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To Catch A Thief [1955]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

To Catch a Thief is not one of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, but it's arguably his most stylish thriller, loved as much for the elegantly erotic banter between Grace Kelly and Cary Grant as for the suspense that ensues when retired burglar Grant attempts to net the copycat diamond thief. The action, much of it shot on location, hugs the coast of the French Riviera; John Michael Hayes' screenplay crackles with doubles entendres; and Edith Head's dresses define the aloof poise of one of cinema's more enigmatic icons.

If anything is missing, it's the undertow of black humour which snags the unsuspecting viewer in so many of Hitchcock's greater films. Here, the edge is supplied by the splendid Jessie Royce Landis as Kelly's vulgar, worldly mother; her special way with a fried egg is one of those cinematic moments which linger in the mind with almost pornographic disgust. History, of course, delivered its own ironic blow years later when the then Princess Grace of Monaco died in an accident on the very road where Kelly and Grant shot their exhilarating car chase. Portents aside, she remains Hitchcock's most alluring and sophisticated heroine.

On the DVD: To Catch a Thief is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, which distils the distinctive qualities of the VistaVision cinematography, and with a mono Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Interesting extras include several mini-documentaries in which Hitchcock's daughter and granddaughter, among others, reminisce about the great director, censor problems over the risqué dialogue, the talents of costume designer Edith Head, and the peculiar difficulties of shooting in VistaVision. An original theatrical trailer is another bonus. --Piers Ford

Editorial
Special Features

1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen
Dolby Digital mono
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Serbian Theatrical trailer
Writing & Casting
Making of
Alfred Hitchcock--An Appreciation
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Photo and Poster Gallery
Editorial
Synopsis

A supposedly reformed cat burglar, out to prove himself innocent of a recent crime spree, tries to capture the thief who's terrifying the French Riviera. Cary Grant is devastatingly elegant as the former thief, John Robie, and charming enough to attract the attention of the lovely Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly), a wealthy and spoiled American traveling the Riviera with her widowed mother (Jessie Royce Landis). However, things do not begin on a romantic note. Robie is more interested in clearing his name than in pursuing the beautiful American, but the two will not go their separate ways so easily. When Mrs. Stevens has her jewels stolen, the snubbed Frances puts the police on Robie's trail. Now the dashing Robie will have to win the confidence and assistance of Frances if he is to ever set things right. The stars are radiant together, with an entrancing chemistry that sparkles, especially in the impromptu ad-libbed dialogue of the picnic scene. A series of elaborate set pieces combined with dramatic Riviera scenery make the film an enduring glamorous spectacle, featuring a fireworks kissing scene that is truly a classic.

Ian Fleming's choice
Review date: 2007-05-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

When Ian Fleming wrote the original James Bond stories, he said he modeled 007 on the screen personna of Cary Grant. The role was, as a matter of fact, offered to Grant, but he turned it down. This role of John Robie, the Cat, in To Catch A Thief might give us an idea of what Grant would have been like as James Bond. To Catch A Thief was made about eight years before Dr. No came out. Grant had not made a movie in a while before To Catch A Thief and said he was retired. But, this movie was the number one grossing movie of the first half of the 1950s, and Grant, to our good movie watching entertainment, went on to make several more movies such as North By Northwest and Charade. By the way, the book by David Dodge is great, if you can ever find a copy.

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Reviews


Thievery in the sun
Review date: 2007-02-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Alfred Hitchcock made two kinds of movies: bone-chilling thrillers that looked into the dark side of human nature, and witty adventure stories.

"To Catch A Thief" is a sterling example of the latter kind of movie -- a chic, sleek, golden-tinted caper, full of witty dialogue and solid acting from legendary actors. Despite the taut action scenes, Hitchcock makes it feel almost like a cinematic vacation.

Paul Robie (Cary Grant) was "The Cat," the most notorious jewel thief in Europe, before he retired. But now impossible heists -- made in Robie's style -- are popping up all over Cannes, and he's the immediate suspect. Narrowly escaping the police, he enlists a friend to help him clear his name by capturing this new Cat.

To do that, he masquerades as an American tourist, and gets to know pretty oil heiress Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly) and her mother. But when the Stevens jewels are stolen, Frances brings the cops down on Robie -- and now he is more desperate than ever to find the Cat, because he suspects it's an old friend...

Hitchcock was in fine form with "To Catch a Thief," especially since he had two great actors in the mix. Granted this isn't one of his more insightful or suspenseful movies, but it captures a sense of sly wit and fun instead.

If "To Catch A Thief" has a problem, it's that astute viewers will be able to guess who the Cat is after about a half hour, maximum. But fortunately viewers can be distracted by Hitchcock's knack for razor-sharp dialogue ("What do you say?" "My only comment would be highly censorable") and double entendres (during an intimate lunch, Francie asks, "You want a leg or a breast?").

It's also gorgeous to behold -- he entire movie is bathed in the golden Riviera sun, with lots of swimming, fast car chases, elaborate costume balls, and ornate hotels. But Hitchcock winds it up with a genuinely tense rooftop chase, complete with wrestling and gunshots.

Grant is a bit grizzled (and VERY overtanned) here, but still dapper and charming enough for Robie, a thief with principles and a taste for the good life. Kelly is also quite good as an heiress who is less prim than she appears; John Williams and Jessie Royce Landis have fun supporting roles as a "veddy veddy English" insurance man and a shrewd rich woman.

"To Catch A Thief" is a warm, sumptuous piece of classic film, with great dialogue and even better acting. Fun, stylish little mystery

Robbery on the Riviera
Review date: 2006-04-23 Rating: 6 out of 10

"To Catch a Thief" is a so-so sort of film. The plot is fairly thin and Hitchcock's trademark build up of suspense is mostly absent. However these flaws are redeemed by the radiant, regal presence of Grace Kelly and the suave urbanity of Cary Grant. Grant plays a reformed jewel thief who volunteers to assist an insurance company with the identification and capture of a copycat burglar behind a spate of robberies in the French Riviera. Kelly is a wealthy heiress on holiday with her eccentric mother .She falls in love with Grant, who is acting as a sort of escort for her while preparing to set a trap for the thief. Curiously enough ,Grant treats the beautiful Kelly with the same kind of studied indifference his character did in the 1946 film "Notorious" with Ingrid Bergman. What a bore it must be to be chased after by glamourous,lovestruck screen goddesses ! "To Catch a Thief" is a moderately entertaining, light-hearted romantic thriller, bereft of genuine tension and suspense, but lit up well by the presence of these two screen legends.

A great way to spend an afternoon
Review date: 2006-03-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

This film is not one of Hitchcock's best nor is it one of the worst films made. Its entertaining, but not particularly interesting- you won't leave it thinking about it for days after, but you will leave it having spent an enjoyable couple of hours. Basically this is because of the actors- Grace Kelly is wonderful as many of the other reviewers have said. Cary Grant likewise plays his role with wit and charm. Several of the minor characters are also well played- Kelly's mother is grotesquely funny at points, the French bandits especially the daughter who has a crush on Grant are also at times amusing. Quite simply this is a fun relaxing film- not one for the film snobs, but for everyone else a great way to spend an afternoon.

It takes a thief to catch a thief
Review date: 2005-09-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Years ago John Robie (Cary Grant) decided that it was better to live rich than poor. So he became a joule thief. He was pretty good at his trade. His ability and modus operandi of sneaking along roof tops gave him the title of "The Cat". However he a war came up and he was an iatrical art of the resistance. This and the promise to give up his thieving ways allowed him to go free and enjoy the proceeds from his ill-gotten ways.

Well it looks like "The Cat" has stuck again. Robie can only clear himself by finding the "Copy Cat." To help he enlists some old friends, an insurance investigator, and some new friends/or maybe victims.

So did he really do it and trying to blame it on someone else?
Why would anyone after all these years want to frame him?

This movie can become a favorite as even when you know the outcome you will watch it again for the action and interaction of the different characters. Then you will also look for clues that are now obvious but missed the first time.


Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Grace Kelly
Charles Vanel
Cary Grant
Brigitte Auber
John Williams

Creators:
Cary Grant (Primary Contributor)
Grace Kelly (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437825636
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-01-13
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1955-08-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)

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