Thief (1981)

March 27, 1981 (US) • Crime, Thriller, Drama • 123m

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.

Director

Michael Mann

Writers

Michael Mann, Frank Hohimer

Top Billed

James Caan

Keywords

chicago, illinois based on novel or book shadowing loss of loved one burglar gangster car dealer rain idealist safe error thief dirty cop convict diamond heist ex-con safecracker police surveillance neo-noir provocative violence suspenseful critical ambiguous assertive awestruck commanding harsh

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

James Caan

Frank

Tuesday Weld

Jessie

Robert Prosky

Leo Alderman

Willie Nelson

David 'Okla' Bertinneau

Jim Belushi

Barry Stratagakis

Tom Signorelli

Vincent Attaglia

Dennis Farina

Carl

Nick Nickeas

Nick

W.R. Brown

Mitch Kanoff

Norm Tobin

Guido

John Santucci

Sgt. Urizzi

Gavin MacFadyen

Det. Boreksco

Chuck Adamson

Det. Ancell

Sam Cirone

Det. Martello

Spero Anast

Det. Bukowski

Walter Scott

Detective D. Simpson

Sam T. Louis

Large Detective in Suit

William LaValley

Joseph

Lora Staley

Paula

Hal Frank

Joe Gags

Del Close

Mechanic #1

Bruce A. Young

Mechanic #2

John Kapelos

Mechanic #3

Mike Genovese

Bartender at Green Mill

Joan Lazzerini

Attaglia's Receptionist

Beverly Somerman

Secretary with Cup

Enrico R. Cannataro

Salesman at L&A Plating

Mary Louise Wade

Waitress #1 at Deli

Donna J. Fenton

Waitress #2 at Deli

Thomas Giblin

Mighty Joe Young Band

Willie Hayes

Mighty Joe Young Band

Conrad Mocarski

Mighty Joe Young Band

Benny Turner

Mighty Joe Young Band

William L. Petersen

Katz & Jammer Bartender

Steve Randolph

Bouncer at Katz & Jammer

Nancy Santucci

Hojo Waitress

Nathan Davis

Grossman

Thomas O. Erhart Jr.

Judge

Fredric Stone

Attorney Garner

Robert J. Kuper

Bailiff

Joene Hanhardt

Court Recorder

Marge Kotlisky

Mrs. Knowles

J. Jay Saunders

Doctor

Susan McCormick

Nurse

Karen Berger

Ruthie

Michael Paul Chan

Waiter at Chinese Restaurant

Tom Howard

Jewelry Salesman #1

Richard Karie

Jewelry Salesmen #2

Oscar DiLorenzo

Customer at Green Mill

Patty Ross

Marie

Margot Charlior

Rosa

Crew

Michael Mann

Director

Michael Mann

Screenplay

Michael Mann

Executive Producer

Frank Hohimer

Novel

Jerry Bruckheimer

Producer

Ronnie Caan

Producer

Donald E. Thorin

Director of Photography

Dov Hoenig

Editor

Richard Brams

Associate Producer

Vic Ramos

Casting

Mel Bourne

Production Design

Mary Dodson

Art Direction

Michael Mann

Screenstory

Michael Molly

Assistant Art Director

Larry Carow

Sound Effects Editor

David B. Cohn

Sound Effects Editor

Samuel C. Crutcher

Sound Effects Editor

Robert Glass

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Scott Hecker

Sound Effects Editor

Chris Jenkins

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Robert 'Buzz' Knudson

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Don MacDougall

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Jerry Stanford

Sound Effects Editor

Jodie Lynn Tillen

Costume Supervisor

Joe Acord

Construction Coordinator

Johnny Lattanzio

Paint Coordinator

Bill MacSems

Property Master

Barton M. Susman

Leadman

Gary A. Hecker

Foley Artist

David M. Ronne

Sound Mixer

Robert R. Rutledge

Supervising Sound Effects Editor

John B. Schuyler

Boom Operator

Craig S. Jaeger

Assistant Sound Editor

Joseph A. Ippolito

Assistant Sound Editor

George H. Anderson

Assistant Sound Editor

Russel Hessey

Special Effects

Norman Blankenship

Stunts

H.P. Evetts

Stunts

Craig Denault

Camera Operator

Alan R. Disler

Assistant Camera

Jack Lee Gary

Assistant Camera

Michael Genne

Assistant Camera

Daniel R. Jordan

Key Grip

James Zenk

Still Photographer

Lisa Clarkson

Extras Casting

Stanzi Stokes

Additional Casting

Paula Cain

Costumer

Dennis Fill

Costumer

Donah Bassett

Negative Cutter

Dick Bernstein

Assistant Editor

Aubrey Head

Color Timer

Patrick Markey

Location Manager

Michael J. Maschio

Location Manager

Larry Rapaport

Location Manager

Bob Badami

Music Editor

Craig Safan

Additional Music

Sandy King

Script Supervisor

Bo Falck

Transportation Coordinator

Chuck Adamson

Technical Advisor

Sam Cirone

Security

Arnold Goodwin

Title Designer

Wilbur Hopp

Craft Service

John Santucci

Technical Advisor

Art Schaefer

Production Accountant

Florian Schereck

Assistant Accountant

Robert Werden

Unit Publicist

Lisbeth Wynn-Owen

Production Coordinator

Sidney Beckerman

Thanks

Scott Maitland

First Assistant Director

John M. Dwyer

Set Decoration

Frank Griffin

Makeup Artist

Edie Panda

Hairstylist

Kathe Swanson

Hairstylist

Gene Levy

Unit Production Manager

Peter Bogart

First Assistant Director

Richard Graves

Second Assistant Director

Walter Scott

Stunt Coordinator

Dan Gianneschi

Cableman

Frank Miller

Camera Operator

James Blanford

Assistant Camera

Don Cahill

Additional Photography

Wendell Powell

Assistant Property Master

Richard Hart

Gaffer

Larry Whitehead

Best Boy Electric

Robin Alan Knight

Grip

Julie A. Chandler

Location Manager

J. Paul Huntsman

Sound Editor

John Stagnitta

Assistant Editor

Carol Eastman

Assistant Editor

Duffy Rutledge

Assistant Sound Editor

Craig Harris

Sound Effects

Ronnie Baker

Transportation Coordinator

Billy Martin

Transportation Co-Captain

James Sharp

Transportation Co-Captain

Lillian Neidenberg

Accountant

Larry Hand

Assistant Accountant

Edgar Froese

Original Music Composer

Christopher Franke

Original Music Composer

Johannes Schmölling

Original Music Composer

Klaus Krüger

Original Music Composer

Reviews

John Chard

⭐ 9/10

September 13, 2015

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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JPV852

⭐ 9/10

June 20, 2022

Seen this one before but decided to do another watch at random. Really great crime-thriller with James Caan perfect alongside Michael Mann's masterful direction and writing. Not quite to the level of something like Heat but probably just below. One of the best heist films ever of the ones I've seen. **4.5/5**