Thief (1981)

Coming closer to his dream of leading a normal life, a professional safecracker agrees to do a job for the Mafia, who has other plans for him.

Director:

Michael Mann

Writers:

Frank Hohimer (novel), Michael Mann (screen story)

Stars:

James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Caan	...	Frank
Tuesday Weld	...	Jessie
Willie Nelson	...	Okla
Jim Belushi	...	Barry (as James Belushi)
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

Storyline

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specializing in high-profile diamond jobs. After having spent many years in prison, he has a very concrete picture of what he wants out of life--including a nice home, a wife, and kids. As soon as he is able to assemble the pieces of this collage, by means of his chosen profession, he intends to retire and become a model citizen. In an effort to accelerate this process, he signs on to take down a huge score for a big-time gangster. Unfortunately, Frank's obsession for his version of the American Dream allows him to overlook his natural wariness and mistrust, when making the deal for his final job. He is thus ensnared and robbed of his freedom, his independence, and, ultimately, his dream.

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Plot Keywords:

thief | pay phone | phone | bus | fully clothed sex | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thief

Filming Locations:

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, 4802 N Broadway Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,492,915

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mann/Caan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank evades Urizzi by relocating the transponder onto a bus. McCauley also does this in Heat (1995).

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Goofs

After Frank puts the transponder on the bus bound for Des Moines, the scene reveals the police car holding back traffic for the shot behind.

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Quotes

Urrizi: Hey, car salesman. Urizzi. You remember my name now?
Frank: How can I not? Since the police department does not hire too many Puerto Ricans.
Urrizi: Hey asshole, I'm Italian.
Frank: I'm pleased to meet you ugly wop son of a bitch.
Urrizi: You motherfucker.

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Alternate Versions

The Criterion Collection's Blu-Ray and DVD edition of Thief is a sort of hybrid between the theatrical version and the director's cut. The early scene from the director's cut with Willie Dixon has been added back in, but the rest of the film is the theatrical version, with the slow motion shots untouched.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.12 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Turning Point
(uncredited)
Written by Leo Graham
Performed by Tyrone Davis

User Reviews

When James Caan was allowed to be real!

This is one of the few Michael Mann films I can stand to watch. Caan is at his absolute peak here, with his intensity just blazing off the screen. The supporting cast is excellent, the edits are perfect, everything just clicks.

As has been noted by other reviewers, the technical aspects of this film are right on the money. All the locations are really there (or were at one time) and the settings didn't have to be faked up. Yes, Chicago and surrounding Chicagoland is really like this, folks.

I try to watch this thing every few years. Should buy a DVD, I guess, and insert it into my permanent circular film buffer.

Highly, highly recommended.