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After shooting his claustrophobic classic, Rear Window, director Alfred Hitchcock left the confines of L. B. Jeffries’s apartment complex and headed for the beaches of the South of France for his graceful 1955 mystery, To Catch a Thief.
When a cat burglar takes to the rooftops of France to steal jewels from the rich, the police have just one suspect in mind: John Robie (Cary Grant), a.k.a. “The Cat,” a former jewel thief who’s well-known for his incredible stealth and agility. Robie maintains his innocence, claiming that he hasn’t stolen a thing in 15 years, but even his prison buddies think he’s guilty. Robie decides that the only way to prove his innocence is to find the real thief—so he heads to Cannes to try to catch the thief in the act.
Once he arrives in Cannes, Robie meets Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly) and her mother, Jessie (Jessie Royce Landis), two wealthy Americans with plenty of jewels of their own. But as Robie starts spending more and more time with Frances, those who know him start to wonder if he’s really trying to protect her—or if he’s just trying to get closer to her mother’s jewelry.
To Catch a Thief is sumptuous romantic thriller, well deserving of its Oscar for cinematography. It’s filled with beautiful, sweeping panoramas of the seaside resorts and hillside villages of the French Riviera. But it’s not just the scenery; nearly everything about the film is strikingly beautiful. From the gorgeous costumes (created by famed costume designer—and Oscar nominee—Edith Head) to the elegant stars, this Hitchcock classic is pure eye-candy.
Fortunately, though, To Catch a Thief is more than just a pretty picture; it also boasts a satisfyingly suspenseful story. But this isn’t the kind of thriller that’s packed with edge-of-your-seat action and adventure. There’s no scream-inducing shower scene. Instead, much like the rest of the film, the pace is graceful and reserved, with the mystery gradually building in the background as Frances and Robie lounge in the sun and picnic in a road-side park.
Yet despite the story’s relaxed pace, the writing is clever (though the outcome isn’t necessarily shocking) and the dialogue is sharp. And when it comes to verbal sparring, Grant and Kelly are at the top of their game.
To Catch a Thief is an elegant thriller, filled with romance and mystery and seasoned with a touch of humor. So if you’re tired of the same old fast-and-furious adventure, I recommend giving this charming classic a chance.
DVD Review:
Like the other releases in Paramount’s Centennial Collection, the two-disc DVD release of Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief is loaded with more than 90 minutes of fascinating extras.
The special features disc includes a number of interviews with Hitchcock’s daughter, Pat, and his granddaughter, Mary. In the 23-minute A Night with the Hitchcocks, the two appear at a 2008 Hitchcock course at USC to answer students’ questions. In other, shorter features (many of which were produced in 2002), they talk about the making of To Catch a Thief and offer insights into Hitchcock’s off-set personality. They also share some personal anecdotes—my favorite of which is Mary’s story about the college course she took on her grandfather’s films.
Other features discuss the Production Code Administration and their censorship, the film’s stars, and costume designer Edith Head. There’s even an interactive travelogue, which talks about the various locations used in the film. Though some of the features are quite short, there isn’t a single dud on the disc.
Since it’s packed with insights, interviews, and other treats (in addition to a gorgeous Hitchcock classic), To Catch a Thief is another Centennial Collection release that classic movie buffs—and Hitchcock fans—won’t want to miss.
