Cary Grant And Alfred Hitchcock’s Intense Thriller On Paramount+ Is The Good ’50s Throwback – SlashFilm – The Imperial Wire Insider

In the event you had been to think about an Alfred Hitchcock thriller wherein Cary Grant finds himself on the middle of a thriller after having skilled a case of mistaken identification, you’d most likely consider “North by Northwest.” However whereas 1955’s “To Catch a Thief” could be a lesser identified entry within the Hitchcock oeuvre, it is each bit as worthy of your consideration as Grant and Hitch’s 1959 collaboration. In the event you occur to have neglected this lesser-known Hitchcock thriller, it is obtainable to stream proper now on Paramount+.

Certainly one of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest movies, “To Catch a Thief” is the final of three collaborations between the director and Grace Kelly and the third of 4 with Grant. It got here within the wake of 1954’s “Rear Window” and was a decidedly much less tense affair than that seminal thriller. However whereas “North by Northwest” and even 1946’s “Infamous” may sometimes garner extra reward in conversations concerning the Grant/Hitchcock collabs, as considered one of a number of underrated Hitchcock motion pictures value watching, “To Catch a Thief” deserves simply as a lot consideration.

The romantic thriller was an adaptation of David Dodge’s 1952 novel of the identical identify and starred Grant as a former jewel thief who finds himself the item of suspicion within the wake of a number of robberies. Kelly performs his love curiosity and the pair’s chemistry is simple in a movie that, with its visible splendor, appears to be celebrating the approaching collectively of those two iconic Hitchcock collaborators.

“To Catch a Thief” stars Cary Grant as retired cat burglar John Robie, who merely desires to spend his days amid the vineyards of the French Riviera however shortly finds himself pulled right into a traditional Hitchcockian debacle. A collection of knickknack robberies within the space places Robie within the highlight, with native authorities suspecting the previous thief of reverting to his outdated methods. In an try to clear his identify, Robie tracks down the homeowners of the most costly jewels within the space, the primary of which is Grace Kelly’s Frances Stevens, the daughter of wealthy American widow Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis).

After all, a romance blossoms between Robie and Frances, however when the latter’s jewels are stolen she begins to suspect her new beau may need been concerned. Dealing with prison fees and the lack of his newfound love, Robie finds himself in a race towards time to search out the true thief, clear his identify, and restore his relationship.

With its spectacular settings, erudite main man, and his effortlessly glamorous love curiosity, “To Catch a Thief” was considered one of many proto-James Bond motion pictures within the Hitchcock oeuvre. It was additionally a much less intense affair than a few of the director’s extra well-known suspense movies, however what it lacked in depth it made up for with stunning vistas and a palpable chemistry between Grant and Kelly.

In 2022 we heard rumblings of a “To Catch a Thief” remake starring Gal Gadot which appears to have been mercifully held up. As an alternative, we are able to do the extra smart factor and watch the unique on Paramount+ proper now.