To Catch a Thief

Rating:
Summary: Cat on a Hot French Roof
Review: Suspense takes a back seat to romance as former cat burglar Grant turns detective to track down the culprit behind a recent string of jewel robberies, becoming involved with beautiful heiress Kelly during the course of his investigation. Proof that lesser Hitchcock is still far above average, with Grant at his most suave and debonair; Kelly at her most ravishing; an engaging comedic turn by Jessie Royce Landis as Kelly's down-to-earth mother; and some sparkling (and suggestive) dialogue by John Michael Hayes. Add in some truly beautiful costumes by Edith Head and breathtaking, Oscar-winning color cinematography by Robert Burks ... and what's not to like? Even though the mystery is a bit slight, you won't be bored!

The DVD offers a wonderful video transfer with crisp, clear sound and a brightly color-balanced, anamorphic widescreen picture. There are three unique mini-documentaries about the making of the movie, featuring Hitchcock's daughter and granddaughter; a documentary about costumer Edith Head (which is being included on many Paramount 2002 DVD releases which feature Head's work); the Original Theatrical Trailer; and a truly grand assortment of vintage production stills and posters from around the world. All in all a quite nice package that's definitely worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Let This One Escape!
Review: Hitchcock's next film after Rear Window is a breezy light comedy about a former jewel thief John Robie (Cary Grant) and a rich young American woman Frances "Francie" Stevens (Grace Kelly) traveling the Riviera with her mother Mrs. Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis). At first Francie is attracted to Robie because she gets a sexual thrill out of the idea of romancing and then catching a thief, especially a thief as handsome and sophisticated as embodied by Mr. Grant. Due to a rash of jewel thefts among some of the richest people along the Riviera, the police suspect that Robie has fallen back into his life of crime. Determined to prove his innocence, Robie decides only he can catch the real thief. After her mother's jewels are stolen, Francie, at first still not convinced that Robie isn't a thief, decides to help him, with the full cooperation and help of her mother. The three, along with the assistance of insurance agent Hughson (John Williams) set a trap for the cat burglar at an elaborate costume party given by one of Riviera society's richest inhabitants. This picture has all the great Hitchcock touches that have become his trademarks: the beautiful playgrounds of the very rich, a handsome cast all dressed to perfection by Edith Head, enough action and plot twists to keep things moving along at a nice clip, and the "surprise" ending when the real thief is revealed. Add all that with screenwriter John Michael Hayes's witty and sexually charged dialogue (filled with double entendres) and you have a movie movie that is tough to beat. If Rear Window elevated Kelly to superstar status, To Catch A Thief helped solidify and perfect her image as the hot and cold running blond of the 1950s. The cast is in top form, with Landis turning in a great comic performance that is both witty and profound. The color cinematography won an Academy Award for capturing the beauty of the Riviera (and it is picture-postcard-perfect). This film is a must for Hitchcock, Grant, and Kelly fans, and for anyone else who enjoys a movie for which popcorn was invented.

Rating:
Summary: A Hitchcock romantic mystery
Review: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are funny and witty and they keep you involved in the story. Not what I expected from Alfred Hitchcock, but it was a great movie none the less.

Rating:
Summary: glossy diversion
Review: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, the two most glamorous stars of the 50's star in this beautiful piece of fluff about jewel thefts on the French Riviera. Grant is a reformed thief that is suspected of un-reforming, and Kelly is a rich American travelling with her mother (Jessie Royce Landis, Grant's mother in "North by Northwest") who catches the eye of Grant.

The movie has one of unintentionally funniest moments in history. Walking on the grounds of a fabulous villa, Grant says to Kelly, "Why don't you own a place like this?" Her reply is, "Palaces are for royalty. We're just commom people with a bank account." (This from, of course, the soon to be Princess of Monaco. The fact that these words were uttered so close to Monaco makes it even more amusing.)

I am eager to see the movie on DVD, but I hope that the reason it hasn't been released is that it's being restored. All of the VHS copies that I've seen look washed out, so I expect that it's because the prints themselves are. This movie isn't one of Hitchcock's great films, but it is the assured work of a master (with a cast to die for), and it deserves to look its best.

Rating:
Summary: Catch This Film
Review: In "To Catch A Thief", Cary Grant plays a reformed jewel thief living on the French Riviera. He naturally becomes the prime suspect when a fresh string of jewel thefts occurs. In order to prove his innocence, he must catch the real thief. Enter Jesse Royce Landis and Grace Kelly as a wealthy and bejewelled widow and her irresistable daughter. Kelly uses her feminine wiles to snare an ambivalent Grant while he waits for the real thief to make the inevitable attempt on her mother's jewels. Grant is superb as the handsome and charming John Robie, and Kelly also shines as the smart and alluring Frances.

In addition to breathtaking scenery, this movie has all the usual characteristics you expect from Alfred Hitchcock: a fine cast, clever and sophisticated story, and outstanding production work. Still, it has been referred to as one of Hitchcock's "lighter" films. And, in a sense, that's true. Certainly a tale about a jewel thief doesn't have quite the intensity of a man possibly murdering his wife in the apartment across from yours, or of accidentally becoming involved with an international spy ring. Moreover, "To Catch A Thief" is partly a romantic comedy, as exemplified by Grant dropping a ten thousand franc chit down the front of a woman's gown, then asking her to return his money, in order to attract attention to himself when he is trying to make the acquaintance of Kelly and her wealthy mother in the casino at Monte Carlo. Romantic comedies aren't noted for their depth or suspense. But don't let that fool you. There are some tense moments before this movie is over. "Lighter" doesn't necessarily mean less enjoyable.

Though "To Catch A Thief" isn't quite the thriller that some of Hitchcock's other great films are, it is an excellent flick in it's own right. Grant and Kelly are great together, the story moves smoothly from light moments to suspense, and the location footage from the French Riviera is gorgeous. Put it all together and you have a very entertaining and satisfying movie. Give it a look.

Rating:
Summary: Hitchcock verges into comedy
Review: "To catch a thief" has many elements that will grip all kinds of viewers to the screen. The scenario is the great french Riviera, and you have to add to the incredible landscape the fact that this movie was made in 1954, so there's that glamorous, "antique" touch. Main characters: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Cary Grant is what women call "good-looking" and besides he has a tremendous comic vein that shows in his face. His kind of comedy is subtle and many times he doesn't have to say a word, just using his facial expressions to be funny (watch also Hitchcock's "North by northwest" to see how funny Cary Grant can be). Grace Kelly has the highest beauty and glamour possible in an actress in the fifties (similar to Nicole Kidman in the 2000s). Also, she's a very talented and expressfull actress, being alternately cute and hard. And, hanging above it all we have Alfred Hitchcock, more than just directing, conductiong his orchestra.

With all these elements, "To catch a thief" has to be an interesting and entertaining movie. The plot: Cary Grant is John "the cat" Robie, a retired jewel thief living comfortably in the Riviera. But, to his dismay, recently some copycat (get it?) starts robbing the wealthy people on vacation in southern France. Not only the police suspects Cary Grant went back on business, but also his former comrades in crime threaten him, not wanting to return to prison.

During 100 minutes, Hitchcock and his cast give us thrilling chasing scenes along narrow, drop-dead roads, the usual falling corpses and vertigo situation, romantic conflicts and, in the end, a twist that, if not completely unexpexted, still good. In fact, all these features are somewhat shadowed by the amazingly fast-paced and intelligent dialogue between the main characters. "To catch a thief" may not be Hitchcock's finest and most thrilling movie, but it's a good example that he could make non-Hitchcock-regular movies and still be very good.

Grade 8.7/10

Rating:
Summary: Fireworks!
Review: What was the greatest kiss ever committed to the silver screen? For me it comes from the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, To Catch a Thief. Grace Kelly tempts Cary Grant, a reformed jewel thief by the name of John Robie, with her diamond necklace, to a backdrop of fireworks over the French Riviera. Finally, having had just about enough of her tomfoolery, he says, "You know as well as I do, this necklace is imitation." To which, the stunning Kelly responds, "Well I'm not..."

That is movie magic and so is this wonderful, light-hearted and thrilling romp across the south of France as everyone goes in search of the identity of a new jewel thief reeking havoc throughout hotels on the French Riviera.

Lush cinematography, beautiful costumes, breathtaking vistas, and delightful performances by Kelly, Grant, and Jessie Royce Landis make this an extremely enjoyable film outing.

Rating:
Summary: So-so Hitchcock jewel caper
Review: As a connoisseur of Hitchcock's work, To Catch a Thief was merely adequate. Lacking any real suspense, the movie was held together by the excellent cinematography offered by the picturesque French Rivera locale.

Cary Grant was at his suave and debonair best as John Robie, a retired cat burgular who is suspected when a rash of jewel thefts plagues the swanky Riviera. Realizing, he must apprehend the actual thief, whose m.o. parallels his own, he plots a scheme.

Grace Kelly, whose acting ability does not rival her beauty, plays a perfectly typecasted role for her. As a spoiled, bored, rich socialite Frances Stevens, she and her wealthy but earthy mother, played exceptionally well by Jessie Royce Landis are vacationing. The elder Mrs. Stevens has a valuable collection of jewelery that Grant theorizes would make excellent bait.

Hitchcocks creates a predictable plot, with the usual love affair. There is however, little in the way of mystery or tension or even chemistry between Kelly and Grant to make this flick anything more than mediocre. Edith Head provides a high point with her fantastic wardrobes created for the costume ball scene.

Rating:
Summary: Scenery and Edith Head but no suspense
Review: You could be forgiven if you thought you were watching a well filmed travel tourist marketing film on the beauty of Cannes, and in VISTA VISION, or a tribute to Edith Head with the emphasis on costumes, which is part of Hitchcock's game in the film about appearances, masks, lies, etc. The dialogue is reasonably witty, and yes, Mr Grant and Ms Kelly, look "good" in that lacquered, phoney, fifties Hollywood style. There's no question that the film, rich in colour, crystal clear, and glossy is well made. But beneath the gloss, it's a gossamer thin story with little suspense.

Rating:
Summary: classic Cary Grant !
Review: If you have not seen the film yet, I am very surprised about other reviews that claim there was no chemistry between Grant and Kelly --- there seemed to be a playfulness between them, very obvious when she first kisses him with a sultry look leaving him with a silly grin.

The story, as a classic Hitchcock, is tightly knit (and as such you need to keep your eye on the story or you may get lost).

This one of our Hitchcock favorites.