (who previously injured both hands) passes her a magazine in an unbandaged hand. A few minutes later both his hands are again heavily bandaged.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elizabeth Lipp: It can be done! That's the way it can be done! Aaah... oh, excuse me; I've just had a great idea - something I've been looking for a long time... a very long time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Vradya epitheorisis: (#1.14)" (1984)

Mission Impossible

One of the most entertaining heist films of all time. Full of original ideas, smartly written and joyfully directed. And, if all that wasn't enough, Peter Ustinov! He won his second Oscar as best supporting actor for this creation - an unsuccessful small time crook, intelligent enough to know that he's not intelligent enough - without country and without future. Ustinov soars. He is surrounded by a group of Euro-heavy weights, Melina Mercouri, Maximilian Schell, Robert Morley, Akim Tammiroff. The suspense, fun filled entrance to the Topkapi museum was stolen and disguised with a multi dollar budget by Brian De Palma and his accomplices in the first Mission Impossible without being able to duplicate the suspense, the fun, the humanity or the innocence of the proceedings. The locations are another treat, the music, the costumes and the honesty with which the dishonesty of the characters is portrayed. A true delight.