To Catch a Thief (1955)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock | 106 minutes | comedy, romance, crime | Actors: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Charles Vanel, Brigitte Auber, Jean Martinelli, Georgette Anys

It is rumored that Grace Kelly, the actress with a very impeccable image, led quite a riotous life behind the scenes. For example, she would have shared the bed with many opponents. Outwardly she was the beautiful woman of almost royal allure. While shooting ‘To Catch a Thief’ on the French Riviera, Grace met Prince Rainier of Monaco, her future husband. After finishing the film, she left Hollywood for good to become Princess Grace of Monaco. Something Alfred Hitchcock, who made three films with her and considered her his muse, did not thank her for. A salient detail is a scene in ‘To Catch a Thief’ in which Grace races her car across the rocky coastal roads of the Riviera at an emergency speed. In 1982 she would die tragically in exactly the same situation. ‘To Catch a Thief’ comes eerily close to reality in that scene.

It’s a tried and true Hitchcock concept: a man is wrongly accused of a number of thefts he didn’t commit. He therefore flees to stay out of the hands of both the police and the real bad guys. But is John Robie (Cary Grant) as innocent as he makes out? In any case, he has the appearance against it; he is a retired jewel thief, now enjoying his peace and quiet on the beautiful French Riviera. Moreover, whoever does commit the thefts has taken over all the trademarks of ‘The Cat’ – Robie’s nickname in his heyday as a thief. So someone tries to frame him and Robie is determined to find out who that is. He does this by seeking out a potential new victim of the jewel thief, the wealthy widow Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her beautiful daughter Frances (Kelly). The latter knows Robie’s reputation but still falls for him like a rock. She makes advances that Robie initially refuses to accept, leading her to increasingly doubt his innocence.

‘To Catch a Thief’ – written by John Michael Hayes (‘Rear Window’) and based on a novel by David Dodge – is unlike most of Alfred Hitchcock’s films. There is little suspense and the film is more like a romantic comedy than a nerve-racking thriller. The story is very little and the film relies heavily on the charm and attraction of the two protagonists. Grace Kelly and Cary Grant were two of the biggest stars of their time; beautiful people who perfectly matched the ideal image of the moviegoers. They fill their roles well. Grant can show that he has comedic talent, is not afraid of the necessary action, but is above all a distinguished gentleman. Kelly can parade in the most beautiful creations of Hollywood permanent designer Edith Head, and above all, she can be beautiful. In the supporting roles, only Jessie Royce Landis stands out as the rich widow. She also received praise from Hitchcock, because she was allowed to perform again later in ‘North by Northwest’.

It is sometimes jokingly said that the film’s third star is the French Riviera, and that is hardly exaggerated. Hitchcock didn’t like to shoot on location but this time he won’t regret going to the south of France to shoot. The decoration of the film – sets, locations, costumes – are truly beautiful and support the film to a large extent. It is not without reason that both costumes and sets were nominated for an Oscar and Robert Burks received the famous statue for the best (color) cinematography. It’s not so much because of the story, but more because of the mundane atmosphere of the Riviera that is perfectly portrayed and the chemistry between Grant and Kelly that the balance of ‘To Catch a Thief’ is tipped in the positive direction.

Hitchcock himself called the film a ‘lightweight’. It seems that he just needed a reason to reunite Kelly and Grant in a movie and to do so took on the first script he could get his hands on. Both Grant (“Notorious”, “North by Northwest” and “Suspicion”) and Kelly (“Dial M for Murder” and “Rear Window”) have made better and more exciting movies with the master of suspense. But it’s just what you expect from a movie. Suspense lovers will find ‘To Catch a Thief’ a disappointment. But those who want to marvel at beautiful pictures of handsome people on the atmospheric French Riviera will have a great time with this film.