Thief

Thief is a 1981 American neo-noir heist action thriller film directed and written by Michael Mann in his feature film debut and starring James Caan in the title role, a professional safecracker trying to escape his life of crime, and Tuesday Weld as his wife. The supporting cast includes James Belushi, Robert Prosky, Dennis Farina, and Willie Nelson. The screenplay is inspired by the book The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar, a memoir by former cat burglar Frank Hohimer. The original musical score was composed and performed by Tangerine Dream. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and James Caan's brother Ronnie, Thief was screened at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. It was released in the United States on March 27, 1981, to widespread critical acclaim. Plot Frank is a jewel thief and ex-convict who has a set structure to his life since being released from Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois 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 thrown from a twelve story window for skimming from keeping the vig payments he had been collecting from loanshark clients. Barry, Frank's friend and associate making the pick-up, discovers that a L&A Plating plating company executive Gags was working for, Attaglia, is responsible for Gags' murder and stealing Frank's payoff. In a confrontation at Attaglia's plating company, Frank demands his $185,000 back.