To Catch a Thief (1955)

Synopsis:

A former burglar, John Robie (Cary Grant, Notorious), must prove his innocence after he is accused of staging a string of robberies on the French Riviera. Meanwhile, Robie meets an American socialite with a thirst for danger (Grace Kelly, Rear Window)

Reaction & Thoughts:

“I’ve never caught a jewel thief before. It’s stimulating.”

It is hard to deny that To Catch a Thief is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s fluffiest movies. Hitchcock himself said that it was “a lightweight story,” and dodged any questions regarding subtext and character motivations. Furthermore, Hitchcock admitted that he had made the movie so he could get a paid family vacation in the South of France. All things considered, this is a truly wonderful piece of escapism.

The script by John Michael Hayes is based on David Dodge’s 1952 novel of the same name. Against the backdrop of the lush French Riviera, Hitchcock, and writer Hayes, crafted a gorgeous-looking movie that, in all honesty, is short on thrills — the mystery is light, and the suspense is minimal. But it moves along at an entertaining pace.

The film’s lack of suspense might come as a shock, considering that this is a Hitchcock movie. But I quickly realized that the movie isn’t about a string of jewelry thefts, but about the odd relationship between the two main characters. The whole business about a thief hunting a thief seems like a pretext to explore one helluva kooky courtship.

Even though the film is lousy as a thriller, the romance is treated with a surprising amount of complexity. The film’s easy-going tone — it sometimes films like a travelogue movie — belies the fact that the romance is weird and fascinating at the same time — it’s an unusual love story, but then it is about unusual lovers.

The cat burglar character, played by Cary Grant, is obviously attracted to the wealthy American, played by Grace Kelly. But in a wonderful turn of events, it is Kelly who aggressively pursues a relationship with Grant. Even today, it’s rare to see a woman who doesn’t mind making the first move. And it’s even more surprising because Kelly is a pampered lady of high society who isn’t expected to behave this way.

I loved Grant’s reactions to Kelly’s aggressiveness. You can tell that he is confused, and don’t know how to react to Kelly’s uncharacteristically pushy behavior. Grant is further confused by Kelly’s obsession with his seedy past. These are some reasons the Grant-Kelly scenes are so captivating and enthralling to watch — the relationship does not wish to follow the cookie-cutter Hollywood romance formula.

Jessie Royce Landis (The Swam) adds another quirky touch to the story as Kelly’s plainspoken mother. John Williams (Dial M for Murder) is a joy as a bewildered insurance man. There are other amusing surprises typical of rascal Hitchcock. The much-talked about fireworks scene is every bit as awesome as you’ve heard. The climax on the roof is expertly executed. In short, this is a perfectly baked fruit tart!

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

To Catch a Thief isn’t meant to be scrutinized too closely. It’s the kind of movie you are supposed to simply enjoy, and what a fun time I had with it! The French locations add flavor to the story. Robert Burks’s Oscar-winning cinematography is both innovative and stylish. The main characters are interesting, often behaving in ways that surprise us. Overall, this is a fun Hitchcock movie. Color, 106 minutes, Not Rated.

Hitch’s cameo

Theatrical Trailer: