To Catch a Thief (1955)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jennifer D

  
  Not the best, but when you have Cary Grant AND Grace Kelly, it's hard to hate it.

• Graham J

  
  Hitchcock uses Grant for what he's best at in this suspense/comedy classic. This is good warm up for the Grant/Hitchcock masterpiece "North By Northwest" made four years later.

• moon r

  
  A bit of a truffle about jewel thievery and cat burglary from Hitchcock as Grant and Kelly do some zhah-vay cavorting on the French Riviera. Nearly more postcard than film, look for Brigitte Auber as she, with nothing to lose, nearly steals the film. Grant, confident of his appeal,… More
  A bit of a truffle about jewel thievery and cat burglary from Hitchcock as Grant and Kelly do some zhah-vay cavorting on the French Riviera. Nearly more postcard than film, look for Brigitte Auber as she, with nothing to lose, nearly steals the film. Grant, confident of his appeal, knows enough to act gently surprised at the wallop his charisma elicits.

• Jennifer X

  
  There's something so, so right about Grace Kelly having a fascination with the thievery business. And Brigitte Auber as Danielle is just captivating in her little striped shirt and Parisian chic haircut. I realize that this film is ostensibly centered around Cary Grant's… More
  There's something so, so right about Grace Kelly having a fascination with the thievery business. And Brigitte Auber as Danielle is just captivating in her little striped shirt and Parisian chic haircut. I realize that this film is ostensibly centered around Cary Grant's character, but really, with all its animalistic metaphors and whatnot, it's all about the women.

• Anthony L

  
  Quite surprisingly, To catch a Thief was the opposite of what I was expecting. It's not so much the crime caper I thought it would be, neither is Cary Grant's performance the best, nor is the story unpredictable. However, it looks so beautiful, the colours are amazing, the… More
  Quite surprisingly, To catch a Thief was the opposite of what I was expecting. It's not so much the crime caper I thought it would be, neither is Cary Grant's performance the best, nor is the story unpredictable. However, it looks so beautiful, the colours are amazing, the script is sharp as a knife with the sense of humour you'd expect from hitch and the performance from Grace Kelly is divine. I generally prefer Hitch's darker films but To catch a Thief certainly has the best looking cinematography of his that I've seen, making it the easiest on the eye so far. Thoroughly enjoyable.

• Steven C

  
  "To Catch a Thief" is Alfred Hitchcock's fluffiest film. There is no weight to any of it. This is not to say it's a bad film, on the contrary, it's quite fun. It's in that airiness, and not to mention the gorgeous French Riviera, where the movie delights… More
  "To Catch a Thief" is Alfred Hitchcock's fluffiest film. There is no weight to any of it. This is not to say it's a bad film, on the contrary, it's quite fun. It's in that airiness, and not to mention the gorgeous French Riviera, where the movie delights (the firework scene is a favorite). Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are serviceable and gorgeous, but have very little to do in terms of acting. This is just Hitch playing around and even then it's much better than other films released in 1955.

• xGary X

  
  A retired cat burglar joins forces with an insurance agent to catch a copycat thief who is throwing suspicion onto him. To Catch A Thief lacks the darker edge that marked Hitchcock's best, but this film epitomizes the the kind of Hollywood glamour that is still to be equalled.… More
  A retired cat burglar joins forces with an insurance agent to catch a copycat thief who is throwing suspicion onto him. To Catch A Thief lacks the darker edge that marked Hitchcock's best, but this film epitomizes the the kind of Hollywood glamour that is still to be equalled. Highly aspirational, it is set in capitalist heaven where beautiful people exist in beautiful surroundings and the wealthy are all either charming sophisticates or refreshingly down to earth and untainted by their riches. The mystery element to the plot takes a virtual back seat to the irresistible pairing of Grant and Kelly; he the soul of suave as the gentlemen thief and she radiating classical femininity to the point where every time she is described as "pretty" it nettled me as it seems like ludicrous understatement. It's all pure fantasy of course, but therein lies its charm and the sparkling dialogue and sumptuous surroundings transport the viewer to an era that is bygone if it ever indeed existed at all. Hitchcock at his least cynical.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Why did I take up stealing? To live better, to own things I couldn't afford, to acquire this good taste that you now enjoy and which I should be very reluctant to give up."</i> When a reformed jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former… More
  <i>"Why did I take up stealing? To live better, to own things I couldn't afford, to acquire this good taste that you now enjoy and which I should be very reluctant to give up."</i> When a reformed jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former occupation, he must ferret out the real thief in order to prove his innocence. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> A string of daring jewel robberies on the French Riviera leads the police to suspect one-time cat-burglar John Robie (Cary Grant). Robie claims to be reformed but the police suspect otherwise. As the police seem so intent on following him instead of looking for the real crook, Robie decides to track down the thief himself. He soon meets and begins a romance with Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly) whose mother happens to have her own collection of valuable gems. But when Frances' mother's jewels are stolen, she naturally suspects Robie. Robie must convince Frances of his innocence and, with her help, finally unmask the real cat-burglar. To Catch a Thief may not have Hitchcock's most suspenseful or intricate plot, but it's certainly one of Hitch's best looking films. Everything is simply beautiful. The French Riviera locations are amazing. Odd, craggy points that lead to the crystal blue ocean are filmed like works of art. It looks better than any travelogue you're likely to see. The old, unique, character-filled buildings make for stunning backdrops to the unfolding story. And, has there ever been a better looking on-screen couple than Grant and Kelly? I doubt it. These two can make the most mundane of scenes look like a million dollars. As for the plot, it's not overly difficult to figure out who the real burglar is. The movie all but slaps you in the face with the answer. But the fun comes in watching Grant and Kelly get to the final conclusion. The final showdown between the police, Robie, and the cat-burglar is great. Other highlights for me included the swimming scene, the boat scene, and the picnic scene. Unfortunately, I've always felt there were few instances where To Catch a Thief drags a bit. There are a number of scenes where cars drive back and forth along twisting mountainous roads. And while the scenery is breathtaking, a bit more intrigue might have been a plus. Grant and Kelly's charm, however, is generally enough to offset these moments. Overall, it may not be Hitch's best, but I've always enjoyed revisiting To Catch a Thief.

• AJ V

  
  This is the only Hitchcock movie of the fifties I don't care for. The plot is too simple, it's boring, and he shouldn't have chose Grant to be the cat burglar (I love Grant, but I don't think this role was intended for him.). Of course if you love… More
  This is the only Hitchcock movie of the fifties I don't care for. The plot is too simple, it's boring, and he shouldn't have chose Grant to be the cat burglar (I love Grant, but I don't think this role was intended for him.). Of course if you love Hitchcock's movies, you should still see this one anyway.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  A lesser effort by the Hitchcock machine, but enjoyable enough. Light, sexy and (sadly) low on suspense. Visually stunning, from the French Riviera scenery to the amazing costumes by Edith Head. Cary Grant plays Cary Grant. Grace Kelly lights up the screen every time. The revelation… More
  A lesser effort by the Hitchcock machine, but enjoyable enough. Light, sexy and (sadly) low on suspense. Visually stunning, from the French Riviera scenery to the amazing costumes by Edith Head. Cary Grant plays Cary Grant. Grace Kelly lights up the screen every time. The revelation of the villain was indeed surprising, just not very interesting. On a side note, the sequence where Grace Kelly's being chased down the road is positively creepy, considering how her life came to an end.

• Lewis C

  
  To Catch a Thief was a wonderful showcase for France, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and the wonderful writing of John Michael Hayes. It's the thrilling story of a retired thief who must catch a copycat in order to clear his own name, at the same time a young rich woman is attempting… More
  To Catch a Thief was a wonderful showcase for France, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and the wonderful writing of John Michael Hayes. It's the thrilling story of a retired thief who must catch a copycat in order to clear his own name, at the same time a young rich woman is attempting to "catch" him. That's not an unexpected story for Hitchcock, but he pulls it off wonderfully with his trademark style and showmanship. The only Hitchcock movie with better dialogue than To Catch a Thief was Rear Window, and that's a mighty fine bit of praise. It's made even better by the quality of actors who are delivering it. I'm really starting to see why Cary Grant was such a beloved actor for so many years, because he helped lay down a template that actors like George Clooney are still successfully following today. And Grace Kelly once again knocked my socks off with her charm, beauty, and undeniable natural ability for acting. We also are treated to great performances from Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams and Brigette Auber. I'm sure that it's pretty obvious by now that I really liked To Catch a Thief. It's one of the most "fun" Htchcock movies. The characters are rarely in any real danger Even the occasional car chase or boat escape is handled in a thoroughly lighthearted manner. There aren't many better choices for a classic movie of this type, I highly recommend it.

• Conner R

  
  My third favorite team up between Hitchcock and Cary Grant, it’s a perfect caper and one of the best looking films Hitchcock ever made. The on location Italian backdrop is unforgettable, going to show the versatile talent Hitchcock had (that he said he didn’t). The pairing of Cary… More
  My third favorite team up between Hitchcock and Cary Grant, it’s a perfect caper and one of the best looking films Hitchcock ever made. The on location Italian backdrop is unforgettable, going to show the versatile talent Hitchcock had (that he said he didn’t). The pairing of Cary Grant with Grace Kelly was such a brilliant decision, their chemistry is perfect and almost too convincing. The story is so much fun and it keeps you guessing until the finale when everything comes together. I love the sequences, it was sort’ve the precursor to what eventually became North By Northwest.

• Randy T

  
  Hitchcock-Lyte. Combination of Cary Grant's screwball-ish comedic style, Grace Kelly's timeless beauty, and Alfred Hitchcock's unmatched mastery of suspense. This isn't nearly as serious as <i>Rear Window</i> or <i>North by Northwest</i>… More
  Hitchcock-Lyte. Combination of Cary Grant's screwball-ish comedic style, Grace Kelly's timeless beauty, and Alfred Hitchcock's unmatched mastery of suspense. This isn't nearly as serious as <i>Rear Window</i> or <i>North by Northwest</i> but it was never intended to be. Comedic romantic thriller. (Comromiller? Thrillcomance? How about Romthrilledy?)

• Veronique K

  
  as hitchcock admits himself "to catch a thief" is not supposed to be taken seriously, and it's a flick due to the sheer "pleasure principle"...it abounds the glamour of edith head's fashionable constumes and landscapic sceneries of french rivera, all… More
  as hitchcock admits himself "to catch a thief" is not supposed to be taken seriously, and it's a flick due to the sheer "pleasure principle"...it abounds the glamour of edith head's fashionable constumes and landscapic sceneries of french rivera, all about people in leisure with divine living that none of our commoners could afford. cary grant is reformed jewlry cat thief, and he's confronting false accusations of some recent imitated crimes of his past, then a rich spoilt young lady grace kelly spots him out with some expectant sitimulation to chase after him while joyfully seducts him into her fragrant chamber. eventually grant disposes the framing conspiracy and kelly conquers grant in his reclusive villa with her calculated last remark "oh mother would love here!!!" while grant apprehensively glimpses her back. "to catch a thief" is by far hitchcock's mostly feminine flick which literarily pays its hommage to fashion. all the dressy clothes kelly and grant wears in it would be deemed iconic today. the tilting part is the trifling tension of genders since kelly takes the initiative move to court grant but in a tastefully subdued manner, she schemes to entrap him as her love conquest and he's also clever enough to perceive that. tenderly aggressive invasion and fiercely passive resistance form an interesting guerilla of opposite sexs, even after she explodes in hostility while she suspect him for thivering her family diamond. then she surrenders to him after he claims his innocence, so she sumbits to his league and reaching her aiding hand that is one of typically hitchcockian patterns of gender harmony. and the gimmick of firecracker glittering metaphors the blossom of undertone sensuality becuz in those days everything is about suggestive insinuations on sex that is a refined way to express. even the kisses of grant and kelly are actually faux ones resulted from the masterful editing to create a particular angle of contours that has been utilized also upon "vertigo" between jim stewart and kim novak. "to catch a thief" may be too brightfully cheerful for standard hitchcockian aficinado but also enormously pleasant for the eyesight with the french pastures and luxurious mansions, fair-looking people in elaborated dresses and fancy gowns that is a flamboyant life to envy upon. why not just relax and absorb such carefreeness? (ps) the role of the real thief, a puberty french lad, was once considered with bridget bardot, but rebuffed by hitchcock becuz he views bardot too blatantly sexy just like "french marilyn monroe"...hitchcock in person prefers his blondes with boiling sexuality but all disguised under the debutante icy-cold surface.

• Ken S

  
  Diet Hitchcock

• Cassandra M

  
  The best thing about this film is the chemistry between leads Grant and Kelly. Grant is as debonair as usual and Kelly was never more glamorous. The costumes she wears are very flattering to her and she is to the clothes. The dialogue between them sparkles throughout and is a pleasure… More
  The best thing about this film is the chemistry between leads Grant and Kelly. Grant is as debonair as usual and Kelly was never more glamorous. The costumes she wears are very flattering to her and she is to the clothes. The dialogue between them sparkles throughout and is a pleasure to watch even if the course of their relationship is predictable. Grant's self-deprecating in-jokes are another nice touch. Further pleasantly adding to the fantasy ambience is the spectacular photography of the French riviera. John Williams is also great as the insurance investigator, the type of character he played in Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder (also with Kelly) and in the Doris Day-Rex Harrison film, Midnight Lace. This film is not one of the most psychologically involving in Hitchcock's pantheon but it is not designed to be. It is enjoyed best as what it was produced to be: glossy high production value escapist fare

• danny d

  
  very good, classic hitchcock

• Michael G

  
  A really great film from Hitchcock's best period.

• Matthew Y

  
  An OK Hitchcock film about a cat-burglar who has an eye for expensive jewels. It stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and is unfortunately more about the sexual tension and lust between the two characters with very little jewel thievery going on. I was also very underwhelmed when the… More
  An OK Hitchcock film about a cat-burglar who has an eye for expensive jewels. It stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and is unfortunately more about the sexual tension and lust between the two characters with very little jewel thievery going on. I was also very underwhelmed when the big cat-burglar reveal occurs. You know its not going to be Gene Kelly because that's who the plots pointing too, really there's only one other character who gets developed much in the film and so it's painfully obvious who it's going to be. Not a huge fan of To Catch a Thief but those who enjoy the witty banter of Cary Grant and generally enjoy these type of Hitchcock romance/thrillers should be able to appreciate To Catch a Thief.

• Burger S

  
  Grace Kelly. What more do you need? You can understand why they wanted Gary Grant to play James Bond, but he thought he was too old. Great Footage of the French Riviera.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings