Thief (1981)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Michael Mann

Writers:

Frank Hohimer (novel)
Michael Mann (screen story)

Release Date:

27 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Becoming closer to his dream of leading a normal life, a professional safecracker agrees to do a job for the mafia, who have other plans for him.

Plot Keywords:

Safecracker | Heist | Thief | Gangster | Adoption

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

James Caan	...	Frank
Tuesday Weld	...	Jessie
Willie Nelson	...	Okla
James Belushi	...	Barry
Robert Prosky	...	Leo
Tom Signorelli	...	Attaglia
Dennis Farina	...	Carl
Nick Nickeas	...	Nick
W.R. Brown	...	Mitch (as W.R. [Bill] Brown)
Norm Tobin	...	Guido
John Santucci	...	Urizzi
Gavin MacFadyen	...	Boreksco
Chuck Adamson	...	Ancell
Sam Cirone	...	Martello
Spero Anast	...	Bukowski

Also Known As:

Violent Streets (UK)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (cut) | USA:R (certificate #26144) | Iceland:12 | Australia:R | France:-12 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:16 (1981) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | UK:X | UK:18 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Mann/Caan Productions

Trivia:

The long "sparkler" used to melt into the big jewel safe is a real tool, known as an oxy-lance.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Late in the film, when Frank gets out of his car to plant the bomb at his bar, the Green Mill, the lights used to illuminate the scene are clearly visible in the car door as the door's angle changes. When he opens the car door to get back in, the lights are visible again.

Quotes:

Leo: Plus, I've got a major score for you in Palm Springs in six weeks.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Michael Mann (#2.1)" (2001)

Michael Mann's Masterpiece

Thief(1981) contains the best performance of James Caan as a professional thief in a rare leading role. He is complex and three deminsional as the protagonist, Frank. Thief(1981) is similar in many ideas to the Dustin Hoffman film, Straight Time(1977). One of the best directorial debut as Michael Mann gives a realistic portrayal of the hardships in being a professional thief. The movie does a good job in showing the corruption that Frank has to go against.

Its much better than Heat(1995) because it focuses on one person instead of trying to interweave in confusing detail the lives of two people who are opposite in job but the same in spirit. Willie Nelson is terrific in the small of of Frank's mentor, Okla. Robert Prosky is impressive as the father like crime boss, Leo. The heist scenes are the highlight of the film. Thief(1981) has to be one of the best movies to come out during the 1980s and is definitely the director's top film.