Thief (1981) – Film Review

Director: Michael Mann
Cast: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Jim Belushi
Certificate: 18

By Sarah Morgan

All great film-makers have to start somewhere. While some may prefer to forget their early efforts, Michael Mann certainly has nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it could be said that his directorial style leapt onto the big screen fully formed in 1981 when he made his first movie.

Mann had been working mostly in TV before Thief came along, but the film gave him his first opportunity to display the style, themes and ideas that would crop up time and again in such productions as Manhunter, Heat, Public Enemies and Miami Vice (he was also involved in the latter’s earlier, small-screen incarnation) – namely criminals and those trying to bring them to justice, practical effects, unusual soundtracks (in Thief’s case by Tangerine Dream) and powerfully lit night scenes.

“Character-driven”

James Caan takes the lead role of Frank, whose car dealership and bar in downtown Chicago are nothing more than fronts for his real money-making enterprise as a professional safecracker. He’s a wealthy guy, but he wants more – namely a family life with his wife Jessie.

However, Jessie can’t have children, something they both crave, so Frank agrees to carry out one last big job for Leo, a high-level fence linked to the Chicago mob, in return for cash and a baby boy acquired on the black market.

It seems he’s about to get everything he’s ever dreamed of, but Leo doesn’t want to let him go. He claims he owns Frank, giving the thief no option but to fight back in the only way he knows how.

As you might expect from a Mann movie, there is plenty of violence on display, but it never detracts from a taut, character-driven storyline featuring a wealth of fine performances.

“Intriguing debut”

Chief among them is Caan (whose brother, Ronnie, was among the producers). It isn’t as explosive a role as that of Sonny in The Godfather, but a more layered characterisation in which he shows Frank’s tender as well as his dangerous side.

Tuesday Weld is believable as Jessie, while Willie Nelson is touching as Frank’s former compadre. Watch out too for James Belushi and Dennis Farina in early roles, while Robert Prosky plays the chillingly charming Leo.

Although Thief is perhaps a little too long (taking out 10 or 15 minutes would help the plot zip along nicely), it’s still an intriguing debut from one of Hollywood’s most stylish auteurs.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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