Topkapi - Thriller - 1964

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Цитата:
Topkapi (1964) is a heist film made by Filmways Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by an American film director, Jules Dassin. The film is based on Eric Ambler's novel The Light of Day (1962), adapted as a screenplay by Monja Danischewsky.

The film stars Melina Mercouri (who later became Dassin's wife), Maximilian Schell, Peter Ustinov, Robert Morley, Akim Tamiroff and Gilles S&#233;gal.

The music score was by Manos Hadjidakis, the cinematography by Henri Alekan and the costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge.

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 harbour, selling them cheap souvenirs, offering his services as a guide. One of his potential victims, however, turns out to be a gentleman thief (Maximilian Schell) planning to steal the emerald-encrusted dagger of Sultan Mahmud I from Istanbul's Topkap&#305; Museum, where it is on display in a glass-enclosed case 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 luxury convertible from northern Greece into Turkey and deliver it to a hotel in Istanbul.

At the Turkish border, Simpson is arrested when firearms are found hidden in the car. The Turkish Secret Police suspect the "tourists" to be terrorists plotting an assassination and release Simpson only on condition that he become one of their agents. From then on, Simpson has to spy on Harper, Lipp and everyone else they meet in Istanbul. Simpson eventually joins the gang to replace an injured member who was vital to executing the theft. He admits his role as a police agent, but Harper agrees to make him a part of the plot.

While all this is happening, Simpson, a coward longing for his less dangerous life back in Kavala, has no idea what exactly they are planning. When the big day finally comes, Simpson, who is afraid of heights, panics because his job involves climbing to the roof of the museum. But he summons the nerve to carry on, and he and Harper's gang of thieves go through with the robbery—with a quite unexpected result.

Production

Ambler's novel is different from the movie on several counts. For example, in the book there are frequent flashbacks in which Simpson's school days back in England are described, which explains his character and motives more clearly than in the film.

Although he played one of the leading parts, Peter Ustinov won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Arthur Simpson. In an interview given on Ustinov's death in 2004, Maximilian Schell surmised that this may have been due to the misconception that playing a servant could only be done in a supporting role.

The film was shot in Paris at the Studios Boulogne-Billancourt, and on location in Istanbul, Turkey.

Цитата:
Режиссер: Жюль Дассен /Jules Dassin/

В ролях: Мелина Меркури /Melina Mercouri/, Максимилиан Шелл /Maximilian Schell/, Роберт Морли /Robert Morley/, Питер Устинов /Peter Ustinov/, Жиль Сегал /Gilles Segal/, Аким Тамирофф /Akim Tamiroff/, Джо Дассен.

В ролях: Мелина Меркури /Melina Mercouri/, Максимилиан Шелл /Maximilian Schell/, Роберт Морли /Robert Morley/, Питер Устинов /Peter Ustinov/, Жиль Сегал /Gilles Segal/, Аким Тамирофф /Akim Tamiroff/, Джо ДАССЕН.

О фильме: Питер Устинов ("Спартак", "Холостяк") и Максимилиан Шелл ("Жанна д`Арк", "Гибель на вулкане Кракатау") в авантюрной комедии "Кинжал Топкапи".

В Турции, в Стамбуле, в суперохраняемом дворце бывшего султана, который теперь называется музеем Топкапи, находится бесценный древний кинжал ювелирной работы, стоимость которого превышает все мыслимые и немыслимые пределы.

Понятное дело, что находятся безбашенные авантюристы, которые решают завладеть сокровищем. Они разрабатывают гениальный план ограбления и поэтапно начинают претворять его в жизнь…

Бесподобно снятые натуралистические сцены операции, позже копировал Том Круз в своем легендарном фильме "Миссия невыполнима"...

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