Being Hitchcock, three things are featured. Cinematically extended chase sequences, brilliant suspense and a leading lady as the epitome example of Hollywood glamour of the period.
It does not feature the best writing. "To Catch a Thief" is a film which is unlikely to feature as a Hitchcock masterpiece. Cary Grant playing a common, yet somehow sophisticated mastermind thief is not the most convincing of characters, even if the character comes packaged with being debonair, suave and a tux worn from time to time.
Yet the film is inviting. It has sameness and flaws later perfected in "North by Northwest", including protective Mothers, false accusations relating to suave, debonair men and great chase sequences over the extensive region of either Europe or the Americas. Although neither Grant or Grace Kelly perform at their highest levels, their glamorous, romantic roles are intimate and a whole lot of fun.
By no means is the Oscar winning cinematography the best point of the movie, although quite a breathtaking marvel for its time. The classic line spoken by Kelly in relation to chicken, "Do you want a leg or a breast?" is hilarious! To keep the girls satisfied Hitchcock threw in a brilliant screen kiss.
It's no "Rear Window", and Jimmy is still Hitchcock's best actor. But it's still good work from the master of suspense, even though we have to adjust ourselves a bit in order to believe some of the plot's opening and closing twists.
Rating: 7/10
It does not feature the best writing. "To Catch a Thief" is a film which is unlikely to feature as a Hitchcock masterpiece. Cary Grant playing a common, yet somehow sophisticated mastermind thief is not the most convincing of characters, even if the character comes packaged with being debonair, suave and a tux worn from time to time.
Yet the film is inviting. It has sameness and flaws later perfected in "North by Northwest", including protective Mothers, false accusations relating to suave, debonair men and great chase sequences over the extensive region of either Europe or the Americas. Although neither Grant or Grace Kelly perform at their highest levels, their glamorous, romantic roles are intimate and a whole lot of fun.
By no means is the Oscar winning cinematography the best point of the movie, although quite a breathtaking marvel for its time. The classic line spoken by Kelly in relation to chicken, "Do you want a leg or a breast?" is hilarious! To keep the girls satisfied Hitchcock threw in a brilliant screen kiss.
It's no "Rear Window", and Jimmy is still Hitchcock's best actor. But it's still good work from the master of suspense, even though we have to adjust ourselves a bit in order to believe some of the plot's opening and closing twists.
Rating: 7/10