“A classic Alfred Hitchcock romantic, suspenseful thriller featuring both Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. This Centennial Collection is definitely a release for the Hitchcock fan in mind. featuring many special features including a special informative feature with a recent USC live recording of ‘Night with the Hitchcocks’ featuring Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter and granddaughter sharing memories with Hitchcock enthusiasts and more! The definitive release for ‘TO CATCH A THIEF’ on DVD!”
DVD TITLE: TO CATCH A THIEF – PARAMOUNT CENTENNIAL COLLECTION #6
DURATION: 106 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: English Subtitled, French Dubbed & Subtitled, Spanish Dubbed & Subtitled Audio: 2.0 Surround, Dolby Digital, Mono
COMPANY: Paramount Home Entertainment
RATED: R (For sexuality, nudity and language)
RELEASE DATE:Â March 24, 2009
Directed by Alfred Hitchock
Based on the novel by David Dodge
Screenplay by John Michael Hayes
Cinematography by Robert Burks
Music by Lyn Murray
Editing by George Tomasini
Starring:
Cary Grant as John Robie
Grace Kelly as Frances Stevents
Jessie Royce Landis as Jessie Stevens
John Williams as H.H. Hughson
Charles Vanel as Bertani
Brigitte Auber as Danielle Foussard
Jean Martinelli as Foussard
Georgette Anys as Germaine
Beautiful, well-casted and a classic romantic, suspenseful thriller from Alfred Hitchcock.
The 1955 film focuses on retired jewel thief and infamous cat burglar John Robie (Cary Grant). Robie keeps to himself and takes care of vineyards in the South of France but a string of robberies are ongoing and the police who are familiar with Robie’s style immediately suspect him. So, the police start to chase after Robie.
Robie seeks help from his old gang of ex-cons who were part of the French Resistance. They feel a bit slighted because with Robie now under investigation, his old friends Bertani and Foussard now are under a cloud of suspicion and blame Robie for it. The police go to visit Bertani’s restaurant and Foussard’s daughter Danielle (Brigitte Auber) helps Robie escape.
Immediately Robie tries to get help from various people such as H.H. Hughson, the insurance man of Bertani to prove his innocence and to clear his name, he wants to catch the cat burglar in the act. And he starts with obtaining a list of expensive jewels on the Riviera and the names on the list are Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Grace Kelly). Immediately, Robie develops a repertoire with Jessie and eventually, Francie, telling them that he’s an American industrialist.
For Francie, she doesn’t believe him one bit but she suddenly wants to have some fun by using her beauty and catch Robie who she insists is the infamous cat burglar. She even goes as far to seduce him (or probably the other way around) but during their night of passion, Francie’s jewelry is missing and she blames Robie for it.
This makes Robie want to catch the real thief even more and thus a Robie does what he can to use his former thief instincts to catch the new “cat burglar” and prove his innocence.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“TO CATCH A THIEF” looks great for a 1955 film on DVD. One thing that Hitchcock really utilized on this film is color. From the beauty of France, set design, costume design. Everything was well done and vibrant. The film looks beautiful and is featured in Widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TV’s.
As for the audio, audio is presented in Dolby Digital English 2.0 Surround/English, French and Spanish Mono.
As for subtitles, subtitles are in English, French and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
There are a good number of special features on the Centennial Collection of “TO CATCH A THIEF” with a few new featurettes plus the previous features included in the 2007 DVD release. The majority of the special features are included on the second disc (commentary on the first disc).  Included are:
- Commentary: – The Centennial Collection forgoes the original commentary featured on the 2007 DVD by Peter Bogdanovich and Laurent Bouzereau and now features commentary by Dr. Drew Casper, Hitchcock Prof. of American Film at USC who definitely knows his Hitchcock (even Hitchcock’s family are surprised with his knowledge for the “A Night With the Hitchcock” events). Casper is passionate about the filming and his commentary is just informative and well-done.
- A Night with the Hitchcock’s – A new 23-minute featurette filmed on Nov. 2008 at the University of Southern California (USC). The Hitchcock class is one of the most popular classes at the university and the family has come to these events for several years answering questions from students in regards to Alfred Hitchcock as a director and also insight of his family life. Pat Hitchcock (daughter of Alfred Hitchcock), Mary Stone (granddaughter of Alfred Hitchcock) and moderated by Dr. Drew Casper, Hitchcock Prof. of American Film at USC. Very informative and enjoyable to learn about the family life of Alfred Hitchcock.
- Unacceptable Under the Code: Film Censorship in America – A new near 12-minute featurette about the strict restrictions imposed on the film industry, this film shows how Alfred Hitchcock would find ways to work around the censorship code.
- Writing and Casting To Catch a Thief – A nine minute featurette about the film, the screenplay and casting Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Original featurette from the 2007 DVD release.
- The Making of To Catch a Thief – A near 17-minute featurette about the making of the film, shooting in the US at the Paramount lot and shooting in France. Interview with Hitchcock’s daughter Mary Stone who gives insight of the film, especially the challenges of filming the kissing and beach scenes which the censorship code wanted eliminated from the film but how Hitchcock created the film to ensure that the scenes stayed in the film. Interviews with production manager Dock Erickson who provides technical insight and using VistaVision. Interviews with Steven DeRosa, author of “Writing with Hitchcock” who shared his knowledge about Hitchcock and interviews with Pat Hitchcock in regards to Edith Head’s fashion designs for the film and much more. An original feature used on the 2007 release.
- Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly – A new six minute featurette about the film featuring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and how these two had instant chemistry together on screen.
- Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation – This seven minute featurette is about the humor of Alfred Hitchcock and how Grace Kelly and Hitchcock were good friends. Mary Stone (Hitchcock’s granddaughter) discussing her personal experiences with her grandfather including working with him on a college paper about a film they both enjoyed and getting a C and more. Originally featured in the 2007 DVD release of “TO CATCH A THIEF”.
- Edith Head: The Paramount Years – A 13-minute featurette featuring Edith Head known for her costumes for “Columbia Pictures” and the many memorable films that she took part in.
- Trailers: – Original Theatrical Trailer (2:11)
- If You Love To Catch Thief, You’ll Love this Interactive Travelogue – A segment that allows people to see a map of the French Riviera. When you click on one of the nine cities featured on the map, you get to see parts of the film while a narrator talks about the city and its surroundings.
- Galleries – A section to see image galleries for the movie, publicity, visitors to the set and production.
And like previous Centennial Collections from Paramount, a booklet is included with information and tidbits about the film and its stars and also a cardboard slipcase that holds the DVD/case.
There are plenty of Hitchcock films that I would love to see receive a “Centennial Collection” treatment but it’ll probably never happen since “TO CATCH A THIEF” is the only Hitchcock film that Paramount still owns (note: the company sold all rights back to Hitchcock in the 1960’s which now, the majority of his films are distributed by Universal). But if anything, with this being the sole Hitchcock film owned by Paramount, they really did give an awesome “Centennial Collection” tribute to Alfred Hitchcock with the number of special features included on this DVD. The new features are just great, especially the interviews with his daughter Pat and granddaughter Mary who give us this personal side of Alfred Hitchcock.
“TO CATCH A THIEF” is one of those films that showcase a side of Alfred Hitchcock that doesn’t go dark or hardcore into the suspense. In fact, the film is quite beautiful with the amount of cinema work done in France and thus you really get beautiful cinematography during the outdoor scenes.
The chemistry between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly was just well done. Knowing that before Grant took the part, he was set on retirement and felt his career was pretty much done but it was that keen eye of Alfred Hitchcock that wanted these two together and he did what he could to get him to accept the role of John Robie. Grace Kelly, a favorite actress that Hitchcock would have in several of his film (and this film would be her last for him before comitting to her duties as Princess of Monaco) was just absolutely dashing and charming. Both talents just clicked.
Of course, part of the beauty of the film is that it utilized the Technicolor technology, VistaVision for its widescreen shots (Hitchcock’s first utilization of the technology in his films) and utilized stereophonic for audio.  The film won an Academy Award for “Best Cinematography” and the film is quite deserving. In fact, watching it again, I’m just amazed at the beautiful shots in the film. Well done!
For those who purchased the 2007 DVD, many may wonder if the “Centennial Collection” is worth it? I own the 2007 version but it all depends on the viewer. If the three extra special features and the new commentary are worth it. Personally, I found the added footage and commentary to be well worth it. Dr. Drew Casper’s knowledge of Hitchcock is just incredible and his commentary is absolutely well-done and again, “A Night With the Hitchcock’s” was just a pleasure to watch. So, yes…this Centennial Collection version is worth it!
Overall, this “Centennial Collection” for “TO CATCH A THIEF” is another solid DVD release for Paramount’s collection. Personally, I would love to see these Centennial Collections in Blu-ray but for now, this DVD is just the definitive version to own.
Although, not my favorite Hitchcock film, as I’m more into his more suspenseful and psychological thrillers, I’ve always enjoyed “TO CATCH A THIEF” for it’s overall presentation and the talent involved onscreen but watching this DVD and its special features, it gave me more of an appreciation towards this film.
This film is, to me, is Hitchcock’s most passionate and strikingly beautiful looking films that he has ever done so far.
The film is elegant, beautiful and memorable and the many special features included really does give tribute to one of the world’s most prolific director’s ever.
Alfred Hitchcock fans, “TO CATCH A THIEF – CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” is highly recommended!