Sunday, April 03, 2005

Hitchcock Review: To Catch a Thief

I was mightily impressed by this new (to me) Hitchcock film. To Catch a Thief starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly was a delightful romp that seems to be overshadowed by Hitchcock's other masterpieces.

Set on the French Riviera, it stars Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief and French resistance hero. When the robberies start happening again, the authorities immediately think of him. So Grant has to go out and clear his own name by catching the real thief.

Grant is electric on the screen. I was never really a Cary Grant fan, but under close scrutiny recently of watching Notorious, North by Northwest, and now To Catch a Thief, I must say that I like him. He's personable and yet haughty and arrogant. I wonder what it was like to meet him. And then Grace Kelly, ah Grace!, delivered the best performance I've seen her in ( I must find other movies with her).

I must say that it kept me guessing throughout the movie. I caught myself saying that Grant was still committing the burglaries even though he was making us think otherwise. I caught myself saying, "Let it be Grace," because it seemed her character bended toward that. I can't go much farther without giving it away but let me just say that I didn't see it coming, and when it did, I said, "Of course!"

I kept asking why this one wasn't shown as often as the others, like Vertigo, Rear Window, or Psycho. I still don't have much of a reason. This was very entertaining. Hitchcock directed another spectacular show. I wouldn't say it was one of his best, but when you are in that elite company, it would be extremely hard to be.

Good movie. Worth a look and worth a hearty recommendation.

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