Topkapi [1964]

The performances are uniformly excellent with Peter Ustinov and Robert Morley stealing their various scenes with gems of comic acting. The film itself is nicely structured and plot generates a good deal of suspense as the actual robbery itself takes place.

The film has not dated badly and due to the expertise of all concerned and the sheer eccentricity of some of the characters it retains a freshness that many other sixties heist movies don't.


"You're foreign?" "No, I'm English."   December 8, 2007
Trevor Willsmer (London, England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Ripped off by Mission: Impossible, long on Pierce Brosnan's remake slate as an intended sequel to his version of The Thomas Crown Affair and intended by director Jules Dassin as a send-up of his classic heist movie Riffifi, Topkapi is a genuinely enjoyable comic caper movie despite a surfeit of reasons why it shouldn't work. Like Eartha Kitt, a little of Melina Mercouri goes a long way (even more so a surprisingly unfunny and irritating Akim Tamiroff), but the rest of the cast - which includes Maximilian Schell and Robert Morley - are on good form. Peter Ustinov is a particular delight as local historian, guide and schmo Arthur Simon Simpson, a carbuncle on the backside of humanity the crooks literally rope into being an accomplice in their ingenious high wire jewel robbery. With good location work, gorgeous rich Sixties colour, a catchy score by Manos Hadjidakis and a sense of fun, it has worn a lot better than most of its Sixties contemporaries. Best line: "You're foreign?" "No, I'm English."