A Taste of Cannes to end these summer holidays.
Esprit Joaillerie takes one last dip in the sea to prolong the summer and open the doors of the iconic InterContinental Carlton in Cannes. Of course, this is also a nod to the legendary, glamorous film that brings together jewellery, luxury and the French Riviera: To Catch a Thief.
In 1911, the most beautiful palace in Cannes, the Carlton Hotel, opened its doors. A synonym of elegance and dreams, the Carlton will become a privileged resort on the Côte d’Azur. A diplomatic meeting place of the interwar period, it will become one of the essential players at the Cannes Festival.
Released in 1954, To Catch a Thief was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This romantic thriller was filmed entirely on the French Riviera. Starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, the film further cemented the Carlton’s legendary status. Hollywood stars, artists and international personalities have passed through its doors, while its salons and suites have provided the setting for countless memorable anecdotes.
According to an anecdote, Alfred Hitchcock lost several kilos in order to fully enjoy French cuisine. An iconic destination on the glamorous French Riviera, the Carlton features in several memorable scenes, filmed both inside the hotel and on its beach.
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly reunite for this film in which an ex-thief nicknamed «the Cat» is suspected of a series of jewelry thefts committed during the summer on the coast of Azur.
To clear his name, the notorious gentleman thief has no choice but to identify the real culprit. To do so, “The Cat” uses wealthy American widow Mrs Stevens and her daughter Frances as bait. Beautiful Frances is far from indifferent to the former burglar, who helps her evade the French authorities and prove his innocence. One of the film’s most memorable scenes takes place outside the Carlton’s Suite 623, where Grace Kelly kisses Cary Grant before shutting the door in his face.
© Sotheby’s
Pair of Clips
© Sotheby’s
Diamond necklace worn by the Princess thanks to Monaco
© Sotheby’s
So, I’ll leave you to revisit this classic and savour A Taste of Cannes. And why not visit the Carlton yourself, for a Hollywood-style escape, a taste of cinema’s golden age and a chance to immerse yourself in the magic that makes Cannes such a unique destination?
My thanks to the Hotel Intercontinental Carlton Cannes for its warm welcome and the fabulous view over the Croisette.
Intercontinental Carlton Cannes
58, La Croisette 06414 Cannes
