Scene by Scene: 'To Catch a Thief' (1955)

Francie toyed with Robie first for sexual kicks it seems .. then, when
her mother's jewels were stolen, believed he was the culprit and became
very angry at him and wanted him arrested .. then read a newspaper
article which said the Cat was caught and had been a wine steward in a
restaurant (i.e. not John) and felt very guilty about suspecting him ..
and now, with John's own admittance that the wine steward, Foussard,
was definitely *not* the Cat, instead of going back to distrusting and
hating John, she instead takes him at face value that he himself isn't
this new Cat.

I'm saying all of this .. because this is an element that appears time
and time again in Hitchcock's adventure films .. that of the
distrusting woman who eventually comes to believe and trust the man
('The 39 Steps'' Pamela, 'Young and Innocent''s Erica, 'Saboteur''s
Patricia). Its almost like Hitchcock is saying for love to exist at all
and indeed develop, unconditional trust must come first.

Fergal #.

I find the speed at which the film ends to be very unsatisfactory. It
feels too rushed, almost as if, once Hitchcock is finished with
unmasking the real Cat, the film is over at that point.

The dialogue in this last scene (about John not being the lone wolf he
thought he was) although in keeping with the idea of the reclusive John
preferring the seclusion of his villa to normal society, seems a little
too tidy for comfort (for my liking anyway).

Although, the comment about the mother "lov[ing] it here", followed by
the ominous church bell is a nice Hitchcock touch.

Fergal #.