Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief is his first film shot in the short-lived widescreen format VitsaVision, his second film shot for Paramount, and the only one that the studio still owns and controls. It finds the director covering very familiar territory, both thematically as it deals with an innocent man trying to clear his name and interpersonally as Hitch had previously worked with actors Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, and John Williams, screenwriter John Michael Hayes, and cinematographer Robert Burks who won an Academy Award for this film.
Based on the novel by David Dodge, former jewel thief John “The Cat” Robie (Grant) is retired in France; however, a recent series of robberies cause the authorities to question his status. On the run, he seeks the help of from his old gang, but when the police show up, Danielle (Brigitte Auber), his former flame and daughter of his associate Foussard (Jean Martinelli), whisks him away by boat. Robie determines he must catch the imposter to prove his innocence. He teams up with insurance man H. H. Hughson (Williams) to learn who the next potential victims might be. They are Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Kelly).
Robie gets close to them, but Francie sees through his story and wants to become his partner in crime, but he denies his identity. She invites him over to watch fireworks in the evening and they make love. When Francie later awakes, her mother’s jewels have been taken and she blames Robie. He admits to being Robie and denies taking the jewels, but Francie refuses to believe him.
Robie receives a note to stay away from a villa. He knows it’s a trap, so he sets his own and has Hughson inform the police. On the villa’s grounds, Robie is attacked and his assailant falls to his death, revealing himself to be Foussard. The police announce to the press that the cat burglar is dead, but Robie knows the thief could not have been Foussard.
Article comments
1 - Aaron Fleming
That Robie, what a cad!
2 - El Bicho
Definitely. my favorite line in the movie is after Francie thinks Robie stole the jewels her mother asks what else he stole. Muth-er!
3 - Lisa McKay
Edith Head's costumes for this film are a presence in and of themselves. Between that and the scenery, this is one of my personal favorite Hitchcock films. Nice review, El B.
4 - El Bicho
Yeah, that masquerade ball was pretty spectacular, and this film is the first time Hitch went out on location. Thanks for stopping by.