To Catch a Thief

• Title:  To Catch a Thief
• Director:  Alfred Hitchcock
• Date:  1955
• Studio:  Paramount
• Genre:  Action, Romance, Suspense
• Cast:  Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Brigitte Auber
• Format:  Technicolor, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"I stole once, a long time ago, I went to jail." - John Robie (Cary Grant)

"I know. The Germans bombed the prison and you all escaped, joined the Underground, and became heroes." - Danielle

"I joined because I wanted to make-up for some of the things I'd done. I've never stolen since." - Robie

"You're here in Europe to buy a husband, huh?" - Robie

"The man I want doesn't have a price." - Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly)

"Well, that eliminates me." - Robie

"John, Why bother?" - Frances

"It's sort of a hobby of mine, the truth." - Robie

A series of daring jewel robberies rocks France, specifically the resort communities of the French Rivieria. The police immediately suspect John Robie, a retired jewel thief once known as The Cat. Robie decides the only way he will be able to prove his innocence is to catch the thief himself.

Robie meets HH Hughson, an insurance broker from Lloyd's of London. His company has insured many of the stolen jewels, so he has a vested interest in finding the jewels so his company doesn't have to pay the claims. Robie convinces him to give him a list of potential targets. Hughson is a bit dubious, but agrees.

Robie then meets up with Jessie Stevens and her daughter Frances (Francie). Mrs. Stevens is widowed and extremely rich after oil was discovered on her husband's small Texas ranch. She's also loud, uncultured, rude, and obnoxious. Her daughter, Frances, has benefited from her mother's money, having attended a European "finishing school", and traveled the world. Frances is a bit spoiled, and very bored with her life of travel and suitors after her money. Robie and Frances immediately have an attraction.

Meanwhile, Robie had first gone to the restaurant of his friends from the French Underground movement, but they are convinced he's guilty and has gone back to his jewel-stealing ways. The only person from his previous life who thinks he's either innocent, or it doesn't matter if he's guilty, is Danielle - the wine steward's daughter, who flirts shamelessly with Robie - despite being young enough to be his daughter.

The story is told somewhat episodically, against the backdrop of seaside France. The tale alternates between the romantic encounters between John and Frances (swimming at the beach, a wild car ride ending in a romantic picnic, even the tour of a villa) and Danielle's flirting with John, and John's attempts to find the thief.

Robie also receives threatening notes at his hotel - which tell him to lay off his search. He misses one robbery entirely, because he is concentrating on the Stevens. He then goes to investigate a villa he's been staking out for several nights, despite getting a second note that tells him to stay away. He finds the wine steward, dead. The police report to the newspapers, this is The Cat. But Robie goes to the police and points out the steward had a wooden leg, it would have been impossible for him to climb on rooftops. The steward is also Danielle's father - and when he shows up at the funeral, Danielle accuses him of murder.

Robie then decides to set a trap of his own. He knows that an upcoming costume ball will be a perfect opportunity for The Cat to strike. He goes to the ball with Mrs. Stevens and Frances, and the police attend as well. He and Hughson switch places, and while Hughson dances the night away with Frances, Robie waits for The Cat. His gambit pays off and he catches the real thief - Danielle.

To Catch a Thief  is a lavish production, very colorful and big (the film as a 1:85:1 ratio, despite being shot on 35mm film). Cary Grant is in fine form, and Grace Kelly is brilliant as Frances. But the film has always felt very slow to me. Still, if you've never seen it - it is a must-see, a classic film of romantic suspense.

Recommendation:  See it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Next Film:  Tomorrow Never Dies