To Catch a Thief
Date: 1955
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Stars: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Charles Vanel, Brigitte Auber, Jean Martinelli, Georgette Anys, George Adrian, John Alderson, Martha Bamattre, René Blancard, Eugene Borden, Nina Borget, George Boyce, John Breen, Margaret Brewster, Ralph Brooks
Location(s): Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Monaco
Region(s): France, Rest Of The World
Storyline:
American expatriate John Robie, living in high style on the Riviera, is a retired cat burglar. He must find out who a copycat is to keep a new wave of jewel thefts from being pinned on him. High on the list of prime victims is Jessie Stevens, in Europe to help daughter Frances find a suitable husband.
Additional Information:
Screen captures and text uploaded by Richard Lovejoy
With sincere thanks to the late Alain Kerzoncuf for bringing the film to our attention and for referring me to his own website page concerning locations used in the film. It can be viewed here and includes additional captures and comparative shots to ourselves.
Uncredited locations shown in this listing are all accredited to Alain.
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
A Woman (Margaret Brewster) discovers that all her jewellery has been stolen and screams the fact from her balcony, Savoy Palace, Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The large dome of the “Hotel Negresco’, can be seen further down the Promenade. ‘Hotel Negresco’ appears in ‘The Whole Truth’ and ‘The Day of the Jackal’.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
A further victim is robbed. La Promenade de la Croisette, Cannes, viewed from Rue Latour-Maubourg looking north west. But flipped horizontal. (RL)
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
And now a third. Hôtel Hermitage, Monaco as viewed from Avenue d’Ostende.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
The police are briefed and burst into action. 1 Avenue du Marechal Foch, 06000, Nice.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
We follow the police to the home of John Robie (Cary Grant). Panorama of Nice and the Bay Des Anges, Côte d’Azur. (RL)
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Hillside and view. Gourdon from the Route de Caussols (D3). (RL)
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
We settle on John’s home. 335 Route de Saint-Jeannet, St. Jeannet, Alpes-Maritimes, Cote d’Azur, France.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
To see the maid on the balcony wringing her mop with the village of Saint-Jeannet as backdrop.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
John looks down from his terrace to see the police car coming towards his house. Rte. De Saint-Jeannet. (RL)
- Capture 10
- 'Now' required
He watches from an upstairs window as they pull up into his drive. 335 Route de Saint-Jeannet, St. Jeannet.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
He gives them the slip and drives away in his 1947 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet, they soon give chase. The village of Le Bar-sur-Loup, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rte. De Vence at the junction with Ave. Yorktown. Manuel Gurther observes that in the foreground is the Viaduc des Ribas, part of the former Chemins de fer de Provence. After the German Wehrmacht had blown up the middle part of the nearby, very impressive Viaduc du Loup in 1944, the meter-gauge railway between Nice, Grasse and Draguignan was abandoned in 1950 and dismantled.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
They pass the village of Gourdon, Alpes-Maritimes, Côte d’Azur (SR)
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
......and through the village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, D2210, Circa 24 Rte de Vence.
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Where the police think that they have lost him…..but soon to overtake them, only to find it is the maid driving the car. Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
- Capture 15
- 'Now' required
Having diverted the police we catch up with John as the bus he caught outside his house approaches Port Hercule, Monte Carlo, Monaco. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
At the end of his journey he alights the bus……. Quai Albert 1er, Monaco. (RL)
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
…..where he goes to meet Bertani (Charles Vanel) restaurant owner and someone he knew from when he was in the Resistance. Whilst the ‘Bertani’ restaurant scene was a Paramount set, the terrace was that of ‘La Rascasse’, whilst remodelled, survives to this day. The steps seen in the capture came off the roadway bend known as the ‘Gasworks Hairpin’ as part GP motor circuit at that time. Subsequent to 1955 the bend was changed to form two right hand bends, one of which is that known as 'La Rascasse' today. (RL)
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
John is hurried out of the restaurant as the police arrive and is taken to the Beach Club, Cannes by launch driven by Danielle Foussard (Brigitte Auber), the wine waiters daughter. They are spotted by one of the officers. Quai Albert 1er, Port Hercule looking out to the harbour entrance. (RL)
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
John slips into a swimming costume on the boat and mixes with the crowds when he arrives. The beach of Hotel Carlton, Cannes
- Capture 20
- 'Now' required
Bertani arranges for John to meet with a client of his who was asking questions suggesting that he could be connected with the current robberies. This is supposed to be Nice Flower Market but whilst this still exists, for the purposes of filming, Boulevard Jean Jaurès was used.
- Capture 21
- 'Now' required
They make contact, H.H. Hughson (John Williams), Lloyd’s of London, introduces himself. Hughson agrees to provide John with a list of the most likely villas and their owners where burglaries could be imminent. He proposes to visit them and assess likely access points. Boulevard Jean Jaurès and hidden by the tree Descente Du Marché/Calada Dou Mercat. (RL)
- Capture 22
- 'Now' required
Changing after his swim John finds that the list of women with wealthy jewellery has a wet finger mark. He returns to the Hotel Carlton to find Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly) waiting for him to take him to the ‘rental villa’, home of the ‘Sandfords’, that is on his list from the ‘real estate agent’.
- Capture 23
- 'Now' required
They drive off together in her 1955 Sunbeam Alpine Mk1 convertible, closely followed by the police. Cap Ferrat in the background.
- Capture 24
- 'Now' required
Arriving at the villa the police are unable to proceed beyond the main gates. This however, is not the entrance to Château de la Croix-des-Gardes, 145 Boulevard Leader, Cannes, Province-Alpes- Côte d’Azur, but a large property called ‘Le Château’, Boulevard Schley, Grasse, Province-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
- Capture 25
- 'Now' required
Frances, however, is able to park in the drive of Château de la Croix-des-Gardes so that they can walk to villa itself.
- Capture 26
- 'Now' required
Frances questions whether it is the correct villa. Château de la Croix-des-Gardes.
- Capture 27
- 'Now' required
John avoids entering the house and suggests looking at the gardens first.
- Capture 28
- 'Now' required
Having gained sufficient detail of the property as to how he would approach a robbery, they leave the villa, once again with the police following closely behind. Èze, Province Côte d’Azur. Manuel brings to our attention that the viaduct, called Pont du Diable, also appears in 'Absolutely Fabulous', 'The Liquidator' and 'Foreign Intrigue'.
- Capture 29
- 'Now' required
As they leave the bridge the village of Èze, Province Côte d’Azur comes into view.
- Capture 30
- 'Now' required
Developing speed in order to hopefully escape the police they enter the village of Èze.
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required
A lady carrying washing walks into the road unperturbed by the approaching car….will Frances stop in time? Avenue de la Victoire, La Turbie.
- Capture 32
- 'Now' required
After the police car crashes, Frances declares that she knows that he is John Robie aka ‘The Cat’……. Avenue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord, Mont des Mules, 06240 Beausoleil, France.
- Capture 33
- 'Now' required
….and she pulls up for a picnic. Avenue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord, Mont des Mules, 06240 Beausoleil, France. A less secluded picnic area remaining today, together with the construction of an apartment block means that changes have taken place to prevent establishing the precise spot.
- Capture 34
- 'Now' required
Following the theft of Jessie Stevens’s jewellery John goes into hiding. Hughson finds him, disguised, fishing. Light Tower, Cannes.
- Capture 35
- 'Now' required
John has been watching the ‘Silvers’ villa for some nights and seen someone else, suggesting that a robbery is imminent. With Hughson he sets a trap. Passable Beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. (RL)
- Capture 36
- 'Now' required
The following morning the papers are reporting the death of ‘The Cat’, a man named Foussard (Jean Martinelli) a waiter at the restaurant. Cannes, the walkway that runs between Bd. de la Croisette and the shoreline, approximately where the Palace of Festivals and Congresses stands with Le Suquet in the background.
- Capture 37
- 'Now' required
John attends the funeral of Foussard, for he knows that the real ‘Cat’ will be attending and he knows who they are. The old cemetery in Cagnes sur Mer, France.
- Capture 38
- 'Now' required
After an outburst from Foussards daughter Danielle during the funeral, John leaves, only to find Frances waiting for him. The old cemetery in Cagnes sur Mer, France.
- Capture 39
- 'Now' required
Anticipating the next robbery to be at the Masquerade Ball John seeks Frances to arrange an invitation for him. John entraps ‘The Cat’ – no spoiler. Paramount stages included for completeness. (RL)
- Capture 40
- 'Now' required
John makes a hasty return home, followed by the police who had Frances as a passenger. Unidentified village. (RL)