To Catch a Thief (1955)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Pretty Good

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

'To Catch a Thief' might be mediocre by Hitchcock standard, and it is another departure from his usual suspense storytelling. Nonetheless it is enjoyable movie with plenty of mystery, suspense (only Hitchcock manages to end lighthearted comedy with such thrilling final scene) and of course humor.It is one of those movies where story, although strong, isn't the main attraction - but the characters. Or, in this case, the actors. The chemistry between Cary Grant and gorgeous Grace Kelly (oh, they don't make movie stars like that anymore) is just fantastic experience to watch. Cleverly written and magnificently delivered snappy dialogue causes many chuckles and even couple of loud laughs. Although it might be little outdated, but it still holds up very well and offers a viewer nice memorable movie experience. Perfect entertainment.

Admittedly I haven't seen many Alfred Hitchcock movies. I'm familiar with his work and I've seen staples like Birds and Psycho, so I mostly associate Hitchcock with thrillers. While To Catch a Thief is still a thriller, it's odd to me to see Hitchcock involved in a romantic film. That's not to say To Catch a Thief is your typical romance flick, as it focuses on John Robie, a retired cat burglar formerly known as the "Cat" (very on the nose) trying to clear his name after a new "Cat" arises. While most of the film is dedicated to this, there are segments involving Robie's love interest, Frances, who he ultimately gets into a relationship with by the time he proves his innocence. Now I personally am not much of a romantic film guy. I don't mind romance per se, but I can't stand "quirky" romcoms or films completely dedicated to telling the story of how two people fell in love. It's just not my thing. The way Robie and Frances are handled here is tolerable for me. I think it was done well, and I didn't have to suspend any disbelief at the end when they got together. It made sense and didn't get in the way of the main story, which I found to be more urgent anyways. Now even though I haven't seen much Hitchcock, I'm aware of his affinity for plot twists, and to no one's surprise, this movie has its fair share. There are three big one's I can think of, the first being the red herring with Foussard, who dies after having an altercation with Robie on a rooftop. The second is during the masquerade ball where Frances removes the mask that Robie had been wearing before, and it reveals Hughson, who took Robie's place so he could escape the police. The last is soon after, where the new "Cat" is revealed to be Danielle, Foussard's daughter. If I'm being completely honest, I called the last one right after being introduced to the character. I'm sure at the time for other people it was huge, but so many people have been inspired by Hitchcock's work, watching any thriller in a similar vein nowadays will get you used to those kinds of reveals since they copy him so much. Despite this, the film was very good. I enjoyed the cast and story, and I thought the twists, although somewhat predictable, were fun and kept the movie at a steady pace. It's by no means the best thriller I've ever seen, but I did enjoy it for what it was.

TO CATCH A THIEF is one solid mix between an entertaining thriller, a elegant romance and a healthy comedy. The main protagonist is a former burglar and jewel thief. On the French Riviere, in a luxury hotel a theft of jewelry was committed in a way peculiar to the main character of this film. He will try to prove his innocence in a simple way. It takes a thief to catch a thief. However, the rich and beautiful women can be helpful also ...Scenery is amazing. Well, they used authentic locations. I must admit that I expected a more exciting movie. I would describe this movie as a thriller for a noble society. How much jewelry and gems can be exciting, their stealing is more exciting. A comedy and romance with quite a lot of chemistry have saved this movie. The atmosphere is very bright and it is perhaps Hitchcock's failure. However, as a significant change in relation to his distinctive style, when thrillers are concerned, this is not so bad.Characterization is good. Cary Grant as John Robie ("The Cat") is the eternal seducer and charmer. His role is too obvious. I think that his character lacks a bit of mystery. Grace Kelly as Frances Stevens was a real lady, spoiled daughter and exciting adventuress at the same time. In this film, Ms. Kelly is superior. Mr. Grant and Miss Kelly do grandly, especially in one sly seduction scene.John Williams as H. H. Hughson is a serious character. In some scenes, in his expression was visible anxiety. Jessie Royce Landis as Jessie Stevens is the comedian in this case. A rich woman, which is eager for excitement. Brigitte Auber as Danielle Foussard is a character who introduces a little of European charm and a „thievery" in the film.To Catch a Thief is a strange game between cats and mice. Cats are too much for mice. However, on the French board there is is no room for two cats.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I starting watching to movie so I was surprised that I liked it so much. The quality of this film is very, very impressive. All the bright colors and angles that the camera provided really made me want to be in the movie. I loved the scene when the police and Robi get in a wrestling match in a giant pile of flowers and then the old women is so angry with Robi. I also loved the extravagant costume party scene. Everything was so over the top and filled with detail, which made me never want to take my eyes off the screen. Frances Stevens was so beautiful in it, but her character was annoying to me, I just wanted her to leave John Robi alone! The most surprising part for me was the end of the movie when you find out that it was Danielle who has been stealing throughout the movie. It was a great movie!