This one lacks the suspenseful edge of most of Hitchcock's works from this period, but it does have a luxurious atmosphere, witty dialogue, and especially an immense visual appeal. The cinematography is all about the French Riviera, from winding mountain roads, to beaches, to the ocean side villages. This is one great looking film.
Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief" is basically a stylish and elegant crime caper and mystery. Cary Grant Is retired jewel thief John Robie and Grace Kelly as the glamorous (naturally) American heiress Frances Stevens dead set on... well "catching" him. The pair's on-screen chemistry adds the romantic spark to the suspense of the story, with just the right touches of humor, usually at Grant's expense. Grant's suave performance is a masterclass in effortless cool, while Kelly's elegance and poise perfectly complement his character.
Cary Grant was married five times, but there were long rumors of his having relationships with men off and on. Keeping this in mind wile watching "To Catch a Thief" adds a layer of meaning to several classic lines and situations. Hitchcock was notorious for poking fun at his male leads. If something in the script seems to be a jab at Grant's sexuality, it is.
There are shades of "Vertigo" and "North By Northwest" in the unusual camera angles and composition. The drama of the final rooftop chase is especially tense, and beautifully shot, as only Hitchcock could do. There's also of course the usual completely useless and easily duped police.
"You ought to be spanked with a hairbrush and sent back to school - public school - where they could pound some sense into you during recess."
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