Cary Grant steals again in this re-release of Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. He’s joined by leading lady, and soon to be princess, Grace Kelly in what is certainly a classic in Master Hitchcock’s filmography.
John Robie (Cary Grant) is retired. The problem is that he’s a retired jewel thief, known as the Cat. The police have come looking for him since robberies that seem much like his own have been recently staged. He gives the cops the slip but wants to catch the thief that has caused him all this trouble.
H.H. Hughson (John Williams) is an insurance agent and acquaintance of Robie’s restaurateur friend Bertani (Charles Vanel). Robie enlists Hughson to give him a list of his clients and Hughson, rather reluctantly, does so.
So now Robie has to stake out Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Grace Kelly) and wait for the imposter Cat to try and steal Mrs. Steven’s jewelry.
However, Francie begins her pursuit of Robie and faces the ire of Danielle (Brigitte Auber), who is the daughter of an old friend of Robie’s and has a crush on him. The Cat still manages to steal jewels and all the while Robie is getting the blame and deeper into trouble.
To Catch a Thief well may be the most accessible film from Hitchcock. Certainly some of his other films deal with off-putting subject matter, such as getting knifed in a hotel room shower, which the general public might not grove to.
To Catch a Thief is a breezy, fun travelogue that just happens to feature some great stars. Who can resist the charms of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly? Here certainly they’re dynamite or fireworks if you prefer.
Hitchcock still has his devilish sense of humor as Grant and Kelly’s romance is punctuated by fireworks representing more carnal activities. It was Hitch’s way of thumbing his nose at the ratings board. I really wish I was more like Cary Grant and this film just makes me fell inferior.
Grant is a dashing, elegant lead and really lights up the screen. He’s eclipsed by the fetching Grace Kelly, who would be Hitch’s favorite leading lady until the Prince of Monaco would make her his bride and out of Hitch’s reach.
Both are given delightful support by a wicked Jessie Royce Landis and John Williams playing a deliciously stuff Brit as only he can play him. It’s a grand film and features some beautiful location work.
To Catch a Thief is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. To Catch a Thief has been on DVD several times and this new Centennial edition adds some special features, but finds one missing. Disc one contains a commentary by Hitchcockian historian Dr. Drew Casper, holder of the Alma and Alfred Hitchcock chair at USC film school.
What is missing is a commentary done by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich done for the previous special edition. Disc two starts off with the 23 minute “A Night with the Hitchcock’s” where Casper hosts a Q&A with Hitch’s daughter Pat Hitchcock O’Connell and granddaughter Mary Stone. The 11 minute “Unacceptable under the Code” is a history of the production code and how Hitch snuck around it.
The 6 minute “Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly” is about the two stars work on this picture. The remaining featurettes appeared on the previous special edition (and the one before it). They include the 17 minute “Writing and Casting to Catch a Thief, the 7 minute “Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation,” the 17 minute “The Making of To Catch a Thief,” and the 13 minute “Edith Head: The Paramount Years” profiling the iconic designer.
You also get the 2 minute trailer, an interactive travelogue of the French Riviera locations, photo galleries, and an eight page booklet.
To Catch a Thief is Hitchcock at his most playful and Grant and Kelly at their most stunning. I enjoy it when older films are given more special features, but I’m always disappointed when things that were on other editions disappear. I still rate this new edition highly as being charmed by the two stars and the master of suspense.
To Catch a Thief - The Centennial Collection is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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