Topkapi

A few flashy artistic effects are going on during the prologue as Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) wanders around the gardens of Topkapi Palace. Istanbul 34122 in Turkey.

To the left stands the Audience Hall in the Third Courtyard, without the effects. (PW)

Small-time con man Arthur Simon Simpson (Peter Ustinov) and his lady friend, Voula (Despo Diamantidou), scan the harbour for likely targets. IMDb suggests Kavala, Greece . . .

. . . and Lesley Crowden confirms the location with this comparison.

Simpson hassles tourists to buy fake artifacts as they disembark from a ferry. Kavala in Greece.

Walter Harper (Maximilian Schell) and Elizabeth call to Simpson, asking him to meet them later. Kavala in Eastern Macedonia.

Elizabeth hires Simpson to drive a car into Turkey. Kavala once again.

Simpson sets off for the border.

A sign points the way. Maybe real, possibly a prop but definitely an unidentified location.

Simpson drives towards Turkey. Manuel Gurtner tells us that this is certainly one of the Ottoman bridges that span the rivers at Edirne, near the border of Greece. Possibly the II. Bayezid Köprüsü as, in the background, the Yalnizgöz Köprüsü is visible.

At the border, the car is searched and arms are found. They are replaced in the vehicle and Simpson is allowed to continue on the understanding that he keeps in contact with the police.

An establishing shot of Istanbul where Galata Köprüsü (Galata Bridge) spans the Golden Horn with Manuel Gurtner recognising Yeni Camii (New Mosque) to the upper left and, in the upper right of the shot, Beyazıt Kulesi (Beyazıt Tower) rising near to the university.

From ground level with Karaköy tram stop on the right. (PW)

More shots of Istanbul as Simpson drives over Galata Köprüsü to meet with Cedric Page at the Hilton Hotel.

Traditional wooden houses are passed.

Arthur Simpson drives into the car park of the Istanbul Hilton and leaves the car with Page. Cumhuriyet Caddesi in the Harbiye district of Istanbul, Turkey.

Cedric Page (Robert Morley) is told by a Police Officer (Jules Dassin) that the car can only be driven by the person who entered the country with it. Istanbul Hilton, Harbiye, Istanbul.

After Simpson is found and retained as the car driver, he and Page go to meet the rest of the gang. Mabeynci Faik Bey Yali, nowadays at Yaliboyu Caddesi N° 42 identified by Manuel Gurtner.

Manuel also provides this image of the location now.

Gerven the Cook (Akim Tamiroff) complains to Harper and Hans Fisher (Jess Hahn) about having to wait at table. Behind the tree, the Hasip Pasha Yalisi can be seen. Location found by Manuel Gurtner.

Page, Harper, Hans, Giulio (Gilles Ségal) and Elizabeth change their plans to include Simpson. Unidentified location.

Simpson drives the gang towards Istanbul. Manuel advises that the 1962 Lincoln Continental crosses one of the hills of Üsküdar on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. In the middle background the two minarets of the Beylerbeyi Camii mosque are visible.

A following Police Officer (Ahmet Danyal Topatan) picks up a message from Simpson written on a discarded cigarette packet. On the horizon, on the shore of the Bosphorus, the bright white building of Kuleli Askeri Lisesi (Military High School) can be seen. Identification by Manuel Gurtner.

Josef (Joseph Dassin) sits by his waxwork of Sultan Mahmud I displaying an imitation emerald-encrusted dagger. Gülhane Parki (Gülhane Park) in the Eminönü district of Istanbul with Topkapi Palace in the left background.

The gang visit the fair. Gülhane Park with Ahirkapi Feneri lighthouse seen on the left.

You would think that Harper and Giulio were tourists! Outside the Dormitory of the Storemen in the Third Courtyard of Topkapi Sarayi.

Taken with permission to enter a currently restricted area. (PW)

Suspicious Major Ali Tufan (Ege Ernart) watches and tries to work out the criminals plan. Facing the Library of Ahmed II in the Third Courtyard of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

A wider view of the Library of Ahmed II. (PW)

After final observations, the gang depart. Within the Third Courtyard of Topkapi Palace. Istanbul 34122.

In an area undergoing restoration, the background doorway gives entry into Room of the Chief Physician. (PW)

Simpson in the driving seat again. An unknown location, and no Streetview in Istanbul to assist. JT wonders why they are going so fast . . . and to where are they heading?

To create an alibi, Simpson drives the gang to a wrestling match. An unconfirmed location.

The pehlivan prepare to wrestle as Harper, Simpson and Giulio slip from the stadium. Although JT believed that this was the stadium of Erneydani, far to the east of Istanbul, Manuel Gurtner has correctly advised that the location is Edirne, some 200km west of Istanbul and therefore its small wonder that the cops lost the gang! Thanks go to Manuel who adds that "Ermeydani Kirkpinar oil-wrestling stadium stands on the northern outskirts of Edirne and is located near the ancient tower called Adalet Kasri."

A museum guard counts the minutes until closing time. Facing the Gate of Salutation from the Second Courtyard of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

The gateway stands between the First and Second Courtyards. (PW)

The guard continues his round as the three robbers hide in the grounds.

The entrance to the Imperial Council in the Second Courtyard. (PW)

Whistles are blown and the museum visitors leave Topkapi Palace.

Looking towards the Gate of Salutation. (PW)

Harper, Simpson and Giulio prepare to emerge from their hiding place.

Facing south-west within the Third Courtyard. (PW)

The three make their way into the building and onto the roof.

Harper urges Simpson on when he hesitates.

When a guard appears in a courtyard, the robbers flatten themselves against the roof. Within the Harem at Topkapi Sarayi.

From ground level, this is the Paved Courtyard of the Sultan's Mother. (PW)

More running across the Palace rooftop.

Almost there but . . . . .

Looking up from outside the entrance to the Exterior Treasury in the Second Courtyard of Topkapi Palace. (PW)

. . . . . . Simpson's poor head for heights almost gets the better of him.

No head for heights, Peter Ustinov on the roof of Topkapi Palace. Picture from Maurice Speed's Film Review 1965.

The three robbers wait for dusk. Looking from the roof of Topkapi Palace over Gülhane Parki. To the left, the railway line into Sirkeci Gari passes in front of Ahrkap Feneri lighthouse.

The Police arrive at the wrestling match.

When darkness falls, Elizabeth and Page go to the Ahirkapi Feneri lighthouse. She to play backgammon, he to slow down the beam as it shines on Topkapi Palace. Then the robbery commences. Likely to be a set but included for completeness.