Cinema Sundays - To Catch a Thief

C I N E M A  S U N D A Y S - Celebrating my favorite films in the history of motion pictures.

Years Ago ...

I saw my first Grace Kelly film, Dial M for Murder.  It was also my first Alfred Hitchcock directed film ... and I absolutely loved it.  Dial M for Murder remains to this day one of my favorite movies, and I look forward to reviewing it on this blog in the future.  

But for the inaugural Cinema Sundays post, I wanted to present a film a bit more ... fantastic.  Lucky for us all, there happens to be another Grace Kelly/Alfred Hitchcock partnership which just screams grandeur, and it is called To Catch a Thief (link).

To Catch a Thief tells the story of a former cat burglar, played by Cary Grant, who lives out his retirement in the sunny, beautiful south of France.  Released in 1955, the film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and also stars Grace Kelly as Francie Stevens, a well-bred but exciting American on vacation with her mother.

• Parlez-Vous Francais?

Here's a secret, my dear readers.  I love France.  I love its culture, its history, and its language.  I also have a Master's degree in French, and will search high and low for the best French or Francophone films.  

Having studied the language at such depth and for so long, it makes me cringe when I hear poor pronunciation by "French" characters of other films, who are actually not native speakers of the language.  

This movie is unlike most that I have seen; an American made film which employed a large number of French actors and actresses for supporting parts.  I imagine that the timing of the film, the 1950's - back when wealthy people were more enamored with French and the language was more prevalent in the United States - helped a lot with this.  As well, the passing of time has probably changed things so that we do not get as authentic an experience as Hitchcock gave is in To Catch a Thief.  In any case, any speaker or general lover of French should thoroughly enjoy all the of the French in the movie, much of which is not subtitled or translated in English - another thing which greatly surprised me!

You Can Say That Again!

Not only does the film offer the French speaker dialogue to enjoy, but the there are gems of speech which are astoundingly excellent and thoroughly enjoyable!  Bravo indeed to the screenwriter, John Michael Hayes!

Grace Kelly as Francie gives us the following gems:

"Are you sure you were talking about water skis?  From where I sat it looked as though you were conjugating irregular verbs."

"Give me a woman who knows her own mind" (Robie)

--> "No one gives you a woman like that.  You have to capture her."

"Palaces are for royalty.  We're just common people with a bank account."

But my favorites come from her mother, Jessie Stevens, played by Jessie Royce Landis:

"My nerves could stand a drink" (Francie)
--> "Your nerves and your mother!"

"You ought to be spanked with a hairbrush and set back to school.  Public school - where they could pound some sense into you during recess."

These are just quotes from two of the several smart characters in To Catch a Thief.  When next you watch the movie, keep a pen and paper handy!

Technicolor

This favorite aspect of the film may be silly on my part, however as this is my blog I would be remiss to forget it.  Have you ever noticed how wonderfully toasted (color-wise, that is) Cary Grant looks in this filmed?  I am convinced that a month or so (at least) before the filming of this movie, Grant was sent off to the French riviera, Greece, or Miami ... somewhere sunny and warm ... with the direction to get as suntanned as was physically possible!

It almost makes me uncomfortable to see him so dark, but that is because I ascribe to the belief that one should never tan more than a teeny bit, due to the fear I have of skin cancer, but also because many of my favorite actresses come from a time where sun tans were not as popular as they are today.  Interesting to note, Grace Kelly does appear slightly sun-kissed in this film, and it is very beautiful on her (of course).  See this picture of the two of them:

Why do I so enjoy Cary Grant's tan?  Because it is so wonderfully authentic!  As a retired, wealthy man living in the south of France, of course he would enjoy the out doors ... and of course he would be so darkened by the sun!  

Don't believe me?  Just look at these photos of Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Grace Kelly's daughter).  Rich, famous, princess of a Mediterranean country, sun-worshiper (indeed):

• And the Oscar Goes to ...

A film is a mixture of many different parts, and one of those important parts is, of course, the actor.  Like another of my favorite Hitchcock movies, Dial M for Murder, I absolutely adore the acting and the actors/actresses To Catch a Thief!  Cary Grant and Grace Kelly will always remembered by history for their acting abilities, both having been awarded Academy Awards (Grant - an honorary award in 1970, Kelly for The Country Girl).  They perform the complex characters of Robie and Francie with expertise, leaving the viewer unsure of their true nature until the very end.

To support to these two screen gods, we have Francie's mother, played by Jessie Royce Landis, and insurance employee Mr. Hughson, played by John Williams.  These two are a hoot and perform their roles wonderfully!  And they both act in different Hitchcock films, again with their starring man and lady! 

• Time to Go Shopping

One more thing before I go ... if for nothing else, this film deserves to be viewed and belongs in your collection for the fashion alone.  Edith Head, winner of eight Academy Awards for Best Costume design, as well as the creator of Grace Kelly's icon of a wedding gown, was the fashion designer of this film.  And through her work in To Catch a Thief, she lays out every wardrobe piece we would need for a luxurious Mediterranean vacation (oh, if only!) ...

For a day at the beach ...

For a formal dinner ...

For an afternoon at the pool ...

For a drive around the south of France ...

For a second formal dinner ...

For a masquerade ball ...

The best of fashion plus the one and only Grace Kelly ... it's something that can never be beat.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this film, as well as any requests for future Cinema Sundays.  Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at fourscorerebecca@gmail.com.

More pictures from this film can be found on my Cinema Sundays pinterest page, found here: link.  Enjoy!

Until next time,

Rebecca