To Catch A Thief

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

In a conversation between John Robie (Cary Grant) and a representative of the insurance company responsible for covering the costs of the stolen jewelry, the ex-thief accuses the agent of being dishonest. He sites taking ashtrays and towels from hotel rooms and fudging expense allowances as his proof. Why do we justify some types of dishonesty, but not others? Is there really a difference?

When Frances criticizes her mother for gambling, Mrs. Stevens retorts, “Everyone likes to gamble, and you will too when the stakes are right.” What did she mean? How is risk taking like gambling? How did John Robie apply this same line of reasoning to the insurance industry?

Parents may want to tell their children about the extraordinary life of this movie’s starlette. Actress Grace Kelly became a real life Princess when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco and went to live in the city-state not far from where To Catch a Thief was filmed. She died in 1982 in an automobile crash on a winding Riviera road - just like the one she is portrayed as driving on in this film. Check her biography for more information.