Thief


Thief

Overview:

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score.

Votes 127 (7.3/10)

Runtime: 122 minutes

Release Date 1981-03-27

Revenue: $4,300,000.00

Tagline: Tonight, his take home pay is $410,000... tax free.

Production company:

  • Mann/Caan Productions

Production country:

  • United States of America

Genres:

  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

Trailer

Further Information

Frank
James Caan
James Caan
Jessie
Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld
Okla
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Barry
Jim Belushi
Jim Belushi
Leo
Robert Prosky
Robert Prosky
Attaglia
Tom Signorelli
Tom Signorelli
Carl
Dennis Farina
Dennis Farina
Nick
Nick Nickeas
Nick Nickeas
Mitch
W.R. Brown
W.R. Brown
Guido
Norm Tobin
Norm Tobin
Boreksco
Gavin MacFadyen
Gavin MacFadyen
Ancell
Chuck Adamson
Chuck Adamson
Martello
Sam Cirone
Sam Cirone
Bukowski
Spero Anast
Spero Anast
Detective D. Simpson
Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Large Detective in Suit
Sam T. Louis
Sam T. Louis
Joseph
William LaValley
William LaValley
Paula
Lora Staley
Lora Staley
Joe Gags
Hal Frank
Hal Frank
Mechanic #1
Del Close
Del Close
Mechanic #2
Bruce A. Young
Bruce A. Young
Mechanic #3
John Kapelos
John Kapelos
Bartender at Green Mill
Mike Genovese
Mike Genovese
Katz & Jammer Bartender
William Petersen
William Petersen
Ruthie
Karen Berger
Karen Berger
Urizzi
John Santucci
John Santucci
Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Casting
Vic Ramos
Vic Ramos
Screenplay
Michael Mann
Michael Mann
Director
Michael Mann
Michael Mann
Executive Producer
Michael Mann
Michael Mann
Screenstory
Michael Mann
Michael Mann
Director of Photography
Donald E. Thorin
Donald E. Thorin
Production Design
Mel Bourne
Mel Bourne
Editor
Dov Hoenig
Dov Hoenig
Novel
Frank Hohimer
Frank Hohimer
Producer
Ronnie Caan
Ronnie Caan
Original Music Composer
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Associate Producer
Richard Brams
Richard Brams
Art Direction
Mary Dodson
Mary Dodson

John Chard

You are making big profits from my work, my risk, my sweat. Thief is written and directed by Michael Mann, who adapts the screenplay form the novel "The Home Invaders" written by Frank Hohimer. It stars James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Robert Prosky, James Belushi and Willie Nelson. Music is by Tangerine Dream and cinematography by Donald Thorin. Frank (Caan) is a tough ex-con and expert jewel thief. He's working his way out to a normal life, but after being lured to a big job for the mob, he finds plans on both sides severely altered. For his first full length theatrical feature, Michael Mann announced himself to the film world with some distinction, and in the process showed everyone what style of film making makes him tick. Thief is a film of stylised grit, visually, thematically and narratively. Set and filmed in Chicago, Mann, aided by Thorin, shoots the story through pure neo-noir filters. At nighttime it is all a beautifully neon drenched haze, where the streets shimmer with dampness, a dampness brought about by the rain and god knows what else! By day there's a sweaty hue, a feeling that the heat is well and truly on, that even in daylight Frank isn't safe, his dreams may be a touch too far to reach. And no matter what the scene or scenario, Tangerine Dream are laying over the top a throbbing pulse beat, it's like The Warriors trying to get back to Coney Island, the music has a sense of dread about it, that danger is at every corner. This part of Chicago stinks, it's a vile and corrupt place. Dirty cops everywhere, underworld criminals ruling the roost - Hell! You can even buy a baby if you want one. Is it any wonder that Frank just wants to settle down with a wife and child, to walk barefooted in the sea, to have domesticity? But Frank, as smart, tough and savvy as he is, seems to thrive on the edge of things, with Mann giving him earthy and honest dialogue to engage us with, marking him out as an identifiable everyman protagonist who just happens to be an exceptional thief. Mann's attention to detail is on show straight away, none more so than with the two key safe cracking jobs that are undertaken. Using genuine jewel thieves as technical advisers on the film, these sequences ooze realism, from the tools used, the pre-planning and the execution of the takes, it smacks of reality and does justice to the genuine feel of the characterisations brought alive by the superb cast. And finally Mann delivers a finale of ambiguity, a noir shaded piece of abruptness, an ending that perfectly fits the whole production. 9/10

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