Thief (film)

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Thief

Directed by	Michael Mann
Produced by	Jerry Bruckheimer Ronnie Caan
Written by	Frank Hohimer, novel Michael Mann
Starring	James Caan Tuesday Weld James Belushi Willie Nelson
Music by	Tangerine Dream
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	March 27, 1981
Running time	122 minutes
Language	English
IMDb profile

Thief is a 1981 noir crime drama written and directed by Michael Mann, based on the novel The Home Invaders by "Frank Hohimer" (the pen name of real-life jewel thief John Seybold). The film's cast includes James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky and Willie Nelson.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

James Caan plays Frank, an expert jewel thief with a set structure to his life. With a pair of successful Chicago businesses (a sports bar and a car dealership) as fronts for his very lucrative criminal enterprise, Frank sets out to fulfill the missing part of his dream: a family to go along with his loving wife, Jessie (Weld). After taking down a major score, Frank's fence is murdered, and he is forced to negotiate with Leo (Prosky), a major underworld player, to retrieve his end. Leo takes a liking to Frank and offers to put him on two jobs that will provide him with "boxcar" profits.

Frank is reluctant at first, but wanting to make his dream come to fruition faster, he accepts. Soon Frank is taking part in a large-scale West Coast diamond heist, and, with a little help from the paternal Leo, is even able to purchase a baby on the black market. It all seems to be too good to be true. Frank's big payday finally comes, only for Leo to renege on the agreement. An irate Frank tells Leo he wants his money in 24 hours, or there will be consequences. Frank drives to his car lot to meet with his friend and associate Barry (James Belushi), unaware that Leo's henchmen are waiting for him, and are roughing up Barry in the process. Frank is knocked unconscious and Barry is shot to death. Frank regains consciousness in an acid plant, with Leo staring down at him, surrounded by his henchmen. In a now famous speech of chilling proportion, Leo informs Frank that him, Jessie, their child and everything Frank owns are Leo's property. He even threatens to prostitute Jessie in order to make Frank continue in his work for him. Back at home, Frank realises he has no other option but to get Jessie and their child to a safe place, and so he throws her out of the house, and has an associate drive her and the baby somewhere where they cannot be found.

With nothing to lose, Frank blows up the house and then proceeds to drive around doing the same to his business establishments and anything that Leo has ever given him. The climax of the film has Frank silently breaking into Leo's house, beating up one of the henchmen and violently killing Leo. As Frank walks outside, he is confronted by more of Leo's men, who he shoots down ruthlessly. The final shot is Frank walking away into the night and back into the harsh reality that he first began with.

Caan also served as the film's co-producer. He has long considered this film to be the favorite of all his projects, and his emotional several-minute monologue with Weld in a coffee shop is often cited as the film's high point. Being Michael Mann's major directorial debut, Thief showcases many of the cinematic techniques that would be his trademarks in the years to come. Chief among these is the cinematography, utilizing light and shadow to give the proceedings, especially those taking place in the darkness of night, a sense of danger. Mann has gained a reputation as a director on the cutting-edge when it comes to the music for his films. Thief's moody soundscapes were composed and performed by Tangerine Dream, providing the first of many notable film compositions they had in the 1980s. The film also earns plaudits for its meticulous attention to detail: the tools and techniques of the trade, right down to the oxy lance used to penetrate a safe, are authentic, the result of Mann's decision to hire real-life thieves to serve as technical advisors.

While not a financial success in its initial release, the film has become a reference point in Mann's career, especially with the release of his crime epic, Heat, with which this movie has many similarities.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Trivia

Dennis Farina, at the time a Chicago police officer, made his acting debut here, as a henchman. Ironically, John Santucci, who plays the role of corrupt cop Urizzi, was a recently-paroled thief.
William L. Petersen appears in a brief early role as a bartender.
Along with William Petersen and Dennis Farina, the film also marked the film debuts of James Belushi and Robert Prosky.