Catching Her Thief: Great dialogue from “To Catch A Thief.” Grace Kelly and Cary Grant banter it out while cruising the Riviera coastline in a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine convertible. Kelly plays the husband-hunting Frances, Cary, the suave ex-jewel thief who’s not taking the bait.
Frances: I’ve been waiting all day for you to mention that kiss I gave you last night.
John: You know, back home in Oregon we’d call you a headstrong girl.
Frances: Where in Oregon, the Rogue River?
John: Where were you born?
Frances: In a taxi halfway between home and the hospital. I’ve lived in twenty-seven different towns and cities.
John: Why, is somebody chasing you?
Frances: Boys.
John: Well, you can stop running now.
Frances: When I was ten my father died and they discovered oil on our land. And that’s when I really started to travel.
John: You mean the boys’ fathers were chasing you.
Frances: Yes, but I had the funny feeling that all they wanted was to get their hands on my money.
John: Oh, I’m impressed. On second thought back home in Oregon we’d have called you a rich, headstrong girl. That would have made it all right.
Frances: Money handles most people.
John: You honestly believe that?
Frances: Well I’ve proved it.
John: You’re a singular girl.
Frances: Is that good or bad?
John: Oh it’s good, quite good. You know what you want, you go out after it and nothing stops you from getting it.
Frances: You make it sound corny.
John: Oh no, you’re a jackpot of admirable character traits.
Frances: I already knew that.
John: Yes, I will say you do things with dispatch. No wasted preliminaries. Not only did I enjoy that kiss last night, I was awed by the efficiency behind it.
Frances: I’m a great believer in getting down to essentials.
John: Inviting me for breakfast, planning a swim and now this drive. Miss Stevens, I must say you are a girl in a million.
Frances: That’s a routine compliment, but I’ll accept it.
John: May I ask you a personal question?
Frances: I’ve been hoping you would.
John: What do you expect to get out of being so nice to me?
Frances: Probably a lot more than you’re willing to offer.
John: I know. You’re here in Europe to buy a husband, huh?
Frances: The man I want doesn’t have a price.
John: Well, that eliminates me.
Of course, in the end, despite cautious resistance, the ice-blonde Frances catches her thief. ♦
