To Catch a Thief (film)
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| To Catch a Thief | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
|
| Directed by | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Produced by | Uncredited: Alfred Hitchcock |
| Written by | Novel: David Dodge Screenplay: John Michael Hayes |
| Starring | Cary Grant Grace Kelly Jessie Royce Landis John Williams Charles Vanel Brigitte Auber |
| Music by | Lyn Murray |
| Cinematography | Robert Burks |
| Editing by | George Tomasini |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) |  August 5, 1955 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$ 2,500,000 |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
To Catch a Thief is a 1955 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis and John Williams. The movie is set on the French Riviera, and was based on the 1952 novel of the same name by David Dodge. The screenplay was written by John Michael Hayes. The film is a blend of intrigue, romance, and humor.
[edit] Synopsis
John Robie (Cary Grant) is a notorious but retired jewel thief nicknamed "The Cat" who spends his time tending to his vineyards in France. A series of robberies that resemble his style leads the police to believe the Cat is up to his old tricks again.
During the war Robie was a member of the French Resistance along with other former crooks who now run a catering business. As a result of their war-time activities they were all granted pardons. Most of his old associates also suspect Robie of being the thief and refuse to help him since they fear their own paroles will be jeapordized if they do.
Robie enlists the aid of insurance man H.H. Hughson (John Williams) in order to prove his innocence. Robie's plan is to catch the new cat burglar in the act. To do this, he obtains a list of the most expensive jewels on the Riviera from the reluctant Hughson. The first names on the list are Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Grace Kelly). Robie becomes acquainted with them in order to stay close to their jewels. Francie is suspicious of Robie's motives. She is certain that he is behind the recent thefts, but at the same time she is attracted to him. Robie fends off Francie's advances, at least at first.
One night, Jessie's jewels are stolen and Francie believes that Robie has taken them. He goes into hiding, believing he knows now who the new thief is, and plans to catch him. He stakes out a house where he believes the new burglar will strike. He is attacked and in the ensuing struggle kills a man the police later claim to be the thief. The only problem is that the man had a "peg leg" (prosthetic) , which would have made it impossible for him to climb over the rooftops.
Francie apologizes to Robie and offers to help catch the real thief during a masquerade party. The French police plan to arrest Robie during the party. Robie puts on an elaborate costume that hides his face; at some point, he and Hughson switch places, leaving Robie free to stalk and capture the real burglar red-handed with the jewels on the roof and force her (Brigitte Auber) to confess.
After everything is cleared up, Robie returns to his vineyards and Francie races after him to tell him how much she loves him. When it appears that he has given in, she remarks that her mother will love living with them, to his great consternation.
[edit] Trivia
- The filming of To Catch a Thief on the French Riviera plays a pivotal role in Wu Ming's novel 54. The action takes place in the Springtime of 1954, and nearly all the characters in the novel (including Cary Grant, an Italian American mafioso nicknamed "Steve Cement", and two Parisian gangsters from the Rififi movie) cross each other's path in Cannes and Nice.
- In this film Jessie Royce Landis plays Cary Grant's potential mother-in-law. In North by Northwest she would be his actual mother.
- Alfred Hitchcock's cameo is a signature occurrence in most of his films. In To Catch a Thief he can be seen (10 minutes into the film) as a bus passenger sitting next to Grant.
[edit] External links
- To Catch a Thief at the Internet Movie Database
- To Catch a Thief at the TCM Movie Database
- To Catch a Thief (1955) at Alfred Hitchcock Fans Online
