At the beginning of 1954, the executives at Paramount suggested to Hitchcock that he make a film of David Dodge's novel To Catch a Thief, to which the studio purchased the rights several years before. The story was set on the Riviera, and since Hitchcock liked to combine pleasure with business, he accepted the project and contacted screenwriter John Michael Hayes. "When he found I'd never been to the south of France," said Hayes, "he arranged for me and my wife to go, at studio expense, so that I could research the locales. The trip was, of course, very welcome, and by the time I returned I had a good idea of what to do with the novel."
Hitchcock wanted to cast Grace Kelly but she was committed to three other films first. The director had to wait—but not for long—she had completed those three films by early May 1954.
To expedite the location shooting of the film in the south of France, in May Hitchcock dispatched a second unit headed by Herbert Coleman to shoot the car chases and several background scenes that could be filmed without the stars. The leading quartet—Kelly and Cary Grant, joined by Jessie Royce Landis and the dependable John Williams—arrived in late May, and everyone stayed happily at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.
The company returned to Hollywood in early July for the studio shooting, and Hitchcock, not entirely satisfied with what remained a rambling, rather formless comic thriller, tried to tighten up the final scenes through August.
Soon after, the film was concluded and Grace Kelly rushed to her next assignment. Neither she nor Hitchcock was sure whether they would work together again; after two more films directed by others, in fact, she relocated permanently to the Riviera in 1956, as Princess of Monaco.
A Series of Cat Burglaries on the Riviera
A woman finds out that her jewelry is gone - Savoy Palace, 3 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France
The second jewelry theft - Hotel Martinez, 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France. For some reason, this shot was flipped in the film.
The third jewelry theft - Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Square Beaumarchais, Monte Carlo, Monaco
The police station - 2 Avenue du Marechal Foch, Nice, France. This is the real office of the Police Nationale.
Robie's Villa
The police officers arrive to question John Robie (Cary Grant) - Villa Les Bolovens, 335 Rue de Saint-Jeannet, Saint-Jeannet, France. The property was reportedly sold for four million dollars in 2023.
The Chase
The police think that Robie has escaped and they start chasing his car.
They drive past the village of Le Bar-sur-Loup...
The chase continues past the village of Gourdon...
And then through the village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup...
..only to discover that is the maid who's driving the car - Route de Vence at Rue des Anciens Combattants, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, France.
Monte Carlo - Bertani's Restaurant
Meanwhile Robie takes a bus to Monte Carlo...
He gets off the bus - Quai Albert 1er, Monte Carlo, Monaco. The ballustrade has since been removed, it only remains on the other side of the harbor.
He drops in on his old associates from the French Resistance, restaurant manager Bertani (Charles Vanel), and wine steward Foussard (Jean Martinelli) - Quai Antoine 1er, Monte Carlo, Monaco. The restaurant interior was a Paramount set.
As the police arrive, Robie is spirited out of the restaurant in a motorboat driven by Danielle (Brigitte Auber), Foussard's daughter. They are going past the Oceanographic Museum, Avenue Saint-Martin, Monaco City, Monaco.
Carlton Beach
Robie puts on swimming trunks on the boat and mixes with the crowds at the beach of Hotel Carlton, 58 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes. The white columned building in the background is the old Palais des Festivals. It hosted the Cannes Film Festival for 33 years, from 1949 to 1982. The building was demolished in 1988. The JW Marriott Cannes stands there now.
The Flower Market
Bertani arranges for Robie to meet with someone who can provide a list of The Cat's potential targets. The famous Nice Flower Market is actually located at Cours Saleya, but this sequence was filmed at Boulevard Jean Jaurès. The real flower market can be seen in René Clément's Joy House.
While Robie is waiting for his contact...
The police are watching...
Robie meets H.H. Hughson (John Williams) from Lloyd’s of London.
Hotel Carlton
Robie strikes up an acquaintance with Jessie Stevens (Jessie Royce Landis) and her daughter Francie (Grace Kelly) - Hotel Carlton, 58 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France. It was built by Swiss developer Henri Ruhl in 1909-1910 and on 30th January 1911. The hotel was such a big success that the owner acquired the adjoining Hotel de la Plage, on its western side, and demolished it for construction of a new wing from 1912 to 1913, which doubled the hotel's size. Later, the Carlton welcomed guests at the first Cannes Film Festival in 1946. The hotel underwent more renovations which were completed in 2023. These included the addition of two new wings, and a spectacular 215,000 square feet landscaped garden that replaces the former parking lot. The interior was also redecoratated.
They drive off together, closely followed by the police - Avenue des Diables Bleus, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
They arrive at the villa - Le Château, Boulevard Schley, Grasse, France. The entrance and the villa grounds were filmed in two different locations.
The Sandford Villa itself is the Château de la Croix-des-Gardes, 145 Boulevard Leader, Cannes, France. It's a private property and is available for exclusive private hire, including special gatherings during the Cannes Film Festival.
As they leave the villa, the police car keeps following closely behind - Pont du Diable, Èze, France. The Èze viaduct, also known as the Devil’s Bridge, is an iconic structure along the Moyenne Corniche, built in 1914 to connect Nice and Monaco. It spans an 80-meter-deep (262 feet) ravine and offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean.
As they leave the bridge the village of Èze comes into view.
They speed though the village streets - Boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc at Avenue de Verdun, Èze, France.
They nearly run over an old lady carrying a laundry basket - Avenue de la Victoire looking east, La Turbie, France.
The police car crashes - Moyenne Corniche, Èze, France.
The Picnic
Francie pulls up for a picnic - Avenue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord, Beausoleil, France.
The Lighthouse
Following the theft of Jessie Stevens’s jewellery John goes into hiding. Hughson finds him on a pier fishing - Old Lighthouse, Môle de l'Ouest, Quai du Large, Cannes, France. Built in 1950 to replace an earlier version that was destroyed by the Germans during World War II. The 53-foot tall tower is unpainted except for a yellow stripe just below the gallery. The lighthouse was deactivated when the breakwater was extended and a new lighthouse built.
A Trap for the Cat
John has been watching the ‘Silvers’ villa for some nights and seen someone else, suggesting that a robbery is imminent. With Hughson he sets a trap - Plage de Passable, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.
Francie reading the papers that report the death of ‘The Cat’ - Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France. It's at the very beginning of the Croisette, opposite the new Palais des Festivals and the Casino. The Gare Maritime de Cannes and Le Suquet are seen in the background.
The Cemetery
John attends the funeral of Foussard, for he knows that the real ‘Cat’ will be there too - Vieux Cimetière, Avenue de Verdun, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.
The Masquerade Ball
Robie entraps ‘The Cat’ at the masquerade ball. This was filmed at Paramount studios. According to costume designer Edith Head, Hitchcock conceived this sequence for the sole purpose to show off his leading lady in a shimmering gold gown.
The Finale
In the final scene, Robie is back to his villa, and Francie races after to convince him that he needs a woman around to help. A studio set with the village of Saint-Jeannet as the backdrop.
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