Directed by:
Jules DassinCinematography:
Henri AlekanCast:
Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov, Maximilian Schell, Robert Morley, Jess Hahn, Akim Tamiroff, Titos Vandis, Gilles Ségal, Joe Dassin, Amy Dalby, Faik Coşkun (more)Plots(1)
Thought by many to be the inspiration for the TV series Mission: Impossible, Jules Dassin's comedy-thriller follows a group of art thieves as they plot and plan to rob a jewelled dagger from the fortress-like Topkapi Palace museum in sun-soaked Istanbul. With an international cast and a screenplay written by ex-Ealing stalwart Monja Danischewsky, Topkapi is one of the great comic-exotic heist movies. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (1)
Topkapi felt somewhat outdated. The running time was too long for what the plot had to offer. The perfect Swiss plan was not complex enough to require so much time, and the creators decided to fill the gaps by showing the beauties of Istanbul and Turkish folklore, which I couldn't find it in me to appreciate. Instead of enjoying the clever tricks of seasoned thugs, I was sometimes brought to the edge of sleep. Credit goes to Peter Ustinov, whose performance was the only one I found entertaining throughout. 3*-
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