Review of To Catch a Thief (1955) by Michelle W — 19 Apr 2009
John Robie is a famous jewel thief known as the Cat. Strangely he has not stolen anything for fifteen years and yet jewels are going missing. "...to catch a thief.".
Grace Kelly and Cary Grant were understatedly amazing. They're meanings were portrayed delicately, and their chemistry faultless. They gave the brilliant writing even life, and the dialogue my favourite aspect of To Catch a Thief. It was fast, and in combination with the acting an the characters, it was enchanting.
Hitchcock is the master of suspense and yet this film isn't about the suspense. Oh, the suspense is there, but its not what we're meant to pay attention to. The thief is not the 'new cat' but The Cat himself, with Kelly's character trying to catch him. Its a romance, a romantic comedy, its a different side of Hitchcock. We see his humour, his lightness, the strong blonde, the annoying mother figure, but his flawless direction is still there.
Visually, with the exception of Kelly and her costumes, To Catch a Thief was rather lackluster. There were some gorgeous shots, namely when they were watching fireworks with Kelly's face in shadow, but I spent most of the film waiting for them to talk. With no talking, the scenes became weary. I always believe that film should be primarily visual. Hitchcock has always adapted from novels, and he's always done well, but this time the visuals fall short.
Hitchcock delivers. Hitchcock always delivers. Albeit its a different side to him, but its still good. Do you expect any less?
This review of To Catch a Thief (1955) was written by Michelle W on 19 Apr 2009.
To Catch a Thief has generally received very positive reviews.
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