BBBB.5
(out of 5)
Thrilling heist caper is right up there with Jules Dassin’s equally memorable Rififi, the setting a lot more colourful this time and the characters a hell of a lot loopier. A group of jaded thieves decide to combine efforts and steal a precious, jewel-engraved knife from the Topkapi museum in Istanbul. When a small-time con man (Peter Ustinov) gets involved, the police decide to sit on him until he rats his friends out. The police were originally suspecting arms smuggling, but thanks to Ustinov’s information get wind of something much more interesting than they imagined. Melina Mercouri is delightful in this adventure, one that reunites her with husband and Never On Sunday director Dassin, as well as Sunday’s composer Manos Hadjidakis.
USA, 1964
Directed by Jules Dassin
Screenplay by Monja Danischewsky, based on the novel The Light Of Day by Eric Ambler
Cinematography by Henri Alekan
Produced by Jules Dassin
Music by Manos Hatzidakis
Production Design by Jacques Douy
Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge
Film Editing by Roger Dwyre
Academy Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Peter Ustinov as “Arthur Simpson”)
Golden Globe Award Nominations
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Melina Mercouri)
Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Peter Ustinov
Excellent review, sounds like a fun film.