Topkapi (United Artists) (1964)

Publicity Stull T-15 Mat 2A Academy Award winner Maximilian Schell plays a suave jewel thief in Jules Dassin’s suspense comedy, “Topkapi,” a United Artists release. The film, which also stars Melina Mercouri and Peter Ustinov, will open ............ at the i.ce 3 Theatre. It was filmed in color on location in Turkey, Greece and France. Academy Award Winner Schell Plays Master Jewel Thief Academy Award winner Maximilian Schell continues his international film starring triumphs with the role of a master jewe thief in Jules Dassin’s “Topkapi,” Openings... at theten: ee Theatre, through United Artists release. In color, the comedy costars Melina Mercouri and Peter Ustinov. Star of a dozen films in Europe and America, of television and the stage, Schell gained his greatest fame as the German defense attorney in “Judgment at Nuremberg” for which he won a Hollywood “Oscar.” On the stage he recently played the title role of “Hamlet” in a German stage production . . . and he has performed also as a concert pianist. A writer as well as an actor, he has penned several plays. In 1938, when the Schell family fled from the Nazis, Max was eight years old. They remained in Switzerland, where young Schell graduated from the University of Zurich with degrees in Philosophy and in History of Art. Throughout school he was active in dramatics and helped pay his way with occasional stage roles as well as by such sundry sidelines as playing professional soccer and working as a sports reporter for Swiss newspapers. He also found time to be a member of a champion Swiss rowing team. After graduation, Max concentrated on acting and in four years made a name for himself in Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria. Eventually he made his first screen appearance—for an American producer! Extremely popular with American audiences, his television appearances have included several Playhouse 90 shows, one of which became an Emmy award candidate. He starred opposite Julie Harris in “Turn the Key Deftly’ and filmed a three hour version. of “Hamlet.” His hobbies include tennis, skiing, fencing, rowing, cycling and swimming. 13 Changes Melina Mercouri has thirteen changes of costume in Jules Dassin’s “Topkapi,” ranging from modified harem pajamas to ermine evening wear But she told co-stars Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell that she is not fashion-conscious off-screen. The comedy, in color, opens ............ at theses ee Theatre, through United Artists release. PAGE 8 Tamiroff’s Secret For Fighting Age Akim Tamiroff has reversed a film star’s usual procedure of fighting age. He started his career looking old . . . and thirty years later he looks exactly the same. The reason: “I’ve grown into my lines,” he sighed, recalling his role in Jules Dassin’s “Topkapi,” opening ................ at these Theatre, through United Artists release. “Thirty years ago I played old men by painting heavy lines in my face, wearing a grey beard and stretching a ‘bald’ wig over my hair,” he told “Topkapi” costars Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell. “Nowadays I just come to work without shaving. Now the lines fit!” Born in Russia, Tamiroff studied drama at the Stanislavsky Theatre, made his debut at 16 and came to America with Stanislavsky in 1923. Later he worked with the Theatre Guild, married Tamara Shayne, did a_ series of flops on Broadway before coming to Hollywood where Gary Cooper recognized his talent and helped further his career. Tamiroff was twice nominated for Academy Awards for films made with Cooper: “The General Died at Dawn” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Stull T-59 Mat 1E Akim Tamiroff has an important role in Jules Dassin’s comedy about a gang of jewel thieves in Istanbul. ‘’Topkapi,” a United Artists release in color, stars Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinoy and Maximilian Schell. USTINOV FINDS BEING FUNNY IS VERY SERIOUS “Being funny is serious business,” says writer-producer-director-film star Peter Ustinov who plays one of the most comical roles of his varied career without cracking a smile—in Jules Dassin’s “Topkapi.” In color, the film co-stars Melina Mercouri and Maximilian Schell and opens ........ at the Theatre, through United Artists release. “The jokes are on me,” explains Ustinov. “I’m caught in the middle between the police and some jewel thieves. I must work for both against the other. The humor comes out of my character and the situation. I believe straightfaced humor is the soundest of all comedy. We laugh at what we fear. The laughter comes spontaneously, as a release from tension, in the happy realization that the misfortune being witnessed is not happening to us. “An indication of the seriousness of comedy can be seen in the high salaries of television gagwriters.” While Ustinov is best known as an actor, he thinks of himself primarily as a writer. As a writer he leans strongly toward humor— in his plays, films, books and many articles. But being a wit has dangers, he says. “T am haunted by people who are out on a wit-hunt. The real peril is to confuse wit with humor. People often think I am _ being witty when I am being serious. Sometimes this is distressing . . . but perhaps it emphasizes humor’s need of a serious side.” ) Still T-39 Peter Ustinov Mat 1C stellar roles with Melina Mercouri and shares Maximilian Schell in Jules Dassin’s “Topkapi,” which is slated to open. ............ at the See Theatre through United Artists release. It is filmed in color. Dassin’s ‘Topkapi’ To Open Locally (General Advance) “Topkapi,” a comedy about international jewel thieves, opens at the Theatre, through United Artists release. In color, the film was produced and directed by Jules Dassin (‘Never on Sunday,”) and stars Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell. Robert Morley and Akim Tamiroff co-star in the picture which was written for the screen by Monja Danischewsky, based on Eric Ambler’s novel, “The Light of Day.” Filmed in Turkey, Greece and Paris, the fast-moving movie finds Miss Mercouri hitting upon an idea to steal a sultan’s jeweled dagger. Schell, her confederate, stipulates that the job must be done entirely by amateurs who have no police records . . . and this leads to understandably _hilarious complications in an international suspense yarn spoofing international suspense yarns. The unique musical score is by Manos Hadjidakis and unusual! cinematography was achieved by Henri Alekan. “Topkapi” (it’s the name of the sultan’s palace) is A Filmways presentation. ‘Topkapi’, Dassin Comedy Suspense Film, Stars Mercouri, Ustinov and Schell “Topkapi,” opening ... at the (Production Story) Theatre, is a comedy about international jewel thieves which producer-director Jules Dassin (of “Never on Sunday” fame) filmed in Turkey, Greece and Paris, in color, for United Artists. release. Polished and sophisticated, with production values befitting a major epic, it stars Greek actress Melina Mercouri, who won the best actress award at Cannes for “Never on Sunday,” versatile English star Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell, who won an Oscar for his performance in “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Adapted from a novel by Eric Ambler, the setting for “Topkapi” is Istanbul, and Dassin filmed his movie mostly on location to capitalize on the _ splendid beauty of the ancient and _intriguing city. The screenplay, by Monja Danischewsky, was written there too, in order to picture accurately such colorful settings as Topkapi Palace, where a hilarious upsidedown robbery of a sultan’s jeweled dagger was filmed; the spires of St. Sophia Mosque and the busy Bosphorous — separating Europe from Asia. Following nine weeks in and around Istanbul, the company moved to the beautiful little harbor town of Kavala, Greece, for several days . . . and wound up with eleven weeks of interior shots at the Studio de Boulogne, in Paris. Turkish tourism officials cooperated heartily and gave Dassin nearly everything he wanted, including permission to shoot on the domed lead roof of Topkapi Palace, for which the film is named. The tourism people also were helpful in assembling Turkish-style wrestlers who oil themselves ritualistically before their bouts. Dassin’s 24 year old son Joe and 19 year old daughter Julie play small roles in the film, and of course so does Dassin himself. The director-producer says that the last time he appeared on screen, starring opposite Melina Mercouri in “Never on Sunday,” it was because he lacked sufficient budget for a male lead. This time, he says he just wanted to get into the act. Still T-6 Mat 2C Vibrant, exciting Melina Mercouri stars in a new Jules Dassin comedy about thieves, “Topkapi.’’ Her co-stars in the color film which is being released through United Artists are Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell. It opens Talented Melina Mercouri Stars in Dassin’s ‘Topkapi’ In her latest film for Jules Dassin, “Topkapi,” beautiful, talented and high spirited Melina Mercouri continues her versatile acting career portraying an over amorous woman who participates in a daring jewel robbery. Co-starring with Peter Ustinov, Maximilian Schell, Robert Morley and Akim Tam iroff, Miss Mercouri’s remarkable performance can be seen starting at the Theatre, when the color comedy opens through United Artists release. The role in “Topkapi” follows her performances in “Phaedra” and in “Never on Sunday,” which won her the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Melina was born in Athens, the daughter of Stamatis Mercouris, a member of the Greek Parliament who has been Minister of Interior several times. Her grandfather, who was mayor of Athens for 30 years, named her Melina for the Greek word for honey, meli. In school Melina mastered French, German and English and became interested in politics . but her greatest passion was the theatre. Her family tried to dissuade her from this career, but when she was seventeen she enrolled in a drama course. Upon graduation she made her debut on the Athenian stage and after a succession of small parts her break came with the leading role in Eugene O’Neill’s “Mourning Becomes Electra.” She went on to star in several more serious plays in her home town before appearing in Paris. In 1954, shortly after she had returned from France to Greece, Melina was given the starring role in “Stella,” by Michel Cacoyannis. She first worked with Dassin when he chose her to play the key role of Mary Magdalene in “He Who Must Die.” Later, when Dassin directed “The Law,” he again gave Melina an important role. Between those films she went to England to star in “The Gypsy and the Gentleman.” Upon her return to Greece, Melina scored in Tennessee Williams’ play, “Sweet Bird of Youth,” after which Dassin cast her in “Never on Sunday” the smash hit which had the whole world whistling and humming haunting “Children of Piraeus.” “Phaedra” followed, and now her latest and most off-beat role to date, that of Maximilian Schell’s lady-friend in “Topkapi.” Still T-28 Bel rt tin at the ............ Theatre. ‘Oscar’ Winner Pens Music for ‘Topkapi’ The exciting music for “Topkapi,” opening at the See tee Theatre, through United Artists release, was written and conducted by Manos Hadjidakis . . who won the Academy Award for his extraordinarily successful “Never on Sunday” title tune. Starring Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov, Maximilian Schell, Robert Morley and Akim Tamiroff, “Topkapi” is a tongue-in-cheek comedy about international jewel thieves, set in France, Turkey and Greece. The Greek composer’s way with music is often considered just short of enchantment. “Children of Piraeus,” which he composed as part of the score for “Never on Sunday,” zoomed to the top of the top-ten almost immediately and an entire nation whistled and hummed it for over a year. Over 100 recordings were made of it. Mat 2D Master crook Maximilian Schell tells his fellow thieves Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov, Robert Morley, Gilles Segal and Jess Hahn, just how he plans to pull the jewel robbery of the century. “Topkapi,” produced and directed by Jules Dassin, in color, will open at the release. Theatre through United Artists