To
Catch A Thief (1955)
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Paramount
Cast:
Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams.
Rating:
G.
Run
time: 106 mins
Genre:
A romantic crime caper!
Verdict:
Beautiful
(see rating
system)
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|
A
reluctant Cary Grant was persuaded out of premature early
retirement to make this light crime caper by famed director
Alfred Hitchcock, who promised him a sunny location shoot
in the south of France and Monaco with the gorgeous Grace
Kelly co-starring.
The
movie is a delight, with Grant slipping comfortably into the
suave playboy personna he would mine in subsequent films like
North by Northwest and Charade. And Kelly - shortly before
her marriage to Monaco's Prince Rainier - never looked more
stunning.
Stunning
is also the word for the look of the picture, which won the
Oscar for "Best Color Cinematography", with picture-postcard
views of the exotic locations. The film's success was enough
to persuade Grant to resume his career for another 11 years.
Grant
plays retired jewel thief John Robie once known as "The
Cat" for his daring rooftop breakins. But after serving
in the French Resistance during the Second World War to atone
for his crimes, Robie has settled down to a quiet life on
the French Riviera. Quiet that is until until a new outbreak
of daring jewel robberies has police pointing the finger at
Robie.
Determined
to prove his innocence, Robie goes on the run to find out
who is immitating his old methods. Pampered rich girl Frances
(Kelly) proves a handsome distraction, at first believing
him guilty then teaming to help Robie catch the new "Cat".
Hitchcock
keeps the tone light, skilfully blending romance, drama and
a crime story into a very agreeable concoction. There's lot's
of suggestive dialogue between Kelly and Grant - for example
when she asks him whether he prefers "leg or breast?"
at a quiet picnic, or when she turns down the lights in her
suite and says, " I have a feeling that tonight you're
going to see one of the Riviera's most fascinating sights"
. . . then pauses as he gazes at her to add "I was talking
about the fireworks!"
Kelly
also gives Grant one of the hottest kisses seen on screen
- no wonder rumours persist Hitchcock was obsessed by her.
Paramount's
Special Collector's Edition, released in 2007, is a beauty,
starting with a terrific picture and sound remastering. There
are also three featurettes on the making of the movie plus
a fourth on iconic movie costume designer Edith Head.
