History Film / ToCatchAThief

The protagonist is John Robie (Creator/CaryGrant) a retired jewel thief, who lives in France, since the government pardoned his crimes, because he took part in the [[LaResistance French Resistance]]. However, a series of robberies happen, that closely resemble his style, and the police suspects him. Robie, with the help of insurance man Hughson (John Williams, [[NamesTheSame not]] [[Music/JohnWilliams that one]]) plans to capture the burglar in the act to prove his innocence. He obtains a list of the owners of the most expensive jewels on the Riviera, who are the likely targets, from Hughson. The first names on the list are Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Creator/GraceKelly). Robie befriends them, but Francie soon sees through his disguise; however that doesn't bother her, because she thinks stealing jewels might be fun. She seduces Robie; however, when her mother's jewels are stolen, she feels betrayed, and calls the police on him. Robie escapes, he and Francie eventually clear up the misunderstanding, and capture the real thief together.

** Pretty much every thing Francie wears. Helps that Edith Head was her costumer.

* DecoyGetaway: When the police comes to capture John, they are fooled into following his getaway car driven by his maid while John stayed behind.

* ForeignLanguageTirade: Danielle (Brigitte Auber) curses the protagonist in French at her father's funeral, accusing him of being the notorious jewel thief and having caused the death of her father. [[spoiler:Since both accusations are wrong and she knows it, the rant is actually completely fake.]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler: Bertani]].

* DrivesLikeCrazy: When John notices their car is being tailed, he encourages Francie to drive faster to their secluded, romantic picnic. Francie gleefully complies to the point where John is wringing his hands and gripping his knees with every corner she careens around. [[spoiler: When they stop, Francie reveals she knew the real reason and asks if they lost them.]]

* ForeignLanguageTirade: Danielle (Brigitte Auber) curses the protagonist in French at her father's funeral, accusing him of being the notorious jewel thief and having caused the death of her father. [[spoiler: Since both accusations are wrong and she knows it, the rant is actually completely fake.]]

* SameLanguageDub: Apparently Charles Vanel, who played Bertani the restaurant owner [[spoiler: and the bad guy]], didn't speak a word of English. Hitchcock tries, somewhat unsubtly, to cover for this by covering his mouth when he talks in some scenes and focusing on the camera on the other characters in others, but when he speaks actual French the dialogue just seems to 'fit' better than when he speaks English, which is for most of the film.

* SealedWithAKiss: It looks like the film will end like this... then they stop, and Francie says: "So this is where you live. [[spoiler: Oh, Mother will love it up here!" Cut to John's horrified expression.]]

** Oh, those fireworks ...

->''If you love life, you'll love France.''

* TakeThat: Of sorts; in one scene, someone in a restaurant kitchen throws an egg against the window pane right in front of John. In another, Jessie extinguishes her cigarette in the yolk of a fried egg. Hitchcock found eggs revolting.

* CostumePorn: Pretty much every thing Francie wears. Helps that Edith Head was her costumer.

* DefrostingIceQueen: Francie at first appears cold and reserved, but we see that this is just an act, when she unexpectedly kisses John.

* HighAltitudeInterrogation: John does it to [[spoiler:Danielle]].

* MasqueradeBall: The climax is set at a ball, where people wear lavish costumes fom the era of Louis XV.

* ReformedCriminal: John, partially. While he stopped stealing, he doesn't go after other jewel thiefs, until he's forced to.

* SameLanguageDub: Apparently Charles Vanel, who played Bertani the restaraunt owner [[spoiler: and the bad guy]], didn't speak a word of English. Hitchcock tries, somewhat unsubtly, to cover for this by covering his mouth when he talks in some scenes and focusing on the camera on the other characters in others, but when he speaks actual French the dialogue just seems to 'fit' better than when he speaks English, which is for most of the film.
* SaveTheVillain: Though not completely until they give a full confession.

* SexyDiscretionShot: Oh, those fireworks ...

* PimpedOutDress: Francie wears one at the ball. It's a 18th-century style gold-lamé gown decorated with fabric birds, complete with gold opera gloves and a towering gold wig.

* TakeThat: Of sorts; in one scene, Jessie extinguishes her cigarette in the yolk of a fried egg. Hitchcock found eggs revolting.
----

* OperaGloves: Francie wears them at the ball.

* TheDanza: Jessie Royce Landis as Jessie Stevens.

* NotSoDifferent: Robie tells Hughson that he's also a thief only on a smaller scale, as he takes ashtrays or towels from hotel rooms and puts free lunches on his expense account.

-->'''Jessie:''' ''(to John)'' How come you haven't made a pass at my daughter? ''(noticing Franci's shock)'' Don't say, "Oh, Mother!"

* PimpedOutDress: Francie wears one at the ball.

* MsFanservice: Francie--[[PlayingWithATrope in her own,]] Creator/GraceKelly-[[BuffySpeak ish]] way. Hitchcock himself noted that a seeming ProperLady [[ugarAndIcePersonality who suddenly explodes with passion when she and her target are alone]] can be ''much'' sexier than a blatant MsFanservice whose sexuality is all-on-the-surface. He would often point to Grace's moments in this film as examples.

** Francie tells Robie: "I called the police from your room and told them who you are and everything you've been doing tonight."
He responds: "Everything? The boys must have really enjoyed ''that'' at headquarters!"

* GoldMakesEverythingShiny: Francie's PimpedOutDress

The protagonist is John Robie (CaryGrant) a retired jewel thief, who lives in France, since the government pardoned his crimes, because he took part in the [[LaResistance French Resistance]]. However, a series of robberies happen, that closely resemble his style, and the police suspects him. Robie, with the help of insurance man Hughson (John Williams, [[NamesTheSame not]] [[JohnWilliams that one]]) plans to capture the burglar in the act to prove his innocence. He obtains a list of the owners of the most expensive jewels on the Riviera, who are the likely targets, from Hughson. The first names on the list are Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (GraceKelly). Robie befriends them, but Francie soon sees through his disguise; however that doesn't bother her, because she thinks stealing jewels might be fun. She seduces Robie; however, when her mother's jewels are stolen, she feels betrayed, and calls the police on him. Robie escapes, he and Francie eventually clear up the misunderstanding, and capture the real thief together.

* DawsonCasting: Danielle is a teenager and she says that Francie looks old. She was played by Brigitte Auber, who was 27 at the time, and more than a year older than Grace Kelly.

* [[PlayingAgainstType Directing Against Type]]: The movie is markedly different from Hitchcock's usual style.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[http://www.scribd.com/doc/17716412/To-Catch-a-Thief-Screenplay The original script's ending]] resolves alot more than the actual film's ending does, including the arrest of the BigBad. But apparently much to the scipt writer's dismay, [[ExecutiveMeddling Hitchcock changed it]] so that the film ends rather abruptly and with a joke. Hitchcock had wanted to do something similar with Film/StrangersOnATrain, end the film at Guy's acquittal, but the studio wouldn't let him.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[http://www.scribd.com/doc/17716412/To-Catch-a-Thief-Screenplay The original script's ending]] resolves alot more than the actual film's ending does, including the arrest of the BigBad. But apparently much to the scipt writer's dismay, [[ExecutiveMeddling Hitchcock changed it]] so that the film ends rather abruptly and with a joke. Hitchcock had wanted to do something similar with StrangersOnATrain, end the film at Guy's acquittal, but the studio wouldn't let him.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[http://www.scribd.com/doc/17716412/To-Catch-a-Thief-Screenplay The original script's ending]] resolves alot more than the actual film's ending does, including the arrest of the BigBad. But apparently much to the scipt writer's dismay, [[ExecutiveMeddling Hitchcock changed it]] so that the film ends rather abruptly and with a joke.