7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Thought by many to be the inspiration for the TV series 'Mission: Impossible', Jules Dassin's comedy-thriller follows a group of art thieves as they plot and plan to rob a jewelled dagger from the fortress-like Topkapi Palace museum in sun-soaked Istanbul. With an international cast and a screenplay written by ex-Ealing stalwart Monja Danischewsky, 'Topkapi' is one of the great comic-exotic heist movies.
Starring: Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov, Maximilian Schell, Robert Morley, Jess HahnThriller | Insignificant |
Heist | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Jules Dassin's "Topkapi" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Julie Kirgo and Peter Hankoff and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Topkapi arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Topkapi made its high-definition debut with this release in 2014, which was sourced from an even older but quite nice master. This release introduces a new 4K makeover of the film.
Earlier tonight, I spent quite a bit of time comparing the new 4K makeover and the previous presentation of the film, and while there are some things that I like about the former, I must declare that the latter is more convincing. What do I like about the 4K makeover? It produces visuals with better density levels -- not dramatically better, but enough to appreciate the difference. These visuals are healthier, too. However, the improvements are cosmetic, meaning that they eliminate some nicks and scratches, plus the occasional blemishes. This is pretty much it. The new 4K makeover reveals plenty of color grading inconsistencies. They are introduced by a very light yellowish tint, similar to the one present on the 4K makeover of Secret of the Incas. It affects a lot of primaries and flattens many visuals. I could immediately tell that something was off because the opening credits of Topkapi are notorious for its color play. They look quite anemic now. The overall temperature of the visuals is affected as well. Examples can be seen here and here. In various darker areas, the new 4K makeover loses fine nuances that are very easy to see on the previous presentation. On the previous presentation, there is room for improvements too, but the color temperature, vibrancy of the visuals, and simply their dynamic range are clearly superior. Image stability is excellent. So, I think that the previous Blu-ray release has the more accurate presentation of Topkapi. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
Topkapi has always had an unconvincing audio. However, the big issues are directly related to the fact that Melina Mercouri mumbles a lot, so it is not easy to understand her lines. Some of the mass outdoor footage also allows a lot of organic sounds and noises to overlap, creating unevenness that is unavoidable, too. However, where the music is prominent, I think that dynamic contrasts are quite good, or at least given that Topkapi was produced in the early 1960s.
Topkapi is supposed to be a very vibrant, very attractive film. After it was fully restored in 4K, it has a very subdued, often uncharacteristically flat appearance. I have Kino Lorber's original release of it and think that the old master that was used to source it, which has some undeniable limitations, treats it better.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1966-1973
1966
The First Great Train Robbery / Reissue
1978
1972
1974
The Diamond Mercenaries
1976
2017
1985
1972
1969
1988
1969
1936
1981
1958
1964
Warner Archive Collection
1963
1956
Warner Archive Collection
1955
1997