1964's Topkapi is an odd film. Starting with a psychedelic opening in which a character breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the audience, a device which is never seen again, the film then vacillates between a heist film and a farce before finally settling in as a serious heist film (with an admittedly farcical epilogue). The story involves a thief (Melina Mercouri) who recruits an old partner and lover (Maximilian Schell) and a collection of amateurs for a risky heist in Istanbul. Their plan relies, in part, on smuggling the tools needed into the country through the use of unaware small-time hustler Arthur Simpson (Peter Ustinov).
The comedy comes from the cops finding the materials hidden within the car and detaining Simpson (who they mistakenly believe to be a terrorist). Letting Simpson go to spy for them, the hustler finds ways to stick around the gang (who the authorities remain convinced are terrorists planning an assassination). Eventually Simpson and the crew put their cards on the table, agree to work together (while still feeding the police with misinformation), and preparation for the heist beings in earnest.
Despite the shifts in tone, Topkapi is an enjoyable enough film with the comedy coming through in the middle of the film and a pretty solid heist sequence involving the crew's break-in at the museum in the final act. The film is notable for Ustinov's performance which won him an Academy Award and for inspiring the original Mission: Impossible television show which would hit airwaves just two years later.
The new Blu-ray release includes a new 4K restoration of the movie, commentary from historian Julie Kirgo and filmmaker Peter Hankoff, and the original trailer for Topkapi.
- Title: Topkapi
- IMDb: link
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