To Catch a Thief (1955)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A retired cat burglar must protect his reputation by capturing a new thief preying on wealthy tourists on the French Riviera.
The story
Police suspect retired jewel thief John "The Cat" Robie of a string of burglaries on the French Riviera. To prove his innocence, Robie enlists the help of an insurance agent to identify wealthy tourists with expensive jewelry. He strikes up a friendship with Jessie Stevens, a wealthy widow, and her daughter Frances, posing as an American businessman on vacation. While Frances feigns modesty, she eventually reveals she knows Robie's true identity. As Robie attempts to track down the new thief, he finds himself entangled in a web of deception and danger involving the very people he is trying to protect.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Police suspect retired jewel thief John "The Cat" Robie of a string of burglaries on the French Riviera. Robie seeks to clear his name by catching the new thief, enlisting insurance agent H.H. Hughson to identify wealthy targets. He poses as an American businessman to befriended Jessie Stevens and her daughter Frances. Frances eventually admits she knows his identity, and the two share a passionate kiss. After Jessie's jewels are stolen and Frances accuses Robie, Robie is attacked by an assailant who is later identified as Foussard, the wine steward. Robie points out Foussard's physical inability to be the thief. Robie then accompanies Frances to a masquerade ball, where he believes the thief will strike. He disguises himself as a masked Moor, but a switch occurs with Hughson to hide Robie's exit. Robie eventually apprehends Danielle Foussard, who is revealed as the thief. After a confrontation where Danielle hangs from a roof, Robie forces her to confess that Bertani planned the thefts. The film ends with Robie returning to his villa with Frances, who expresses her desire to stay with him.
- First release year
- 1955
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; French
- Directors
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Writers
- John Michael Hayes · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Cary Grant · John Robie (alias "The Cat"; alias "Conrad Burns"); Grace Kelly · Frances Stevens; Jessie Royce Landis · Jessie Stevens; John Williams · H.H. Hughson; Charles Vanel · Monsieur Bertani; Brigitte Auber · Danielle Foussard; Jean Martinelli · Foussard, Danielle's father; Georgette Anys · Germaine, housekeeper
- Genres
- romantic thriller; mystery
- Themes
- Identity; Reputation; Deception
- Tone and mood
- Romantic; Suspenseful; Laissez-faire
- Premise and plot tags
- Burglary; Mistaken Identity; Heist
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1952 novel of the same name by David Dodge
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with some praising the performances of Grant and Kelly and the French Riviera setting, while others criticized the lack of suspense compared to Hitchcock's earlier work. It holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.9/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 53
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Cinematography · win; Academy Award · Best Art Direction · nomination; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · nomination
- Production trivia
- Alfred Hitchcock makes a signature cameo as a bus passenger.; The car driven by Grace Kelly was a metallic blue 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Mk I.; It was Hitchcock's first of five films made using the VistaVision widescreen process.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…