Nolan-Approved Heist Classic with 95% Tomatometer is Free to Watch This March

Summary

• Among all the films Nolan has cited as his favorites, one notable heist classic stands out.
• It's because, unlike Nolan's plots, it has a very straightforward and uncomplicated script.
• Yet its twists, acting, and technical execution inspired the filmmaker's highly creative style.

Whether you think he's brilliant or not, Christopher Nolan remains one of the most brilliant filmmakers of the 21st century, delivering unique epic stories full of drama, philosophical implications, suspense, and stunning visual effects of universal proportions. But while his directorial style and approach to narrative structure are unparalleled, Nolan, a connoisseur of film history, still (as hard as it may be to believe) had his own sources of inspiration that shaped his taste in cinema and his own approach to filmmaking.

For example, although Nolan's plots often seem overwhelming due to their size and number of storylines, the director does not shy away from films with much simpler structures. One of his favorites, for example, is the 1964 film Topkapi.

It is a simple heist story about the robbery of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, but even after 60 years it can still surprise because it has served as an inspiration for many crime and action films, including those directed by Nolan. Plus, the movie is now completely free to stream!

Classic Heist Film That Inspired Nolan's Oeuvre

It would seem that no group of criminals could be more unsuccessful than the trio in Jean-Luc Godard's Band of Outsiders, but such a group does exist. They are the protagonists of the film Topkapi, directed by Jules Dassin and written by Monja Danischewsky, based on Eric Ambler's novel The Light of Day.

'It's a wonderful heist film. The central conceit of which is stealing a dagger from Topkapi palace in Istanbul,' Nolan shared.

The plot follows Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) who, along with her former lover, Swiss professional criminal Walter Harper (Maximilian Schell), assembles a gang of smart (but not too smart), experienced (but not too experienced), and strong (not at all) criminals. Their goal is to steal the famous Topkapi Dagger, once owned by the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud I.

The script is quite simple and straightforward, but what impressed Nolan was the technical execution of the movie, especially the actual heist scene.

'That sequence is almost entirely wordless, a bit like Jules Dassin's earlier heist job Rififi with its sort of high wire act in the middle of the heist,' he said, also noting that both Topkapi and Rififi have inspired many modern movies, including Mission Impossible.

Such an influential film is still appreciated today: on Rotten Tomatoes it has an impressive 95% rating from critics. Many noted the incomparable acting of the legendary Peter Ustinov, who brought a lot of fun to the movie as the small-time criminal who made the whole heist go down in flames.

Where and How to Watch This Movie?

Free Options

As we said, Topkapi can be streamed completely free of charge.

Pluto TV — First of all, we highly recommend that you turn to one of the best sources of classic movies for streaming, Pluto TV. It does not require any payment as it is an ad-supported service. Considering that the movie is two hours long, it will certainly take a little longer to watch, but it's free and the most convenient option that doesn't require unnecessary overpayments.

Freevee — Topkapi is available on Freevee, Amazon's Prime Video subsidiary. It's also a free streaming platform that relies on advertising for revenue. That means you don't even need a basic Prime Video subscription. Just go to the Prime website or download the dedicated Freevee app to your devices.

Hoopla — We also recommend Hoopla, a free-to-use service for library members that offers a wide range of entertainment media, including fiction and non-fiction, audiobooks, TV shows, and movies. All you need to access the platform is your library card number.

Paid Options

Rent — The film is available for rent on platforms such as YouTube, Google Play and Vudu. The price for Topkapi in HD quality is $3.99 on each of the three services.

Buy — Topkapi is also available for purchase on the platforms listed above. The price is $9.99.