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Topkapi

Released Sep 17, 1964 2h 0m Mystery & Thriller Comedy List
95% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Beautiful thief Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) and criminal genius Walter Harper (Maximilian Schell) put together a plan to steal an emerald-encrusted dagger from Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. As part of their crew, they hire small-time hustler Arthur Simon Simpson (Peter Ustinov) to act as their fall guy. When the Turkish secret police capture Simpson at the border, they persuade him to spy on his partners in crime, mistakenly believing that they're Communist agents plotting an assassination.
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Topkapi

Critics Reviews

View All (20) Critics Reviews
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader The story never quite adds up, but with help from Ustinov and Robert Morley, Dassin conjures up a superior light entertainment. Mar 3, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Ustinov has probably the meatiest part in the film and one that allows him to use many of the unsubtleties in dominating scenes he has at his command. Mar 3, 2008 Full Review Time Out It's a far cry from his classic American thrillers or his brilliant British noir, Night and the City. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Merl Edelman Los Angeles Free Press It's strictly entertainment, but Peter Ustinov and Robert Morley are worth it for fun even without the ingenious jewel robbery around which this colorful spoof focuses. Feb 5, 2020 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times The film combines sparkling dialogue with moments of unbearable tension. Rated: 4/5 Aug 8, 2017 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jules Dassin's popular heist comedy-adventure is an enjoyable film, boasting an international cast headed by wife Melina Mercouri and Oscar-winner Peter Ustinov. Rated: B+ Jul 28, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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CodyZamboni Amusing comedic heist movie set in Turkey. I liked the colorful characters and the smart clever robbery planning, as the thieves try to outwit the authorities. Peter Ustinov has the stand out comedic peformance as an unlikely member of the gang that plans to steal a jeweled dagger. The silent heist is fun and intense, and obvious direct influence for a smiliar scene in the first Mission Impossible movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/03/24 Full Review Alec B An enormously fun heist movie. Ustinov is perfectly disheveled and those final 30 minute or so are unbelievably tense. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review jpdanzig One of my favorite movies of all time. Why many consider Dassin's "Rififi" superior to "Topkapi" is a mystery to me. This has it all: humor, suspense, great characters, beautiful scenery, outstanding score. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/23 Full Review Audience Member An enormously fun heist movie. Ustinov is perfectly disheveled and those final 30 minute or so are unbelievably tense. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member An early 60's comedy-crime-heist movie that is a little dated. Slow start, but things improve with the arrival of Peter Ustinov. Good performance by Ustinov, but a weak performance by the female lead. The movie has a good enough plot premise, but many little things done poorly cause it to come up short. This one isn't in the same league as 'The Italian Job', which was made around the same time. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Ethan T Decent all-round if unremarkable. Good performances, with Ustinov standing out. The story moves easily and has many derivative moments, making it easy to follow but painstakingly slow at times. I think that some of the potential was lost in this respect, but the film could have been worse. As a heist film, it incorporates enough unique elements to deserve some credit, too. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/22/21 Full Review Read all reviews
Topkapi

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Cast & Crew

Topkapi

Topkapi: Official Clip - A Little Bird Told Me Topkapi: Official Clip - A Little Bird Told Me 2:27 Topkapi: Official Clip - Stealing the Dagger Topkapi: Official Clip - Stealing the Dagger 3:02 Topkapi: Official Clip - The Floor-Mounted Alarm Topkapi: Official Clip - The Floor-Mounted Alarm 2:13 Topkapi: Official Clip - A Nymphomaniac Topkapi: Official Clip - A Nymphomaniac 2:02 Topkapi: Official Clip - Sofa Bet Topkapi: Official Clip - Sofa Bet 2:24 Topkapi: Official Clip - The Heist Begins Topkapi: Official Clip - The Heist Begins 2:21 Topkapi: Official Clip - Wrestling Match Topkapi: Official Clip - Wrestling Match 1:28 Topkapi: Official Clip - Crossing the Roof Topkapi: Official Clip - Crossing the Roof 2:20 Topkapi: Official Clip - It Can Be Done! Topkapi: Official Clip - It Can Be Done! 2:12 Topkapi: Official Clip - A Clever Deduction Topkapi: Official Clip - A Clever Deduction 1:43 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Beautiful thief Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) and criminal genius Walter Harper (Maximilian Schell) put together a plan to steal an emerald-encrusted dagger from Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. As part of their crew, they hire small-time hustler Arthur Simon Simpson (Peter Ustinov) to act as their fall guy. When the Turkish secret police capture Simpson at the border, they persuade him to spy on his partners in crime, mistakenly believing that they're Communist agents plotting an assassination.
Director
Jules Dassin
Producer
Jules Dassin
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Filmways Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 17, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 0m
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