To Catch A Thief (1955) (BD) [Blu-ray]

What may be considered a minor work for Hitchcock, "To Catch A Thief" would be considered a great film if directed by anyone else. This little jewel from Monaco is in fact a great film, which has been overshadowed by its less glamorous siblings such as "North By Northwest".As retired jewel thief John Robie "The Cat" Cary Grant is every inch a study in grace, strength and agility in all areas of his life, be it eluding the French police to escaping the finely set trap of Pacific Northwest Heiress Grace Kelly. He is as always the perfect image of a movie star and brings with him all the charm and style we expect from Cary Grant, but just beneath the surface there is something else. John Robie is someone who is hiding the real man he used to be submerged below the smooth glamour of his post war persona. He is very like the Cockney Archie Leach that lived buried deep below the skin of Cary Grant. This makes his performance all the more complex and compelling to watch. The duality of the star mirrors the duality of the character.Grace Kelly is of course the perfection of all the blonde, icy hot, impossibly smart and beautiful objects of the Hitchcock world. But she two is hiding something in her performance in this film as she did all of her films. Just like Grant she is an imposter hiding behind a movie star. It is all in her voice, that beautiful upper mid Atlantic accent that no one else in her Philadelphia background shares. Her Frances Stevens is from the Northwest but by way of Bryn Mawr or Wellesley she has eradicated her past almost as well as Robie The Cat. Almost, that is except for the presence on this trip to the south of France of her bejeweled and earthy Mother.Thus in the high and rarefied atmosphere of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo, these two imposters meet and are drawn by mutual understanding and attraction into a perfect little Hitchcock mystery. To watch these two unearthly beautiful actors as they move through the hotels, beaches and villas of the area is to watch perfection in every sense of divine fakery and double sided joy of their beauty and talent.Jesse Royce Landis appears as Kelly's mother and with only a few words and a look nearly steals the picture. She is the only person in the story who is not hiding who she really is and in so doing is the comic center of not only the jewel thief's attentions but the pictures as well. She is the hook upon which the crook hangs.The screenplay by John Michael Hayes who also wrote such varied fair as "Butterfield-8", "Peyton Place" and "Rear Window" here in this work comes up with some of the most clever lines and double entendre in the genre:John Robie: Say something nice to her, Danielle.Danielle: She looks a lot older up close.Frances: To a mere child, anything over twenty might seem old.The dialog is funny and full of delirious wit and a little wisdom as well.Just like the two main characters in the film, "To Catch A Thief" is a great film hiding behind the mask of it's reputation as one of it's genius director's lesser efforts, don't buy it for a second. It is first-rate entertainment and not a paste imitation among the jewels of Hitchcock's repertoire. A finely crafted gem.

My preference is for Hitchcock's grittier suspense movies, but "To Catch a Thief" has so many things going for it, I can't give it less than 5 stars!It's the early 50's and in an introduction, we see the arms only of a black-gloved thief stealing jewelry. Then to a French Villa, where the housekeeper sees a newspaper heading: "The Cat Prowls Again?" The column continues, "Is it true, or just a rumor - that John Robie, former cat burglar of Paris before the war, is once again on the prowl? Fashionable resorts on the Riviera are being regularly looted by a skillful jewel thief. Robie, once a hero of the French Resistance Army, was said to have reformed - however, the style of this new crime wave is certainly his."Robie, in his French sailor-like striped sweater with rakish red & white scarf, is not amused when the police arrive in force to "talk" to him. He escapes (cleverly) and goes to the restaurant of another reformed thief/Resistance fighter, Bertani. Robie tells him that he is not behind the new robberies, but no body believes him: "What I can't understand is how this thief can imitate me so perfectly. It has to be someone who knew every detail of my technique.... I've got to catch this imitator myself."And that's what he does, aided by Mr. H.H. Hughson, an insurance agent who is very nervous indeed. Hughson manages an introduction to a likely future burglary victim, the redoubtable Mrs. Stevens and her cool calm and exceedingly beautiful daughter, Frances.There are so many fabulous scenes between Grace Kelly and Cary Grant that it needs a book to describe them. And Grant has his humor on in several more scenes, such as when he's trying to escape through a flower market and a diminutive gray-haired flower seller stops him.These are the extras on the one-disc DVD "Special Collector's Edition":1. Commentary by Peter Bogdanovich and Laurent Bouzereau. Bogdanovich knew both Hitchcock and Grant, and Bouzereau co-wrote a book about Hitchcock with the director's daughter, Pat Hitchcock. "To Catch a Thief" was filmed right after the very successful "Rear Window", and Bogdanovich said that the later movie has more of a vacation quality to it; Hitchcock could be more relaxed. In his own words, Hitchcock could rely on the charm of two leading actors "who were beyond charming".Grant was 50 years old when he filmed "To Catch a Thief", and he looks great. Bogdanovich and Bouzereau agree that he was in great shape, even though he never exercised. Or, rather, Bogdanovich tells us, Grant once told him that "he never exercised, he just made love."Grace Kelly fell in love with Prince Rainier right after "To Catch a Thief", so it's her last movie.2. "Writing and Casting 'To Catch a Thief' " a 2002 short with commentary by Pat Hitchcock (his daughter), Mary Stone (Hitchcock's granddaughter) and Steven deRosa (author, "Writing with Hitchcock"), accompanied by movie shots and stills as well as personal movies and photos. One of the things they touch on is how Hitchcock got the innuendo-laden dialogue and shots between Grant and Kelley past the PCA (Production Code Association).3. "The Making of 'To Catch a Thief' ". The extras # 2, 3 and 4 were pretty much all filmed together, and then they divided them into three extras. Nothing wrong with it, but they could have put it into one long featurette. Commentators in this short are Mary Stone, Doc Erickson (production manager), Steven deRosa, Pat Hitchcock and Sylvette Baudrot (continuity in France). Baudrot remembers that Grant showed up for filming the beginning in a dress shirt with buttonholes on the collar. The film was supposed to take place right after the war, in '48-'49, and Baudrot told Hitchcock that the shirt-style was more modern and American, at that. And that's why John Robie is wearing a sweater with a scarf tied around his neck!I also got a kick out of one of Mary Stone's reminisces. Her grandfather liked happy endings, she says, but he liked to have a last little twist at the end. In this case, the very last scene has Grant and Kelly embracing on his villa's porch and Kelly murmers, "So this is where you live. Oh, Mother will love it up here."!!4. "Alfred Hitchcock and 'To Catch a Thief': An Appreciation " The same people as #2 & 3. Still interesting tidbits, just not sure why they divided it up like this.5. "Edith Head - The Paramount Years". This documentary was filmed in 2002 and has also been an extra on a DVD release of "Sunset Blvd.". I hadn't seen this documentary before, however, and I really enjoyed it. Head's career spanned 60 years, 40 of them with Paramount. Commentors include David Chierichetti (Edith Head biographer), Tzetzi Ganev (head of Custom-Made Dept for Western Costume at Paramount), Bob Mackie (fashion designer) and Rosemary Clooney (actor, who knew Head from the movie "White Christmas").Head got her first big break when the lead costume designer didn't get along with mega-star Clara Bow. He gave Bow's assignments to Head, who learned a big lesson from that which she carried throughout her whole career: Get along with everybody.Head had told people that Hitchcock was her favorite director, and "To Catch a Thief" was "her all time favorite film".6. TrailerLovely movie. I watch it for the humor - which can be tongue-in-cheek. Such as when Robie escapes by boarding a bus and ends up in the back seat. Between a woman with a bird in a cage and ... Alfred Hitchcock!Happy Reader

This movie is one of my absolute favorite Cary Grant movies.

(Reviewing Paramount 14637): "To Catch a Thief" is the kind of classic movie from the 1950s for which Blu-ray/HD technology was made, and this disc does not disappoint. The many exterior shots of the south of France are breathtaking: the details of the villas on promontories, the helicopter scans of the coastal cities, the blue of the Mediterranean: the sexual fireworks display (no pun intended) at night. Robert Burks, Hitchcock's cinematographer throughout the 1950s and early '60s, deservedly won an Academy Award for his work here. I'm astonished by how well the process shots from the '50s (scenes shot in a studio against a projected background) still hold up against a technological improvement like Blu-ray, capable of highlighting all the flaws. I see no such here. As for detail: 1080p HD differentiates each of the dozens of fine stripes in Cary Grant's casual knit-shirt, if that's where your eyes gravitate (though I'd bet they'll be focused elsewhere). I cannot detect vast improvement in audio quality over Paramount's DVD predecessors, but the sound is crisp, clear, and balanced. Also included are an abundance of special features, though none of them is new to this edition: they previously appeared in Paramount's DVD Centennial Edition.As for the movie: While (to my taste) not in the same league as "Vertigo," "North by Northwest," or "Psycho," I cannot give "To Catch a Thief fewer than five stars. Hitchcock produced more profound movies than this but few that are more uninhibitedly entertaining. It's probably the best comedy he ever produced, with a cast that radiates old Hollywood charm: notably, Cary Grant, in a late-career-defining role, and Grace Kelly at the crest of her fame. The script by John Michael Hayes competes with that for "Rear Window" (from the year before) as the wittiest any writer ever gave Hitchcock. (You can sense Hitchcock and Hayes's glee at filling the scripts with double entendres that the censors wouldn't catch but the audiences couldn't miss.) The audience is privileged to laugh, make love with two of the screen's sexiest actors, and revel in the "picture travelogue heaven" of Nice and Cannes in mid-twentieth century. Highly Recommended.

Please describe (accurately) the audio and video quality of any Blu-Ray you review. Thanks to those who do this.This has to be about the best video quality I've ever seen on a Blu-Ray. It is better than 99% of the Blu-Ray movies I have seen. I give it a 9.9 on a 10.0 scale. It is better than most modern day movies which are shot digitally. I usually have something negative to say about the video quality on a Blu-Ray, but I can't think of any critisisms, except maybe a little softness in some of the scenes. I didn't see any grain in the entire movie, and I sit about 7 feet away from a 52" LCD. You know you have great video quality when you can pause the movie, and still see no grain. Even the dark scenes were without grain. Blacks were blacks, with no video distortion. I paused the movie and stood a foot away, and saw only very slight grain in the blue sky, and the fine grain wasn't widespread.The image was very sharp and detailed, except for some close up skin shots. The reason I say this video is better than most modern day movies shot digitally, is because even the background seems to be sharp and focused. The background in most modern movies is usually blurred, very soft, and out of focus. Colors were fantastic.All Blu-Ray movies should look this good. Most older movies have some grain. Some modern movies have grain and look terrible. This video is fantastic.Aspect ratio is about 1.85:1 (filled my widescreen), not the 2.35:1 listed in the product description.Where they did skimp is with the soundtrack. I selected Dolby TrueHD 2.0, which was the best sound I could select, but most of the sound seemed to come from the center. In fact, my modern 7.1 receiver couldn't even play the TrueHD soundtrack, so I wonder if this disc even has it. Although my receiver didn't display TrueHD, when I pressed the "Display" button on the remote, it displayed "Dolby TrueHD 2/0" no my TV - so I am confused. If the soundtrack really is stereo, I couldn't hear much channel separation. But, the sound was adequate.I have to give this Blu-Ray 5 stars because of the excellent video quality. The movie lasted an hour and 46.5 minutes. I was disappointed there were no credits at the end.

John Robie, a retired jewel thief once known as "The Cat" sets out to prove his innocence after a string of recent thefts leaves him as the police's only suspect...I'm on a mission to watch all of Grace Kelly's movies and have been starting with her Hitchcock films first. This was my third (Rear Window & Dial M For Murder are the others) and I honestly think this may be her best performance yet. I loved her portrayal of Frances Stevens who was a little sassy, a bit bold, and a lot beautiful. Cary Grant himself was intriguing as John Robie and I enjoyed watching the sparks fly between these two. I think my favorite character of all though was Frances's mother, whose forthright and open manner cracked me up. John Williams (a London insurance representative) was a great addition to the cast too.And while there is a dash of romance this was much more of a mystery than anything else. Set upon the French Riviera, the scenery was lovely and only added to the mystique and excitement. There was so much action and adventure that I was never once bored either. In fact my only issues would be with the very heavy accents which often made it hard to follow along and the fact that lots of things were spoken in French too, which I unfortunately don't speak. I also found the backgrounds of some scenes grainy looking.That being said I still enjoyed this film very much and am so glad that I finally got around to watching it. I viewed the 2017 blu-ray version which had a clear and crisp picture (except for some of those backgrounds) especially for a nearly seventy year old movie. This edition also had a ton of special features which include: Commentary * A Night With the Hitchcocks * Unacceptable Under the Code: Censorship in Hollywood * Writing & Casting * The Making Of * Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly * Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation * Edith Head: The Paramount Years * An Interactive Travelogue * Galleries.Below are some facts and information about the movie that I compiled from the back of the case and/or gathered from other sources...Release Year: 1955Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutesImage: Color (Technicolor & VistaVision)Genre: Mystery, Romance, Thriller, SuspenseRating: Not Rated (Originally Rated PG)Studio: Paramount PicturesAwards: Won 1 Oscar

In "To Catch A Thief", Cary Grant plays a reformed jewel thief living on the French Riviera. He naturally becomes the prime suspect when a fresh string of jewel thefts occurs. In order to prove his innocence, he must catch the real thief. Enter Jesse Royce Landis and Grace Kelly as a wealthy and bejewelled widow and her irresistable daughter. Kelly uses her feminine wiles to snare an ambivalent Grant while he waits for the real thief to make the inevitable attempt on her mother's jewels. Grant is superb as the handsome and charming John Robie, and Kelly also shines as the smart and alluring Frances.In addition to breathtaking scenery, this movie has all the usual characteristics you expect from Alfred Hitchcock: a fine cast, clever and sophisticated story, and outstanding production work. Still, it has been referred to as one of Hitchcock's "lighter" films. And, in a sense, that's true. Certainly a tale about a jewel thief doesn't have quite the intensity of a man possibly murdering his wife in the apartment across from yours, or of accidentally becoming involved with an international spy ring. Moreover, "To Catch A Thief" is partly a romantic comedy, as exemplified by Grant dropping a ten thousand franc chit down the front of a woman's gown, then asking her to return his money, in order to attract attention to himself when he is trying to make the acquaintance of Kelly and her wealthy mother in the casino at Monte Carlo. Romantic comedies aren't noted for their depth or suspense. But don't let that fool you. There are some tense moments before this movie is over. "Lighter" doesn't necessarily mean less enjoyable.Though "To Catch A Thief" isn't quite the thriller that some of Hitchcock's other great films are, it is an excellent flick in it's own right. Grant and Kelly are great together, the story moves smoothly from light moments to suspense, and the location footage from the French Riviera is gorgeous. Put it all together and you have a very entertaining and satisfying movie. Give it a look.

There is so much to like about Alfred Hitchcock's 'To Catch a Thief' that a special DVD edition is a cause for celebration! First, the very premise of Cary Grant as a retired cat burglar enjoying life on the Rivera until a copycat criminal thrusts him back into service (and the oh-so willing arms of Grace Kelly) was so irresistable that it lured Grant, who had retired from film, back to the screen (a very fortunate decision, as he went on to make 'North by Northwest', 'Operation Petticoat', 'Charade', and other memorable films). Second, it reteamed Hitchcock with not only his favorite actor, but also with Kelly, his favorite actress, and the archetype for all the other blonde actresses in his other great films of the 50s and 60s. Third, it was a light-hearted romp, full of beautiful scenery, bawdy double-entendres (At a picnic: "Do you want a leg or a breast?" "You make the choice."), and a plot as light as a French souffle, which was a welcome change for Hitch, after a series of much darker films.Some of the supporting cast were French, which required some less than successful redubbing of dialogue, but great comic turns were provided by British character actor John Williams, and the redoubtable Jessie Royce Landis, who was so delightful as Kelly's mother that Hitchcock cast her as Cary Grant's mother in 'North by Northwest'! A bit of trivia: Brigitte Auber, who plays the busty, hormonally-charged French girl Kelly icily refers to as a 'child', was, in fact, nearly a year older than her!Among the extras this very special DVD offers are a 'making-of' featurette, a Remembrance, featuring recollections of Hitchcock's daughter and granddaughter, an instructive look at how the story came to the screen, and a great piece about Hitchcock's favorite costume designer, Edith Head. You definitely get your money's worth!If you want to lose yourself in a wonderful light romantic adventure, they don't come much better than this! Indulge yourself!

Great movie, really enjoyed it.

Wow!What an upgrade over any previous available version. The french landscapes are stunningly presented with vivid rich (and correct) colour. The Dolby Vision/VistaVision combo delivers another winner following November 2024's 4k release of 'White Christmas'.A joy to behold. The bigger the screen the better - I watched this on a 65 inch. It's a great movie too with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly showing why they are such beloved, true movie stars and with Hitch directing you have the recipe for a perfect 105 minutes.Paramount has given us a mixed bag of 4k releases over the years but with this one they can collectively pat themselves on the back.

Class one by four outstanding actor!

L'ho comprato per ascoltarlo e leggerlo in inglese. Lo avevo visto quando ero giovane! Adoro i vecchi film con attori meravigliosi, scomparsi da tanto tempo ma sempre belli da riguardare.Edoarda Paolini

One of my niece's favourite movies.L Fowden