Car, me, or lunch?
The classic To Catch A Thief (1955) has all the pieces: glamour, beautiful landscapes, a flawed hero with a damsel to match, a hot car, and a plot twist or three that emphasizes the theme that one’s crimes will pursue you from the sea floor of Le Havre harbor to the top of the chimney of that palace where you’re partying.
John Robie, former famous cat burglar with an eye for jewels as well as French Resistance hero, is now reformed, owns a small farm on an estate, a hot car or two, an aversion to the police, and an unfortunate reputation. When someone begins using his techniques to lift jewelry from the idle rich, he finds himself eyed with deep suspicion, and so he enlists the help of the insurance man who’s getting the shaft to discover who might be the next victim.
In doing so, he is introduced to an atypical American mother and daughter. Having inherited their wealth from the father, a swindler who lucked into oil and died, mother Jessie simply ensures her jewels are insured and otherwise makes little fuss about the safety of her jewels, while having lots of fun thrusting needles into insurance man and jewel thief alike. Her daughter, Francie, while frustrated by her mother’s attitude, is also doing some sleuthing of her own, eyeing Robie, who is using a fake name, with deep suspicion.
Meanwhile, not only are the police keeping an eye on Robie, but so are his erstwhile and volatile Resistance comrades, who suspect him of living high off the hog on the proceeds of the robberies while they themselves labor in a restaurant.
Eventually, the action winds up at a great party for the rich, where Robie awaits another figure in black. Who has succumbed to the lure of quick wealth among his many acquaintances and friends? And will the wild gunfire from below nail Robie before it hits his double?
Outside of the fact that our leading man, Cary Grant, is far too old for Francie, played by Grace Kelly, this is a charming romp which is nevertheless backed by a somber, if relatively simple theme. And that car is really a piece of art, or so my Arts Editor believes.
Enjoy!
