Cary Grant slides into To Catch a Thief cool as a cucumber, setting the breezy, sun-soaked mood for a caper that glides as effortlessly as he does along the Riviera and now, thanks to Paramount Home Media Distribution, the classic caper arrives on 4K which restores much of the lushness and detail of the original VistaVision format, especially in well‑preserved scenes, making this release a must-own.

There’s a moment early in To Catch a Thief that always sticks with me: Grace Kelly speeding along the French Riviera, eyes fixed on the road with a mix of elegance and mischief, while Cary Grant sits beside her, half-nervous, half-enchanted. It’s a deceptively simple scene—two people in a car—but it’s Hitchcock showing off. The sun-drenched coastline, the glint of danger, the suggestion that Kelly might be far more than she appears. It’s playful, romantic, and slightly suspenseful all at once, perfectly capturing the movie’s tone. Watching it again in this new steelbook edition, cleaned up and glowing, the scene feels fresher than ever.

Grant, of course, glides through the film with that relaxed charm only he could get away with. As retired jewel thief John Robie, he’s debonair but not above poking fun at himself, and that’s part of what makes the movie so breezy. But the real treat is how he plays off Kelly. Their chemistry isn’t loud or melodramatic—it’s sly, almost teasing, like two people who are constantly daring the other to blink first. Even in the quiet beats, they spark.

Kelly brings an entirely different kind of magnetism. Her Frances Stevens is poised and luminous, but she’s also bold in ways you don’t expect. She’s the one who pushes the romance forward, who flirts with precision, who seems to enjoy outmaneuvering Robie as much as she enjoys kissing him. In the ballroom scenes, on the terrace, or in that extravagantly choreographed fireworks moment, she matches Grant note for note. The movie works because the two of them feel like they’re having fun—even when their characters are technically in danger.

Revisiting the film now, what stands out is how effortlessly entertaining it still is. Hitchcock treats suspense like a light seasoning instead of the main course, and the result is a romantic caper that feels breezy rather than brooding. The humor lands, the pacing flows, and the Riviera locations do half the seducing. It’s a movie that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is, and is all the better for it.

And that brings us to the new steelbook release, which genuinely feels like the best way to enjoy To Catch a Thief today. The transfer is crisp without scrubbing away the movie’s lush, vintage texture. Colors pop—especially those Riviera blues—and the packaging has the kind of elegance that suits a film about glamour, danger, and impeccable tailoring. If you’re a fan of classic cinema, Cary Grant, or simply want a gorgeous edition of a movie that still sparkles, this steelbook is worth the space on your shelf. It’s the kind of release that makes you want to put the movie on again, just to bask in the charm.

For film buffs, this release is also a reminder of why To Catch a Thief sits in such an interesting spot in Hitchcock’s filmography. It’s the director loosening his tie and playing with tone, using VistaVision to turn the Riviera into a widescreen playground while still sneaking in plenty of cheeky visual innuendo. You can see Cary Grant refining the later phase of his screen persona and Grace Kelly bending the classic Hitchcock “cool blonde” archetype into something livelier and more unpredictable. And because Hitchcock was in a transitional period—right between Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much—the film carries this fascinating sense of a master experimenting. The steelbook’s polished presentation makes all those details even easier to appreciate.

4K Ultra HD Steelbook Edition

Home Video Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Available on Blu-ray - July 19, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English; English SDH; French; Spanish; Danish; Finnish; Norwegian; Swedish
Audio: English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; single-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free

Cary Grant dazzles as retired jewel thief John Robie, a man trying to outrun his reputation along the glittering French Riviera—until a new string of copycat crimes pulls him back into the spotlight. Grace Kelly shines as the elegant and unpredictable heiress who may be Robie’s most enchanting ally… or his greatest danger.

With Alfred Hitchcock’s breezy suspense, breathtaking Riviera vistas, and the irresistible chemistry of its stars, To Catch a Thief remains one of Hollywood’s most stylish capers. Now beautifully restored in 4K and presented in a limited-edition steelbook, this classic sparkles like never before.

VIDEO

The 4K steelbook upgrade is a real treat. The Riviera never looked this good—the sun-drenched coastlines, pastel costumes, even the sparkle on the jewels all pop with a clarity that makes the movie feel fresh without losing that vintage charm. The grain is still there, giving it that classic film texture, which makes it feel alive instead of just polished plastic.

Sure, a few close-ups are a little soft here and there, but it barely matters when the whole thing just glides so effortlessly across the screen. If you’ve loved this movie for decades, seeing it in 4K feels like discovering it all over again.

AUDIO

The audio on the new 4K steelbook hits just right — vintage but clean, and with a surround‑sound kick that makes the Riviera feel more alive than ever. That Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track gives the waves, rain, and fireworks room to breathe.

Dialog still feels intimate and warm — the kind of sound you imagine was in theaters back in the day. It’s not overblown and it doesn’t try to “modernize” the soundtrack, so you don’t get those lame, artificially boosted bass hits that ruin old movies. Instead, everything feels honest: subtle, classy, and immersive — just like the film.

Supplements:

Commentary:

The commentary track, voiced by film historian Dr. Drew Casper, is the kind of deep‑dive that cinephiles eat up. He steers clear of fluff and digs into the technical craft — shot composition, lighting, editing choices — and peppers in little Hitchcock trivia and context about how the film fits into the director’s career and the era. It’s not flashy or jokey; it’s more like a grad‑school lecture delivered in your living room, which is kind of the point. That said, it’s a bit spare — there are gaps when you might wish for more background on behind‑the-scenes production or actor anecdotes.

All in all, though, it’s more than welcome on a high‑end release like this: an enriching layer that adds historical and artistic dimension to a film that already delivers on style and charm.

Special Features:

The 4K steelbook doesn’t just bring the film into high‑def glory — it also delivers a solid set of features that turns the viewing into a mini film‑lover’s festival. The commentary track from historian Dr. Drew Casper adds depth for anyone curious about how the film was made and where it sits in Hitchcock’s career, while the retrospective piece by Leonard Maltin gives a breezy but insightful overview of the movie’s importance. Throw in featurettes about costume design, casting, and behind‑the‑scenes context (with nods to stars like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly), and even the original trailer — and suddenly it feels like you’ve opened a time capsule rather than just a disc case. For fans and newcomers alike, the extras give the movie dimension beyond the screen, making this steelbook feel like more than just a shiny upgrade — it’s a fuller celebration of a classic.

• Audio Commentary by Dr. Drew Casper, Hitchcock film historian
• Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on To Catch a Thief
• Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly
• A Night with the Hitchcocks
• Unacceptable Under the Code: Censorship in Hollywood
• Writing and Casting To Catch a Thief
• The Making of To Catch a Thief
• Alfred Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief: An Appreciation
• Edith Head: The Paramount Years
• Original Theatrical Trailer

	Movie
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	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 106 mins
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writer: John Michael Hayes; David Dodge
Cast: Cary Grant; Grace Kelly; Jessie Royce Landis
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Tagline: For a moment he forgets he's a thief--and she forgets she's a lady!
Memorable Movie Quote: "Mother, the book you're reading is upside down!"
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: August 5, 1955
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: July 29, 2025.
Synopsis: A retired jewel thief sets out to prove his innocence after being suspected of returning to his former occupation.