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Topkapi

Play trailer Poster for Topkapi 1964,  2h 0m,  Mystery & Thriller/ Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 95% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 67% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 67% 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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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Mar 3, 2008
The story never quite adds up, but with help from Ustinov and Robert Morley, Dassin conjures up a superior light entertainment. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 3, 2008
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. Go to Full Review
Time Out Feb 9, 2006
It's a far cry from his classic American thrillers or his brilliant British noir, Night and the City. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 30, 2024
3/4
Whereas Dassin's Rififi is a lean, mean French noir, Topkapi is an effervescent, English-language lark, with Dassin this time opting for sunshine instead of shadows. Go to Full Review
Merl Edelman Los Angeles Free Press Feb 5, 2020
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. Go to Full Review
David Parkinson Radio Times Aug 8, 2017
4/5
The film combines sparkling dialogue with moments of unbearable tension. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Theodore S Jan 1, 2018 Nice plotting. And that heist scene!!!!!!!
George R Dec 2, 2016 Topkapi maybe the perfect cinematic experience: a technically precise entertainment that balances hearty laughs and unbearable tension to improve on Jules Dassin's earlier "Rififi" by merely upping the characterization. See more
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Topkapi

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Cast & Crew

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Jules Dassin

Director

Melina Mercouri

Elizabeth Lipp

Peter Ustinov

Arthur Simon Simpson

Maximilian Schell

Walter Harper

Robert Morley

Cedric Page

Akim Tamiroff

Gerven

Movie Clips

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Topkapi

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

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Topkapi

Topkapi (1964) Topkapi (1964) View more photos

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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