Adventure,Comedy,Crime
United States of America
Arthur Simon Simpson is a British native who has been living in Greece and making a living by conducting small-time thefts and scams. He meets a lovely woman named Elizabeth Lipp, who he soon learns is a professional thief. Elizabeth is in the process of planning a major heist to steal the emerald-encrusted dagger of Mehmed II from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, and recruits Simpson to help with the plan.
The film follows the elaborate plan as the group of thieves, led by Elizabeth, work to obtain the necessary tools, gather information about the museum's security systems, and train for the heist. Their plan involves Elizabeth and Simpson posing as a wealthy couple on vacation, while the rest of the team assumes various disguises to gain access to the museum and steal the dagger.
As they work their way through the museum's complex security systems, the team faces numerous obstacles and setbacks, including a notably tense scene where they have to pass the dagger through a laser beam, without breaking it or setting off an alarm. Despite these challenges, the team ultimately succeeds in stealing the dagger and making their escape.
While the film is focused on the heist itself, it also explores the dynamic between the various members of the team and their individual motivations. Peter Ustinov received an Academy Award for his portrayal of a bumbling safecracker who has a tendency to create more problems for the group than he solves. The film's climax also brings a twist ending that adds an unexpected layer of complexity to the narrative.
