To Catch a Thief

Like most Alfred Hitchcock films, To Catch a Thief is a marvelous film with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Set in post-Word War II French Riviera, the film focuses on John Robie (Cary Grant), a retired jewel thief who is accused of a new string of daring robberies that mimic his style. Pursued by the police and shunned by his former accomplices, Robie enlists the unlikely help of an insurance officer and the attractive young daughter (Grace Kelly) of a wealthy American woman to catch the thief before the police catch him. As the movie title suggests, it takes a thief to catch a thief.

The film has many humorous moments, including Hitchcock's signature cameo, and the cat and mouse game between Robie and the thief is only eclipsed by the cat and mouse game of romance between the characters of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The performances are exceptional, the cinematography is gorgeous (earning the film an Oscar), and the plot is pleasantly winding and twisted. To Catch a Thief is a must-see film for mystery fans.
∗∗∗1/2