The movie To Catch A Thief is centered around the idea of
identity and trust. The main character,
John Robie, is suspected of numerous thefts based entirely on a life of crime
that occurred more than a decade in the past.
In the intervening years, Mr. Robie has fought for the French
underground movement during World War II and was granted parole for his
crimes. He has established himself as an
upstanding citizen, but as soon as the high end thefts begin he is the number
one subject. He is distrusted by his
former colleagues, he is distrusted by the authorities, and ultimately he is
distrusted by Frances, someone he has never even met.
The movie asks a very serious question. How do you prove innocence when your past
brings with it the suspicions of guilt?
Robie only finds a path to proving his innocence when those around him
begin to trust him, even though they have no reason to believe his
protestations of innocence. The trust of
Mr. Hughson, Frances’ mother Jessie, and ultimately Frances herself allow Mr.
Robie to capture the actual burglar and clear his name. This carries over to our life as well. We often try and protect ourselves by only
trusting those who have not disappointed us, but we must afford trust even to
those we find suspicious, otherwise we are condemning them on nothing more than
reputation. This is difficult and does
not come naturally to us, but overcoming our suspicions and prejudices is
essential to the redemption of others.
-Gambling, insurance, and chance are central motifs to the
first half of the movie. This really
brings out the trust aspect of the film by making it clear that trust is a
risk.
-At first, Frances finds the idea of a jewel thief
enticing. When she experiences the theft
herself she feels violated and the romance of this forbidden endeavor is
stripped away. I think this shows us
that though many things seem alluring, it is only our romanticized view that
makes them look that way. In reality,
they are cruel and they lead to a lot of pain for those involved.
-I’m not sure that this is intentional, but there does seem
to be an element of class warfare in this movie. The rich lifestyle of the Riviera is
contrasted with the poverty of the waiters and other members of Robie’s
past. Hitchcock seems to portray the waiters
as more authentic, even though they are involved in the thefts.
Peace,
Ben
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