To Catch a Thief
To Catch a Thief

Movie spotlight

To Catch a Thief

1955
Movie
106 min
English

When a string of jewel robberies hits the French Riviera, suspicion falls on retired thief John “The Cat” Robie. To clear his name, he sets out to trap the copycat himself—entangling a wealthy widow and her beguiling daughter in a seductive game of pursuit, deception, and desire.

Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes93%
Metacritic72/100
Google Users89%
Director: Alfred HitchcockGenres: Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Plot Summary

A former jewel thief, known as 'The Cat,' living a retired life on the French Riviera, is suspected of a new series of jewel robberies. To clear his name, he must identify the real culprit among a wealthy group of tourists and their valuable jewels. Along the way, he becomes entangled with a beautiful American heiress, adding a layer of romance to his dangerous investigation.

Critical Reception

To Catch a Thief was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its stunning visuals, charismatic performances, and Hitchcock's masterful direction. The film is often cited as a quintessential example of Hitchcock's ability to blend suspense with romance and picturesque settings.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its breathtaking cinematography of the French Riviera.

  • Lauded for the sophisticated chemistry between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

  • Applauded for Hitchcock's signature blend of suspense, wit, and romantic intrigue.

Google audience: Audiences loved the glamorous setting and the charming performances of the lead actors, especially the romantic storyline. The thrilling plot and Hitchcock's directorial style were also frequently highlighted as positive aspects.

Awards & Accolades

Won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Robert Burks). Nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.

Fun Fact

The iconic scene where Cary Grant is hanging from the side of a cliff was filmed using a process screen, with Grant actually performing the stunt in a studio, not on a real cliff face.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Cary Grant is on excellent form in this ultra-sophisticated crime caper. Having long since retired to life on the Côte D'Azur, "John Robie" finds himself at the centre of enquiries as his "Cat" appears to have resurrected itself and is robb...

JPV852

JPV852

Fluffy mystery-romance-thriller excels thanks to the wonderful charms of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. For me, this is a lesser Hitchcock film but still had plenty of fun and entertainment value even though there's nothing really noteworthy i...

John Chard

John Chard

The big man was in jovial mood with this one. To Catch A Thief, is, when all is said and done, a softer entry on the great Alfred Hitchcock's CV. By his own admission it was a film he viewed as "lightweight", but such is the great mans ...