Topkapi (film)
Topkapi is a 1964 heist film made by Filmways Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by American Jules Dassin. The film is based on Eric Ambler's novel The Light of Day (1962), adapted as a screenplay by Monja Danischewsky. The music score was by Manos Hadjidakis, the cinematography by Henri Alekan and the costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge.
The film stars Melina Mercouri (Dassin's wife), Maximilian
Schell, Peter Ustinov, Robert Morley, Akim Tamiroff and Gilles Ségal.
Taglines (where the jewels are!)
Cast
Melina Mercouri - Elizabeth Lipp
Peter Ustinov - Arthur Simon
Simpson
Maximilian Schell - Walter Harper
Robert Morley - Cedric Page
Jess Hahn - Hans Fisher, Giulio's Holder
Gilles Ségal - Giulio
the Human Fly
Akim Tamiroff - Gerven the Cook
Titos Vandis - Harback
(as Titos Wandis)
Ege Ernart - Maj. Ali Tufan, Turkish Security Service
Senih Orkan - First Shadow
Ahmet Danyal Topatan - Second Shadow
Joseph
Dassin - Josef
Despo Diamantidou - Voula
Plot
Arthur Simon Simpson (Peter Ustinov) is a lazy middle-aged small-time crook biding his time in Kavala, Greece. He works as a tout, accosting tourists at the airport, selling them cheap souvenirs, offering his services as a driver and, given the chance, stealing their valuables. One of his potential victims, however, turns out to be a gentleman crook (Maximilian Schell) planning to steal the emerald-encrusted dagger of the Ottoman sultans from Istanbul's Topkapi Museum where it is exposed for tourists to admire. He introduces himself to Simpson as Walter Harper and his attractive companion (Melina Mercouri) as Elizabeth Lipp and hires him to drive his American limousine from Athens to Istanbul -- alone.
At the Turkish border Simpson is arrested when firearms are found hidden in the car. The Turkish Secret Police suspect the "tourists" to be revolutionaries planning a coup d'etat (see also History of Turkey) and release Simpson only on condition that he become one of their agents. From then on, Simpson has to spy on Harper, Lipp and the people they meet in Istanbul. Eventually Simpson is hired by Harper, too -- not just as their driver but also as a member of the gang. While all this is happening, Simpson, who is a coward longing for his peaceful life back in Kavala, has no idea what exactly they are planning. When the big day finally comes, Simpson, who is afraid of heights, almost has to back out because his job involves climbing the roof of the museum.
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