In Thief (1981), which filmmaker wrote and directed the crime film?

Michael Mann wrote and directed Thief (1981), his feature-film debut about professional safecracker Frank.

The film follows Frank, played by James Caan, as he tries to leave organized crime behind and build a legitimate life. A powerful Chicago crime boss offers him a major final job, but the arrangement draws Frank deeper into a criminal system he cannot control. The screenplay was adapted from The Home Invaders, a novel-length project Mann had developed from interviews and research.

Thief is notable for treating burglary as a specialized craft. Its opening safecracking scene emphasizes tools, heat, welding, and physical technique rather than a purely glamorous fantasy of theft. The film also established Mann’s recurring interest in professionals whose identities are tied to demanding work.

The movie is sometimes confused with later films Mann directed, especially Heat and Miami Vice. Thief came first and introduced the director’s distinctive combination of procedural detail, urban night photography, and electronic music.