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This week on «Film Friday,» I am honouring Grace Kelly's 87th birthday, which is tomorrow, by telling you a little about what is arguably one of her most iconic films. This was also the picture that gave her a first glimpse at her future realm. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, To Catch a Thief (1955) concerns John Robie (Cary Grant), a former world-famous jewel thief known as «The Cat,» who now lives in the French Riviera. Although he insists he is retired, having repented for his crimes during World War II, he becomes the chief suspect when a series of robberies take place. Realizing that the only way to prove his innocence is by catching the thief himself, Robie seeks the help of his old friend, restauranteur Bertani (Charles Vanel), asking him for information about his wealthy customers. Spotted by police detectives as he is leaving the restaurant, Robie manages to escape with the help of Foussard (Jean Martinelli), one of Bertani's workers, and his flirtatious teenage daught...

Theatrical release poster Directed by Charles Vidor, The Swan (1956) begins in 1910 in a Ruritanian kingd om in Central Europe, where Princess Beatrix (Jessie Royce Landis) is eager to make a match between her da ughter, Princess Alexand ra (Grace Kelly), and a distant cousin, Crown Prince Albert (Ale c Guinness ) , in order to regain a throne that was taken from her family by Napole on . When the prince arrives with his imperious mother, Q ueen M aria Dominika (Agnes Mo or ehead) , for a four-day visit with Beatrix and her family — which also includes her aunt S ymphorosa (Est el le Win wood) , her brother Father Car l Hyacinth (Brian Aherne) and her two younger sons , George (Van Dyke Sparks) and Arsene (Chr istopher Cook) — he pr efers sports and shooting activities to time with Alexandra. In a me asure of desperati on , Beatrix fo rces Alexandra to show int erest in D r. Nicholas Agi ( Louis Jourdan), the family's handsome young tu tor, to make Abert jealous an...