Hitchcock’s Cameos, Limestone Fireplaces, and the Picnic Scene in To Catch a Thief

Don’t forget — To Catch a Spy is now available for preorder!

You can get it from Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

John Robie’s World

Alfred Hitchcock making cameo appearances in his films became a ‘thing’ for his film audiences. It was often a competition for fans to spot him in his own films, and a parlor game recalling his cameos. 

Overall, he made about 40 appearances in his 50+ films, and true to form, he did it in To Catch a Thief. About 10 minutes into the movie, you can see Hitchcock on a bus sitting next to Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds. Cary playfully gives him a “don’t I know you?” look. 

Hitchcock’s Cameo in To Catch a Thief

Hitchcock made his first cameo appearance in The Lodger, when he covered for an actor who didn't show up. He did a few more, then audiences started to expect to see him in his films. 

Apparently, his cameos signified important points in his movies. HIs appearances foreshadowed certain themes, or would let the audience know he was manipulating them. I’m not sure I buy into this, but folks who know a lot more about films have proffered these ideas, so I’ll repeat them. 

He appeared in all 4 films he made with Cary Grant (Suspicion, Notorious, To Catch a Thief, and North by Northwest). Other than his cameo in To Catch a Thief, my favorite was his appearance in the 1966 film,Torn Curtain, the underrated Paul Newman movie. Hitch can be seen in the lobby of a hotel with a baby on his knee. The music playing is similar to the theme song for his TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which had debuted a decade earlier. 

Torn Curtain Cameo

Later in his career, he admitted that his inside joke became a distraction. Because of that, he began making appearances earlier in his films to get the cameos out of the way so audiences could focus on the story. 

I have always enjoyed Hitchcock’s cameos, and I have paid tribute to his bus scene in To Catch a Thief. 

You’ll have to read To Catch a Spy to find out how!

Francie Stevens’ World

The picnic scene with Francie Stevens (Grace Kelly) and John Robie (Cary Grant) is perhaps the most famous scene from Hitchcock’s film, To Catch a Thief. 

There’s so much to like about it -- the attractive convertible Francie drives, the stunning view, her playful accusations, their scorching attraction to one another, and the famous innuendo regarding the chicken lunch -- Francie asks him, ‘Do you want a leg or a breast?’ 

I’m guessing he liked legs…

According to some, the scene was filmed at 1007 Avenue des Combattants en Afrique du N, just on the edge of the town of Beausoleil (French for ‘Beautiful Sun’). 

The location overlooks the sovereign country of Monaco, which is the second smallest nation after the Vatican, spanning about three-quarters of a mile. As my friend and neighbor Nancy likes to say, ‘if you’re going to take up cross-country skiing, make sure it’s a small country.’ 

Monaco fits that bill, although they don’t get snow. Anyway, you get the point. 

As you may have guessed, I’ve put a picnic chapter in my book. 

But with a twist… 

Riviera Life

Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always had an affinity for big, French limestone fireplaces. I like them so much that we installed a small, replica version when we lived in Oceanport, NJ. 

No matter the times, fireplaces play an important role, and something about limestone fireplaces bridges the ages for me. I think back to the giant ones that heated entire homes hundreds of years ago, and the current ones that connect modern living spaces to those times. 

French Limestone Fireplace

While researching my book, I discovered that French limestone is highly coveted due to its soft color palette and surprising durability. And the pitting, or pock marks, are a natural byproduct of how the stone is formed. 

One of my all-time favorite films, Ronin, features such a fireplace. When DeNiro and Jean Reno visit the character Jean-Pierre (played by actor Michael Lonsdale), we discover that Jean-Pierre has one in his home, which is guarded by a few impeccably trained guard dogs. 

Scene from Ronin

One of the true joys of writing is inserting small details into your story that matter to you. Does To Catch a Spy have a limestone fireplace? 

We’ll see. 

My World

I recently did my first presentation/interview as an author, and the experience was wonderful! 
On X (formerly Twitter), I’ve gotten to know a group based in Bristol, UK, the birthplace of Cary Grant. Called ‘Cary Comes Home',’ their mission is to ‘celebrate Cary Grant’s Bristol roots, develop new audiences for his work, and recreate the golden age of cinema-going.’

Since I consider myself one of his biggest fans, I immediately started following the organization, and I have to say, they do an incredible job. 

But back to the interview…my experience as a public speaker has been spotty at best. In my former career, I was so bad that a marketing leader retained a presentation and storytelling coach to help me. Over the years, I improved, which is to say I started with a very low bar. 

Anyway, I grew to enjoy it. But when the festival asked me to speak, I was terrified. I spent hours reviewing what I might say, only to find that the engagement was really a free-flowing conversation between myself and the festival director. She made me feel so at-ease, and she graciously guided me back when I went too deep, or veered too far off topic. 

Bottom line is I had a lot of fun! My big learning was not to fear moments like this; it was a reminder of how passionate I am about the original story, and how delighted I am to be a part of its next chapter (no pun intended). 

I’m actually looking forward to doing more.