to catch a thief

the year: 1955

the genre: suspense


the cast: Cary Grant (John Robie); Grace Kelly (Frances Stevens); Jessie Royce Landis (Jessie Stevens); John Williams (H.H. Hughson); Brigitte Auber (Danielle Foussard)


the plot: American expatriate (and retired cat burglar) John Robie lives in high style on the French Riviera. When a wave of copycat (Scott and Blaine, that was for you) jewel thefts begin, he must find out who the copy cat is to keep the thefts from being pinned on him. High on list of prime victims is Jessie Stevens, in Europe to help daughter Frances find a suitable husband.



don't miss: how John uses a roulette player to get Jessie's attention in the casino.



watch for: Mrs. Jessie Stevens' changing room number at the hotel. On the list of jewelry owners, the room number is given as 541, but when John Robie accompanies Mrs. Stevens and her daughter to their rooms, the numbers on their doors are 625 and 623 respectively.



did you know: Cary Grant came out of retirement to make this film.



listen for: "Are you sure you were talking about water skis? From where I sat it looked as though you were conjugating some irregular verbs."



extra bonus points: if you know what's interesting about John Robie mentioning that as a youth he was in a trapeze group that traveled around Europe.



also listen for: "What do you say?" "My only comment would be highly censorable."



And a special thanks to Scott for making sure this was on my "to see" list!

high society

the year: 1956

the genre: musical



the cast: Bing Crosby (C. K. Dexter-Haven); Grace Kelly (Tracy Lord); Frank Sinatra (Mike Connor); Celeste Holm (Liz Imbrie); Louis Armstrong (himself)


the plot: C.K. Dexter-Haven, a successful popular jazz musician, lives in a mansion near his ex-wife Tracy Lord's family estate. Holier-than-thou Tracy is on the verge of marrying a man blander and safer than Dex, who incidentally is still in love with Tracy. Spy magazine blackmails Tracy’s family by threatening to reveal her playboy father's exploits if not allowed to cover the wedding. Mike Connor, covering the nuptials for Spy magazine, of course, also falls for Tracy. Tracy must choose between the three men and realize that it’s okay to get down off her high horse.



don’t miss: Uncle Willy. He pinches.



listen for: “Uncle Willy, this morning you look like a tree full of owls.”


count: the wedding presents.


did you know: Grace Kelly, recently engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco at the time filming began, wore her actual engagement ring as Tracy’s engagement ring.



check out: Bing and Frank hiding out in the library (bar) singing “Did You Evah”. The song was late addition so that the two crooners would have a chance to sing together.


also listen for: “Oh, class my…” “Grandmother!”



extra bonus points: if you know what can be found “under Harvard Classics. Just give Darwin a little nudge.”

i wanna...

dance on the penthouse balcony with Fred Astaire (from Daddy Long Legs).


have Dana Andrews fall asleep on my shoulder (from The Best Years of Our Lives).


attend Juliette Binoche's dinner party in Chocolat.


have dinner with Cary Grant (from The Bachelor and the Bobby-soxer).


have Frank Sinatra sing to me (from High Society).


What do you wanna?