Thief (1981 film)
| Thief | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Michael Mann |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by | Michael Mann |
| Story by | Michael Mann |
| Based on |
The Home Invaders by Frank Hohimer |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Tangerine Dream |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Dov Hoenig |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
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Release date
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Running time
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122 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5.5 million |
| Box office | $11.5 million |
Thief is a 1981 American neo-noir crime film written, produced and directed by Michael Mann. It is based on the 1975 novel The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar by "Frank Hohimer" (the pen name of real-life jewel thief John Seybold).
The film stars James Caan as the titular thief and Tuesday Weld as his girlfriend.
Frank is a jewel thief and 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 criminal enterprise, Frank sets out to fulfill the missing part of his life vision: a family with Jessie, a cashier he has begun dating.
After taking down a major diamond score, Frank gives the diamonds to his fence, Joe Gags. However, before Frank can collect his share, Gags is murdered for skimming from the mob collection money. Barry, Frank's friend and associate making the pick-up, discovers that a plating company executive Gags was working for, Mr. Attaglia, is responsible for Gags' murder and stealing Frank's payoff. In a confrontation at Attaglia's plating company, Frank demands his money back.
This leads to a meeting with Attaglia's employer Leo, a high-level fence and Chicago Outfit boss. Unknown to Frank, Leo has been receiving Frank's goods from Gags for some time. He admires Frank's eye for quality fenced goods and professionalism, and wants him working directly for him, offering Frank large profits. Their meeting is monitored from a distance by police surveillance.
At first Frank is reluctant, not wanting to the added exposure or complications. But later that night, conversation with Jessie changes his mind when she agrees to be part of his life, after he relates a tale of prison survival by way of a toughened mental attitude. Frank now agrees to do just one big score for Leo, telling Barry that this will be their last job. After being rejected at the state adoption agency, with Leos help Frank is able to acquire a baby boy on the black market, whom he names David after his mentor also known as Okla.
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Wikipedia