Rumours abounded that Grace Kelly would be making a comeback before this adaptation of Winston Graham's novel went into production. Her icy aloofness would have been perfect for the tale of kleptomania, frigidity, fetishism and suppressed anxiety. Tippi Hedren was considered no substitute by contemporary critics, who, spoiled by Psycho and The Birds, gave the picture something of a lashing. Calmer reflection has established this as one of Hitchcock's more fascinating "misfires". The conspicuously artificial set design and back projection may not suit all tastes, but watch for Robert Burks's suave colour photography and the mental duel between a man turned on by crime (a restrained Sean Connery) and a woman who steals to forget.

Marnie is a beautiful but emotionally withdrawn thief, stealing from employers before disappearing under new identities. When her new boss, Mark Rutland, discovers her secret, his fascination turns to obsession, and he blackmails her into marriage, convinced he can cure her. But as he probes deeper into Marnie’s fractured mind, long-buried fears and compulsions begin to surface.