Thief (1981)

	Directed by: Michael Mann	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama/Thriller/Heist NORWEGIAN TITLE Nådeløse gater RUNNING TIME 123 minutes
	Produced by: Jerry Bruckheimer Ronnie Caan
	Written by (based on "The Home Invaders" by Frank Hohimer: Michael Mann

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Frank	James Caan
Jessie	Tuesday Weld
David "Okla" Bertinneau	Willie Nelson
Barry	James Belushi	½
Leo	Robert Prosky
Attaglia	Tom Signorelli	-
Carl	Dennis Farina	-
Nick	Nick Nickeas	-
Mitch	W.R. Bill Brown	-
Guido	Norm Tobin	-
Sergeant Urizzi	John Santucci	-
Detective Boreksco	Gavin MacFadyen	-
Detective Ancell	Chuck Adamson	-
Ian	Mike Genovese	-
Katz & Jammes Bartender	William Petersen	-

Review

Like so many debut pictures by great directors, Michael Mann's Thief presents itself as a statement. The story of jewel thief and ex-convict Frank (James Caan), who's just looking to pull a few final scores before retiring and settling down – ideally with local waitress Jessie (Tuesday Weld) – may sound overly familiar on paper, but in the hands of first-timer Mann, it exudes a crisp immediacy that makes the life Frank leads seem vibrant, almost necessary. Mann had paid his dues working as a writer and director in television before earning his big break with this self-penned story, and already from the 10-minute opening sequence, in which Frank performs a meticulously professional safecracking, you get the sense that the filmmaker isn't here to follow a genre formula – he's aiming for atmosphere and hyperrealism, bringing you straight into Frank's world. The result is an exhilarating blend of heist thriller and love story, elevated by a futuristic yet highly contemporaneous score by Tangerine Dream and stylish on-location shooting in Chicago. A fine little gem that was arguably ahead of its time.