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| Kelly and Grant in To Catch a Thief |
John Robie (Cary Grant), who used to be a thief known as the Cat before becoming a hero in the resistance, is suspected of a new series of burglaries on the Riviera, especially by his former comrades. Annoyed by the whole situation, he decides to track down the real culprit by getting close to potential victims, such as wealthy American Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her beautiful daughter Frances (Grace Kelly), with whom he gets very close. While this may lack the intensity of other Hitchcock, movies, it is also smooth, well-made, and full of fine acting and wonderful dialogue [courtesy of John Michael Hayes]. Grant and Kelly are as wonderful as ever, as is Landis, and John Williams -- one of Hitch's favorites -- is as usual on the money as insurance man Hughson. Playing the daughter of one of Robie's old associates, Brigitte Auber may have been younger than Kelly but the latter pretty much blows the former out of the water. All this and a nifty car chase sequence, too.
Verdict: Hitchcock treading water maybe, but who treads water with more -- pun intended -- grace? ***
3 comments:
Yes, it may be Hitchcock lite, but with two good looking stars and great use of beautiful Monte Carlo, 'Thief' is very easy on the eyes. Makes me want to go back to Monte Carlo asap. Anyone care to join me?
I'm still waiting for someone to take me to Venice, but Monte Carlo will do.
Seriously, thanks for your comment. And you're right that this is a movie that's easy on the eyes.
I usually come to a Hitchcock film anticipating high-intensity drama and this is certainly not that so much. Near the bottom of my Hitch List but admittedly a stylish & somewhat engaging flick w/ Old-Hollywood, glamorous leads.
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