Topkapi (1964)

Nominated for 1 Academy Award:

Best Supporting Actor: Peter Ustinov (WON)

 

Peter Ustinov won his second Oscar for this heist film about thieves planning to steal a precious dagger from a museum in Istanbul. He is good, very expressive and brings the comedy to the film, creating maybe the only relatable character from the movie, but it’s just as fair to say he is in fact a lead in the film and not supporting. So, there is some category fraud going on, but he’s still great.

Unfortunately, the film doesn’t rise to his level. Melina Mercouri (the director’s wife for that matter) feels mostly miscast as a nymphomaniac obsessed with jewels. Why she is obsessed or why she needs to steal the dagger we don’t know. She’s also lacking in chemistry with Maximilian Schell, in a light performance as I haven’t seen from him before, but bringing little to a dry role. There are moments of good storytelling in the film, but the premise is better than the actual result.

 

I give it: 6.5/10

IMDB LINK