One of the guys I worked with strongly recommended this '81 Mann film to me this morning. I've never seen it. Thoughts? Worth a viewing?

Awesome movie, Caan is excellent in the film actually one of my favorite movies. Good cast of characters : James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, James Belushi, Robert Prosky

"I wear $150 slacks, I wear silk shirts, I wear $800 suits, I wear a gold watch, I wear a perfect, D-flawless three carat ring. I change cars like other guys change their fucking shoes. I'm a thief. I've been in prison, all right?"

Thanks, HRK. When I looked it up, the cast certainly seemed impressive.

There is a scene in the film based in a Chicago Blues Pub, apparently the cast hit this pub after a day of shooting and liked it, wrote the scene into the movie.

Band is the Mighty Joe Young Band, and the song is Turning Point which is apropos to the plot of the film for Franks character, ex-con, trying to get ahead and retire, still looking for that big score.

Good flick, worth watching. Caan puts a .45 to good use, actually looks like he knows what he's doing with it.

What a gun Frank used in the movie.

Thanks for the input, folks.

Caused me to buy an 81 ElDorado

quote:

Originally posted by mod29:
Good flick, worth watching. Caan puts a .45 to good use, actually looks like he knows what he's doing with it.

I've read that Caan stated that he spent 2 days with Col. Cooper at Gunsite learning to shot, handle guns, and move with one through a house. BUT

I have also read that the Col refused to train Caan.

"when he told Cooper than he wanted to learn the Modern Technique for his role in the Michael Mann production, Thief (1981), Cooper declined, reasoning that Caan's character, an ex-con and career criminal, would not have been exposed to such training. Caan and Mann did, however, induce Gunsite's then D.Ops, Galen D. "Chuck" Taylor, to give him a one evening crash course, not in shooting, but looking like he knew how to shoot and move with a handgun. So thorough was Taylor's instruction, that many who saw the movie were convinced that Caan had been through Gunsite."

Don't know which is true, the internet is a place full of stories..

Great movie.

Great flick, one of my favorites for decades.

Tangerine Dream wrote the score if i remember correctly.

0-0

I will join the crowd, it is a good movie.

There are no mackerel in Lake Michigan. They are a saltwater fish.

Otherwise, it’s a good movie.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

Excellent movie!

Great movie. Next to Sonny Corleone, I’d say it’s my favorite movie of his.

Early appearances for Dennis Farina and William L. Petersen. Great movie!

https://www.theringer.com/movi...mes-caan-heist-movie

Here's an excellent article about the movie.
I don't think you'll be dissapointed.

Then your going to get in your car and look for a spot that you can turn into a "trap" and hide your gun.

Mann used guys from "both sides of the fence" on this movie; Cops and Robbers. As in legitimate great Cops and real life Bad Guys (Let's say those with affiliations to certain Italian American Social Organizations) in different parts of Chicago.


IIRC, one of the places that was Frank's base of operations is just north of Chicago Ave and south of the river on Halsted, east side of the street (Goose Island area for those that know the city).

***Allegedly*** this may have been one of the Technical Advisors spots that he used when he was "working".

"If I wanna meet people, I'll go to a fuckin' country club."

FWIW: The custom 6" Colt 1911 .45 used by Caan's character in "Thief" was built by Master Gunsmith James Hoag, who at the time operated his business in the Community of Canoga Park (located in the San Fernando Valley).

James was a nice guy (IMHO) as well as a great gunsmith, and he supported the LEO community that was transitioning from .38 Special revolvers to semi-automatic pistols. One local department (San Fernando PD) provided James with their new Series 70 1911 .45s for his custom work, before issuing these duty weapons to new officers. The updates included his fixed "Hardball" front and rear sights, his extended safety system, and an action/barrel "reliability package."