To Catch a Thief (1955)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

John Michael Hayes (screenplay)
David Dodge (novel)

Release Date:

September 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

WANTED by the police in all the luxury-spots of Europe!... A catch for any woman!

Plot:

When a reformed jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former occupation, he must ferret out the real thief in order to prove his innocence.

Plot Keywords:

Thief | Cat | Riviera | Burglar | Robbery

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Cary Grant	...	John Robie
Grace Kelly	...	Frances Stevens
Jessie Royce Landis	...	Jessie Stevens
John Williams	...	H.H. Hughson
Charles Vanel	...	Bertani
Brigitte Auber	...	Danielle Foussard
Jean Martinelli	...	Foussard
Georgette Anys	...	Germaine

Also Known As:

Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Spain:T | Netherlands:6 | Ireland:PG | USA:Approved (certificate #17226) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:G | Canada:G (video rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Norway:12 (1955) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

On 14 September 1982, Grace Kelly was killed in an automobile accident in Monaco, supposedly on the very same road as her famous chase scene in this film and not far from where she had a picnic scene with Cary Grant. She was 52 years old and lost control of her car after apparently suffering a stroke while at the wheel.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Danielle is taking John to the beach club to avoid the police, they briefly stop the boat to discuss moving to South America. During the conversation, Danielle waves her finger at John, but in the next shot her arms are crossed.

Quotes:

Frances Stevens: Are you sure you were talking about water skis? From where I sat it looked as though you were conjugating some irregular verbs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Living Single: To Catch a Thief (#5.12)" (1998)

Fully appreciable, at last on DVD, brightly restored in it's original VistaVision ratio.

This underrated Hitchcock piece is his tribute to his obsession with the dazzling Grace Kelly, who's even more beautiful than the Riviera set pieces. Teamed with Grant, they make a perfect couple, in a mischievous love story that's quite unique for Hitchcock. It's as if he decided to leave well-enough alone, and simply provided a series of grandiose setups for his two leads to cavort in; perhaps too surprisingly for Hitchcock devotees. Nonetheless, this is a sophisticated romp that's punctuated with some fine supporting performances. Sadly, Hitchcock would search for a Kelly substitute for the rest of his career; and his remembrance of this "vacation" picture would be a dominant influence in the creation of his dark masterpiece to come, VERTIGO.