Thief (film)

Thief
Directed by	Michael Mann
Produced by	Jerry Bruckheimer Ronnie Caan
Screenplay by	Michael Mann
Story by	Michael Mann
Based on	The Home Invaders by Frank Hohimer
Starring	James Caan Tuesday Weld James Belushi Robert Prosky and Willie Nelson
Music by	Tangerine Dream
Cinematography	Donald Thorin
Editing by	Dov Hoenig
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	March 27, 1981
Running time	122 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$11,492,915 (domestic)

Thief is a 1981 neo-noir film written and directed by Michael Mann and 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.

Synopsis

Frank is an expert jewel thief and hard-boiled ex-convict who has a set structure to his life. With a pair of successful Chicago businesses (a bar and a car dealership) as fronts for his lucrative criminal enterprise, Frank sets out to fulfill the missing part of his life's plan: a family beginning with Jessie, a pretty cashier he has begun dating.

After taking down a major score, Frank's fence, Joe Gags, is murdered for being on the take - pushed out of a 12th story window. Barry, Frank's friend and associate making the pick-up, discovers that the man responsible is a Mr. Attaglia, a shady plating company executive whom Gags was working for. Attaglia now has Frank's fence money, $185,000 which was lifted from Gags when he was killed. Frank demands his money back in a tense office hours confrontation at Attaglia's plating company. This leads to a late evening face-to-face meeting with Attaglia's employer, Leo, a high-level fence and Chicago Outfit boss. Leo admires Frank's professionalism and wants him taking down contract scores all over the country working directly for him, offering Frank "boxcar" profits. "I'll make you a millionaire in four months," Leo states at their jargon filled meeting, which is monitored from a distance by police surveillance - as well as Barry and his sniper rifle in case things turn sour.

Frank is reluctant at first, not wanting to "deal with egos" nor wanting the added exposure. But events change after an emotional bonding with Jessie when she agrees to be part of his life. To hasten his plans, Frank agrees to do just one big score for Leo, telling Barry that this will be their last job. With a little help from the paternal Leo after being rejected at the state adoption agency, Frank is even able to purchase a baby on the black market, a son he names after his recently deceased closest friend and mentor from prison, Okla (whose real name is David).

After resisting a shakedown from a group of corrupt police detectives on the take, and subsequently ditching their surveillance, Frank and his crew are soon involved in a large-scale West Coast diamond heist organized by Leo. Everything is falling into place. Frank's big payday finally arrives after the meticulously planned "burn job" is successful, and he is expecting the agreed-upon sum of $830,000 on $4 million wholesale of unmounted stones. When Frank returns from the job, Leo instead tosses him an envelope containing under $100,000, the "cash part" according to Leo, who also tells him that he has invested the rest of Frank's cut in shopping centers, an idea Frank had flatly rejected during one of their previous meetings. In addition, Leo sets up a Palm Beach score for Frank in 6 weeks without his OK. An irate Frank bluntly tells Leo that their deal is over, then demands the rest of his money in 24 hours or "...you will wear your ass for a hat."

Frank drives to his car lot to meet with Barry unaware that Leo's henchmen have already beaten and captured Barry, and are waiting in ambush for him. Frank is knocked out with a rifle butt in the set-up and Barry is then shot to death. He awakens in a factory warehouse with Leo staring down at him, surrounded by his henchmen. Leo coldly informs Frank that he, Jessie, their child, and everything Frank owns are Leo's property. Leo even cruelly threatens to prostitute Jessie and "...whack out your whole family" if Frank does not continue working for him. Leo warns Frank to "tighten up" and focus on his responsibilities; meanwhile, his henchmen dispose of Barry's body.

Frank goes home to contemplate his next move. He abruptly orders a shocked Jessie out of their house, telling her their marriage is over. He instructs an associate to drive her, the baby and $400,000 in cash somewhere where they cannot be found, informing Jessie that he will not be joining her.

With nothing to lose, Frank blows up their home in a fiery nighttime blast. He then drives to his business establishments and does the same, destroying his bar in a violent explosion then setting fire to his car lot. Armed with his custom 6" long-slide M1911A1 sidearm, he breaks into Leo's house, pistol whips Attaglia and executes a tense room-clearing of the first floor. Leo, hiding and armed in the living room with a .357 Magnum revolver, is finally located and gunned down by Frank. Finished with his task, he calmly walks outside only to be further confronted by Attaglia as well as two more of Leo's armed men. A violent gunfight ensues. The final scene is of a wounded Frank walking away into the night.

Cast

• James Caan - Frank
• Tuesday Weld - Jessie
• Willie Nelson - Okla
• James Belushi - Barry
• Robert Prosky - Leo
• Tom Signorelli - Attaglia
• Dennis Farina - Carl
• Nick Nickeas - Nick
• W.R. Bill Brown - Mitch
• Norm Tobin - Guido
• William Petersen - Katz / Jammer Bartender
• John Santucci - Urizzi
• Gavin MacFadyen - Boreksco
• Chuck Adamson - Ancell
• Sam Cirone - Martello
• Spero Anast - Bukowski
• Hal Frank - Joe Gags
• Patti Ross - Marie

Production

Caan also served as the film's co-producer. His emotional several-minute monologue with Weld in a coffee shop is often cited as the film's high point, and Caan has long considered the scene his favorite of his career. Being Michael Mann's feature film 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 advisers.

Thief marks the first film appearance of veteran actors Dennis Farina, William Petersen, James Belushi and Robert Prosky. At the time a Chicago police officer, Farina appears as a henchman. Ironically, John Santucci, who plays the role of corrupt cop Urizzi, was a recently paroled thief and acted as a technical adviser on Thief. In 1986, Farina and Santucci both were cast in Michael Mann's TV series Crime Story, Farina as a Chicago police lieutenant and Santucci as a jewel thief. Petersen, who later would star in the Mann film Manhunter, appears briefly as a bouncer at a club.

Originally titled Violent Streets, the film debuted at the 34th Cannes Film Festival. It went on to open in theaters in the United States on March 27, 1981, earning a modest $4.3 million. 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.

The still of Frank holding a gun as he takes his fence hostage was used for one of the movie's posters.

Near the end of the film, Frank destroys his house. The film company built a false front onto a real house and attempted to destroy it with explosives. The explosions severely damaged the real house, however, leading to its demolition.

External links

• Thief at the Internet Movie Database
• Thief at Box Office Mojo