To Catch A Thief Reviews

1955

Rated:
70
from 4769 members

A supposedly reformed cat burglar, out to prove himself innocent of a recent crime spree, tries to capture the thief who's terrifying the French Riviera. Cary Grant is devastatingly elegant as the former thief, John Robie, and charming enough to attract the attention of the lovely Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly), a wealthy and .. Read more

Starring	Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, John Williams, Charles Vanel
Director	Alfred Hitchcock
Genres	Thriller

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Critics' reviews (3) of To Catch A Thief
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Time has not been kind to this romantic mystery from Alfred Hitchcock, which seems to be no more than a hasty vehicle cobbled together to team his blonde obsession at the time, Grace Kelly, with his old favourite, Cary Grant. Sandwiched between Hitchcock's masterpieces Rear Window and The Trouble with Harry, and therefore often overlooked, it follows a retired jewel thief's attempts to catch a copycat criminal. Grant and Kelly are on sparkling form, but the real star here is the French Riviera, which is beautifully captured by the Oscar-winning cinematography of Robert Burks.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
One of the most lightweight (and not even particularly deceptively so) of Hitchcock's comedy-thrillers; a retreat... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Very slow, floppy and rather boring entertainment enlivened by the scenery and the odd Hitchcock touch.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of To Catch A Thief
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Hitchcock creates a Hollywood star-special

Cary Grant is a smooth and charismatic retired cat burglar getting entwined with the glamorous diamond-owning Grace Kelly. The chemistry between the two is excellent and comedy sprinkled in by the mother character.

But other than the blonde and the mother, this is far from standard Hitchcock fare: a thin mystery for the plot - far from Hitch's twisty thrillers - with the film being mainly driven by two great stars.

That said, this film is a very enjoyable way to spend 100mins, with some beautifully shot scenery. Don't expect Vertigo or Rear Window, but do enjoy Cary Grant and Grace Kelly speeding around the Riviera.
- - db from London
  - Posted 26 Jul 2004 16:30
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

What a great movie - perfect for an afternoon lazing on the sofa. Superb perfomances from Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, as well as excellent supporting turns. All of this agianst the perfect backdrop of the French Riviera and a plot which stays on the edge as we search for the Cat - a great jewel-thief who sneaks into wealthy windows and rips off the rich of the Cannes and Nice. Unmissable.
- - cape#1 from LONDON
  - Posted 21 Dec 2003 18:51
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Great!

Not Hitchcock's best film but it is a great movie. Cary Grant as always is wonderful...
- - A customer from Tooting,London,England
  - Posted 18 Jan 2007 18:26
Most recent members' reviews (2) of To Catch A Thief
View all
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Hitchcock creates a Hollywood star-special

Cary Grant is a smooth and charismatic retired cat burglar getting entwined with the glamorous diamond-owning Grace Kelly. The chemistry between the two is excellent and comedy sprinkled in by the mother character.

But other than the blonde and the mother, this is far from standard Hitchcock fare: a thin mystery for the plot - far from Hitch's twisty thrillers - with the film being mainly driven by two great stars.

That said, this film is a very enjoyable way to spend 100mins, with some beautifully shot scenery. Don't expect Vertigo or Rear Window, but do enjoy Cary Grant and Grace Kelly speeding around the Riviera.
- - db from London
  - Posted 26 Jul 2004 16:30
A slightly annoying jumper

A very good film generally, although Cary Grant wears a black and white striped jumper, which creates strange shimmering effects on the television, which gets quite annoying.
- - TheFilmMeister from Cardiff
  - Posted 21 Jul 2009 15:11

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Hitchcock creates a Hollywood star-special

Cary Grant is a smooth and charismatic retired cat burglar getting entwined with the glamorous diamond-owning Grace Kelly. The chemistry between the two is excellent and comedy sprinkled in by the mother character.

But other than the blonde and the mother, this is far from standard Hitchcock fare: a thin mystery for the plot - far from Hitch's twisty thrillers - with the film being mainly driven by two great stars.

That said, this film is a very enjoyable way to spend 100mins, with some beautifully shot scenery. Don't expect Vertigo or Rear Window, but do enjoy Cary Grant and Grace Kelly speeding around the Riviera.
- - db from London
  - Posted 26 Jul 2004 16:30
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

What a great movie - perfect for an afternoon lazing on the sofa. Superb perfomances from Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, as well as excellent supporting turns. All of this agianst the perfect backdrop of the French Riviera and a plot which stays on the edge as we search for the Cat - a great jewel-thief who sneaks into wealthy windows and rips off the rich of the Cannes and Nice. Unmissable.
- - cape#1 from LONDON
  - Posted 21 Dec 2003 18:51
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Great!

Not Hitchcock's best film but it is a great movie. Cary Grant as always is wonderful...
- - A customer from Tooting,London,England
  - Posted 18 Jan 2007 18:26
First Class

What to say....excellent performances, excellent script, stunning location. Not bad for a film 50 years old!! Do they make them like this anymore????
- - A customer from Glasgow
  - Posted 29 Mar 2005 08:25
Always Fun...

The pair of alfred/cary have always been awesome...this one is very good and stylish.
- - VISHNU PRASAD HARI from Hounslow
  - Posted 07 Sep 2005 17:33
Romance and adventure

Another of my childhood favourites I wanted to share with my children. I was so anxious they should enjoy it I was watching it 'differently' from usual! But they did enjoy it, and so did I... it just seemed to move slower than I'd remembered, but Cary Grant and Grace Kelly remain as my models of suave sophistication!
- - A customer from East Kent
  - Posted 15 Mar 2006 16:43
Timeless Hitchcock Entertainment

Beautiful people in a beautiful place and an interesting story make this film ideal family entertainment for a Friday or Saturday evening.

The setting is the French Riviera where John Robie (Cary Grant), a reformed cat burglar who specialised in relieving wealthy older women of their jewellery, has decided to settle.

His idyllic retirement is turned upside down when someone decides to emulate Robie's chequered past in a series of jewel robberies with his old modus operandi.

Locals and police begin to suspect that Mr Robie is up to his tricks again, and so the plot is set... he needs to prove his innocence in order to return to his quiet and contented life.

Throw in a couple of beautiful and manipulating women with a taste for excitement, and who cannot resist the charms of Mr Robie (sorry, Mr Grant) - one of whom being Grace Kelly - and the mix of intrigue, romance and suspense is just right.

Another Hitchcock masterpiece that can be watched again and again, and in perfectly restored colour.
- - philsky from South Lanarkshire
  - Posted 13 Jan 2004 15:29
Classic

Perhaps not racking up the tension the way some Hitchcock films did but still superb entertainment with Grant and Kelly oozing class. Hasn't dated too much either.
- - odja from Tayport
  - Posted 04 May 2005 16:02
[Highly rated reviewer]

hitchcock

A classic by alfred hitchcock.
- - mark leather from secret hideaway
  - Posted 02 Nov 2006 15:04
Nice film

Fun film for a weekend. Rather implausable story line, but entertaining, and good chemistry between the two leads.
- - Pullanisimo from Beds, England
  - Posted 12 Mar 2008 22:18

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Critics' reviews (3)
Time has not been kind to this romantic mystery from Alfred Hitchcock, which seems to be no more than a hasty vehicle cobbled together to team his blonde obsession at the time, Grace Kelly, with his old favourite, Cary Grant. Sandwiched between Hitchcock's masterpieces Rear Window and The Trouble with Harry, and therefore often overlooked, it follows a retired jewel thief's attempts to catch a copycat criminal. Grant and Kelly are on sparkling form, but the real star here is the French Riviera, which is beautifully captured by the Oscar-winning cinematography of Robert Burks.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
One of the most lightweight (and not even particularly deceptively so) of Hitchcock's comedy-thrillers; a retreat... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Very slow, floppy and rather boring entertainment enlivened by the scenery and the odd Hitchcock touch.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

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  A supposedly reformed cat burglar, out to prove himself innocent of a recent crime spree, tries to capture the thief who's terrifying the French Riviera. Cary Grant is devastatingly elegant as the former thief, John Robie, and charming enough to attract the attention of the lovely Frances Stevens (...