A love story to the South of France, it takes all the beauty of Grace to outshine it. There is a mention of one's travel folder. The idea that people in Detroit and Doncaster are putting snipping's of Nice, and the Cote D'Azur away. Indeed the film begins with a shot of a travel agents.
There is even a casino scene. Grant at his comedic best- dropping a casino chip in a woman's cleevage Bond really ripped off a lot from Hitchcock. This is I doubt is news to anyone reading my blog- it is nice to see it yourself
I really enjoy Carey Grant's work - he is great again here. Here is playing John Robie I wonder if Margot appropiated that name. Anyway Grant is an ex jewel thief who joined the resistance in WW2 was parolled for his pre war crimes. Now someone is stealing gems from the great and the good
Quiche Lorraine is an exotic delicacy - which a quite senior suit from Lloyds of London has not heard of.
We have Grant's discussion and defence of his former trade- He notes that normal people pilfer ash trays and towels- or charge for lunches never paid for . Grant notes he never stole from the poor
Grace is a lot more human in this, She feels younger than in High Noon or Rear Window. Sometimes she is petulant, forward and bickers with her mother. Her mother is an interesting character. Her mother is a charming foil too- She is completely unsentimental about her jewels seeing them as means to an end- and it her who takes a shine to Grant first
Grant looking at Grace and seeing the fake diamonds... well I would have been distracted
There is a lot of French dialogue here, which I think works, it gives you a sense that the protagonists live in this wealthy bubble, which ordinary people only enter by chance, or to work.
There is a sly nod to Grant's Bristol origins
I liked North by Northwest more, I did enjoy this
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