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Title: Thief (1981)
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| 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 | |
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Nick Nickeas | ... | Nick |
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W.R. Brown | ... | Mitch (as W.R. [Bill] Brown) |
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Norm Tobin | ... | Guido |
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John Santucci | ... | Urizzi |
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Gavin MacFadyen | ... | Boreksco |
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Chuck Adamson | ... | Ancell |
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Sam Cirone | ... | Martello |
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Spero Anast | ... | Bukowski |
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. Written by Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>
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Even though this film was made only a little over two decades ago, I consider it a film-noir classic! James Caan said once that this was the film he was in that he was proudest of next to The Godfather. I remember that Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel said this was one of the finest films of 1981. Caan is wonderful in a role that he was born to play, a tough guy with his heart on his sleeve. Everything about this film is wonderful from the musical score by Tangerine Dream to the dark lighting effects to the authentic detail about the life of a thief ( I read that Michael Mann actually used real life thieves as technical advisors to this film!). Even though Caan's character is an anti-hero, you have to feel sorry for him because he is caught in a situation where there is no way out! The best scene in the film is where he tells Tuesday Weld about his prison experiences and shows here the picture cut out that he has made of his American dream. Jimmy Caan is truly awesome, he is the only actor that ever made me cry (in Brian's Song) I also wanted to mention another great character actor who is in the film. His name is Robert Prosky and he plays the mob boss who uses Caan. This was his film debut after many years as a stage actor and he is terrific. Watch the scene in the acid plant where he threatens Caan. He is really chilling! Michael Mann created Crime Story and Miami Vice and he also directed Manhunter, but lets not forget this film as well.