Review of To Catch a Thief (1955) by Chelsea K — 12 Jun 2010

To Catch a Thief was a wonderful showcase for France, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and the wonderful writing of John Michael Hayes. It's the thrilling story of a retired thief who must catch a copycat in order to clear his own name, at the same time a young rich woman is attempting to "catch" him. That's not an unexpected story for Hitchcock, but he pulls it off wonderfully with his trademark style and showmanship.

The only Hitchcock movie with better dialogue than To Catch a Thief was Rear Window, and that's a mighty fine bit of praise. It's made even better by the quality of actors who are delivering it. I'm really starting to see why Cary Grant was such a beloved actor for so many years, because he helped lay down a template that actors like George Clooney are still successfully following today. And Grace Kelly once again knocked my socks off with her charm, beauty, and undeniable natural ability for acting. We also are treated to great performances from Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams and Brigette Auber.

I'm sure that it's pretty obvious by now that I really liked To Catch a Thief. It's one of the most "fun" Htchcock movies. The characters are rarely in any real danger Even the occasional car chase or boat escape is handled in a thoroughly lighthearted manner. There aren't many better choices for a classic movie of this type, I highly recommend it.