Trivia / Thief (1981)

• Breakthrough Hit: For Michael Mann.
• Cast the Expert: Former Chicago PD detective Dennis Farina and former jewel thief John Santucci (who Farina had arrested) were technical advisors on the film, and Mann cast them in reversed roles as a gang henchmen and Chicago cop respectively. Chuck Adamson (who would become an inspiration for Vincent Hanna), another former Chicago PD detective, plays one of the detectives harassing Frank at one point.
• Creator's Favorite Episode: After The Godfather, this was James Caan's favorite film of his own. He had stated that his monologue in the diner was the scene of which he was most proud in his career.
• Enforced Method Acting: In the hospital scene, James Caan decided to stare coldly at J. Jay Saunders, who played the doctor. This really frightened Saunders, and his reaction in the scene is genuine.
• Genre Popularizer: For the subgenre of "neon noir", inspiring such successors as Good Time and Drive (2011).
• Throw It In!: In the scene in Leo's house, James Caan improvised mispronouncing "elected" as "elected-ed" to show that Frank was an uneducated man who tried to project an air of sophistication.
• What Could Have Been: Jeff Bridges was Michael Mann's choice to play Frank, but was rejected due to the fact he was young, and wasn't experienced enough to play a hardened criminal. Al Pacino was also offered the role. Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider were also considered.
• Working Title: Violent Streets, which was the film's Completely Different Title for overseas releases.

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