To Catch a Thief (1955) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis and John Williams.
Fun and frolics on the French Riviera with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are on offer in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, a picturesque holiday brochure of a film with a huge injection of Hollywood glamour. Grant plays John Robie, a reformed thief accused of reverting to his old ways following a spate of local robberies. Together with Kelly (daughter of a wealthy woman targeted), he endeavours to find the real thief to clear his name.
After his previous two films, Dial M for Murder and Rear Window, this represents a gear-down from Hitchcock as he employs a far more playful, easy-going tone. Cary Grant’s trouble-free charms are a good fit for the vacation feel of the production, with the radiant Kelly on-hand to lay-on her brand of mesmerising glamour. Together, and despite a noticeable age gap (he’s 50, she’s 24), they manage to conjure a few delightfully romantic moments.
While the film is primarily about the conflicting cat-and-mouse tactics of professional thieves, Hitchcock attempts to up-the-ante with a high-speed car chase (slightly hampered by some wonky rear projection) and tense rooftop action scenes.
While the adapted screenplay by John Michael Hayes (based on David Dodge novel) has its occasional moments, the film relies heavily on star-power to make its mark. There remains something run-of-the-mill about the plot – (you can see the influence on the Angelina Jolie/Johnny Depp vehicle The Tourist), as old-school Hollywood dazzle is used to paper-over the (dare I say) incidental-feeling story.
It’s a little bit like the film equivalent of easy listening music. You know what you’re going to get and there’s not that much to complain about. Although it’s some way from being Hitchcock’s finest hour, the cheerful approach and A-list star-quality nevertheless makes To Catch a Thief an effortlessly endearing experience. 3.5/5
Gareth Rhodes Film Reviews 
Endearing and I still find the leads to be darned charismatic.
Agreed, this period is oozing charisma. The sight of Grace Kelly…such beauty. No wonder the Prince Rainier III sought to to snap her up so enthusiastically. I can’t help feeling cinema audiences got the bad end of that deal, though.
Your line about easy-listening music sums it up perfectly. Good review!
Thank you very much. It’s a film for a certain mood/time of day, I think.
Nice review. I haven’t seen this one yet, but the story sound like The Pink Panther might have been spoofing it.
Thank you. Yes, I think you’re onto something there – it echoes in the likes of Charade too, which also starred Cary Grant.
Wow, I guess recycling’s really been around in film from the beginning. : D