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About This Quiz
The sun-drenched setting, the lavish fashions ... "To Catch a Thief" was pure cinematic eye candy, with a cat-and-mouse crime drama to boot! Find out how well you remember this classic with our quiz!
Where is "To Catch a Thief" set?
England
France
John Robie is a jewel thief who retired to a villa on the French Riviera. Nice work if you can get it!
Spain
the United States
Who played John Robie?
Marlon Brando
James Dean
Cary Grant
Grant is debonair as a retired thief, in a variety of elegant sweaters, trousers and ascots. Fun fact: the off-duty clothing of the Marvel character "Vision," from the latest Captain America movie, was based on Cary Grant's look.
Rock Hudson
What was Robie's nickname in his jewel-thief days?
the Cat
To underscore the connection, the film shows a black cat prowling rooftops by night, interspersed with scenes of women finding their jewelry missing in the morning. However, as the film makes clear, Robie the "Cat" is not responsible.
the Fog
the Shadow
the Whisperer
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Whose byline is on the "Europe's Lighter Side" column?
Art Buchwald
Art Buchwald really did write a "Europe's Lighter Side" column. We wonder what was going on in Europe in the mid-1950s, that burglary is the "Lighter Side" of things!
Al Jaffee
Army Archerd
Miss Suzy
What noble activity did Robie and his gang do, that they were given their freedom?
they saved a busload of schoolchildren
they gave most of their proceeds to the poor
they were part of the Resistance in the war
The rest of Robie's crew is French, though he is American. They fought for France against the Nazis, and so aren't incarcerated for their jewel thefts.
they saved the survivors of a shipwreck
How long has it been since Robie has stolen a piece of jewelry?
six months
one year
six years
15 years
Robie makes this point to Bertani, a former member of his gang. We can understand his exasperation: Fifteen years is a long time to go straight and still have everyone immediately suspect you of new crimes.
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Where have the rest of Robie's gang found jobs?
at a flower market
as a cleaning crew
at a mechanic's garage
at a restaurant
Bertani has opened a restaurant, and the rest work there. When Robie turns up, after the new "Cat's" thefts are made public, one of them throws an egg at him to announce their suspicion and disapproval.
What is Foussard's new job?
head waiter
jewelry appraiser
taxi driver
wine steward
Foussard is the most recognizable member of Robie's old crew, because of a white streak in his black hair. When he sees Robie at Bertani's restaurant, he is so angry, he lets a bottle of champagne run over and drip foam on the floor.
Who gives Robie a lift via motorboat to Cannes?
Foussard
Foussard's daughter Danielle
Danielle has a thing for Robie and isn't shy about making it clear. She also seems to believe he's committing the new jewel thefts, and needles him by calling him "the Cat" several times on the short trip.
Frances Stevens
a sympathetic policeman
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Where does Danielle want Robie to go with her?
Germany
Canada
the United States
South America
Danielle is certain that Robie has taken up thievery again. She wants to be his accomplice, and thinks South America would be the ideal place to do so.
Robie's ally, H.H. Hughson, works in what field?
private investigation
insurance
Hughson works for Lloyd's of London. To underscore this British respectability, in his first scene he wears a three-piece suit, trilby hat, and pocket kerchief, and carries a cane.
police work
lifeguarding
What signal does Robie use to identify himself to Hughson?
he wears a carnation in his lapel
he wears a bowler hat
he repeatedly flips a coin
Hughson and Robie meet in an open-air flower market. Naturally, this allows for a comic chase from the police, in which buckets of flowers are tipped over and an elderly vendor beats Robie over the head with a bouquet.
he carries a folded copy of the International Herald Tribune
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What was Robie part of in his youth?
a gymnastics team
a magic act
a trapeze act
Robie obviously put those youthful skills -- balance and stamina -- to work in his adult career. Fun fact: Cary Grant was also, in his youth, part of an acrobatic act.
the Boy Scouts
Who played Grant's love interest, Frances Stevens?
Marilyn Monroe
Grace Kelly
Cary Grant was 50 when "To Catch a Thief" was filmed; Kelly only 24. There were some concerns that he would appear too old for her. (Golly, you think?)
Kim Novak
Tippi Hedren
What drink does Jessie Stevens, Frances's mother, prefer?
bourbon
Jessie is a straight shooter who doesn't go for champagne, like other society dames. She says that wine and champagne take too long to make, apparently not knowing that bourbon must be aged at least two years.
gin
rum
amaretto
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What is the fake background Robie makes up for his "Mr. Burns"?
a cattleman from Texas
a lumber magnate from Oregon
Francie's background is less fleshed out. We know that her father owned a ranch at one point, because it was there his widow struck oil, allowing the two of them to live in luxury.
a Scottish poet
an atomic power plant owner
After coolly ignoring Robie most of the night, what does Francie do?
accuses him of being after her money
suggests he date her mother
slips him her room number
kisses him
Francie is a "headstrong girl," as Robie notes the next day. She doesn't need to slip him her room number. Robie gallantly accompanies both Stevens women to their rooms.
At the beach, what does Danielle compare Frances Stevens and herself to?
a cat and a kitten
a mermaid and a manatee
a lady and a parlor maid
an old car and a new car
Danielle asks Robie why he wants to buy an "old car" when he can get a new one cheaper and it will run better. In the film, a lot was made of the age difference between Danielle and Francie, but Brigitte Auber was the older actress.
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What activity do Francie and Robie spend an afternoon doing?
playing badminton
horseback riding
miniature golf
shopping for a rental villa for him
Francie is very forward in arranging everything. She rents a car, buys a picnic lunch, and won't take no for an answer.
What is in the picnic lunch that Francie prepares?
beer and chicken
Francie has brought a lunch suitable for the American tourist that Robie is pretending to be. However, as she'll reveal, she knows that's not who he really is.
wine and cheese
champagne and croque-monsieur sandwiches
cheese, chocolate and grapes
Why do Robie's police pursuers run off the road?
they are avoiding a chicken
An old lady does cross the road, forcing both Francie and the police to do some evasive driving. But it's a lowly chicken that lets Francie give the police the slip. Of course, she isn't supposed to realize that she and Robie are being followed, or that her companion is a jewel thief.
they are avoiding a sheep
they are avoiding an old lady crossing the street
a tire blows out
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What is happening outside as Robie and Francie have cocktails in her room?
a classic car show
fireworks
The fireworks display goes on and on as Francie repeatedly baits "Mr. Burns" about being John Robie and wanting to steal her necklace. She also proposes becoming his accomplice. When they finally kiss, the camera cuts to the exploding display outside.
a parade
a masquerade party
What does Francie wear to have cocktails with Robie?
a black lace cocktail dress
a high-necked white blouse and black wide-leg pants
a short peach sundress
a white strapless gown
Grace Kelly's clothes are part of the reason that "To Catch a Thief" continues to enthrall viewers. In her "The Little Black Book of Style," fashion guru Nina Garcia included "To Catch a Thief" in a list of fashion inspirations from Hollywood.
What is significant about the jewels Francie is wearing in the "fireworks" scene?
they belonged to her grandmother
they belonged to Grace Kelly herself
they were stolen from a previous owner
they are fake
After letting Francie tease him a while about how much he wants to steal her necklace, Robie tells her that they both know her jewels are fake. Francie's classic reply? "But I'm not."
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After her date with Robie, Francie wakes up to discover what?
that her mother is very ill
that her mother's jewels have been stolen
Francie turns up in Robie's room, demanding he give back the jewels. When he says he doesn't have them, she insists on searching the room. Hey, just last night she wanted to be his accomplice! Not so funny now, is it, Francie?
that Robie has fled Cannes
that he stuck her with a giant check for room service
What does Jessie Stevens say when Francie introduces "Mr. Burns" as John Robie, the cat burglar?
"What did you say?"
"Good heavens, call the police."
"Well, I never!"
"Well, what a wonderful surprise!"
Francie's mother doesn't seem fazed at all. In fact, she says that Robie appears to be twice the man that Francie's previous boyfriends have been.
What surprise does Jessie reveal to her daughter the morning of the jewel theft?
that her jewels were fake
that she's been working with Robie
that Francie's father was a swindler
Francie has previously told Robie that she grew up in 27 different cities and towns. This explains it: Mr. Stevens was always one step ahead of cops and outraged victims.
that Francie was adopted
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Whom do the police and Robie catch at a potential burglary scene?
Bertani
Foussard
"Catch" doesn't quite say it. Foussard is killed in a struggle with Robie. But don't feel too bad. It's clear he lured Robie to the spot to kill him.
Hughson
a member of the police force
Where does Francie apologize for suspecting Robie?
at the beach
in her hotel room
outside Foussard's funeral
Robie is having a bad day: Foussard's daughter Danielle, who previously liked him, has publicly accused him of murdering her father and demanded he leave the service. Francie's apology makes things a little better.
at their picnic spot
Why can't Foussard have been the burglar?
he has a prosthetic leg and a limp
It seems odd that the police wouldn't know this. They have the body in custody, and Foussard's limp, before he died, wasn't exactly subtle.
he had a religious conversion
he was accounted for at the time
someone else's prints were at the scene
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What kind of party are the Stevens' going to?
a cocktail party
a costume party
It's not quite a masquerade, as people aren't covering up their faces. Well, except for Robie -- but that's part of his plan to catch the real Cat.
a dinner party
a toga party
Who is unmasked as the new Cat?
Bertani
Danielle Foussard
Robie waits on the roof and unmasks Danielle. She confesses that the new thefts were Bertani's idea.
another member of the old gang
the concierge at the Stevenses' hotel
In the final scene, what takes the glow off Francie's declaration of love?
Robie's housekeeper takes an instant dislike to her
Robie reveals he has an estranged wife
Francie reveals she's not really rich
Francie says, "Mother will love it up here."
After a passionate kiss at Robie's villa, Francie says that her mother will love living there, prompting Robie to pull back with a "what?" expression. We can't think why -- Jessie's as much fun, or more, than her serious-minded daughter!
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In which other movie did Cary Grant and Jessie Royce Landis act together?
Bringing Up Baby
An Affair to Remember
North By Northwest
Landis, who bears a resemblance to present-day actress Annette Bening, worked with Cary Grant in "North By Northwest." She played the mother of his character, Roger Thornhill.
The Philadelphia Story
Where did Alfred Hitchcock make his inevitable cameo?
as a man sitting in the bus Robie catches
Robie gives the police the slip by sending his housekeeper away in his car, then catching a small jitney. He takes the very back seat, next to a portly, bald gentleman.
as a host at Bertani's restaurant
as a man dressed as "Alfred Hitchcock" at a costume party
as a sunbather on the beach
You Got:
/35
The Movie DB