# Episode 377: THIEF (1981) with Kelly Krantz

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trylove-241033/episode-377-thief-1981-with-kelly-krantz
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/trylove-241033/episode-377-thief-1981-with-kelly-krantz.md
Podcast: [Trylove](https://stenobird.com/podcast/trylove-241033)
Published: 2026-04-07T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://r.zencastr.com/r/pinecast.com/listen/2e2ceddb-afc1-4091-89cc-ff04d3f4ef27.mp3?source=rss&ext=asset.mp3
Audio file: https://r.zencastr.com/r/pinecast.com/listen/2e2ceddb-afc1-4091-89cc-ff04d3f4ef27.mp3?source=rss&ext=asset.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/trylove-241033/episodes/episode-377-thief-1981-with-kelly-krantz
Duration seconds: 6869

## Resource

Michael Mann’s debut THIEF is pretty fully formed, a tightly wound caper with the grit of a ‘70s movie and the pizazz of an ‘80s thriller. Frank (James Caan) is an ex-convict and current master thief with a one-track mind: Make the money, marry the girl, make the family, live in peace at last. This being a movie, none of those things happen as he expects them to. In this episode with guest Kelly Krantz, we talk about the pitiful antihero at the center of THIEF , the supporting cast (including Tuesday Weld and Willie Nelson), the Tangerine Dream score, and the crushing effect of the American carceral system on the American dream itself. Find Kelly… On Bluesky at @kransekage.bsky.social On Twitter at @kransekage_ On Letterboxd at @luckyhoss On Trylove episodes: WINGS OF DESIRE (1987), ARREBATO (1979), PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974), REVOLVER (1973), THE DOOM GENERATION (1995), THE NIGHT PORTER (1974), REMEMBER MY NAME (1978), PLAY IT AS IT LAYS (1972), OUTLAND (1981), BASIC INSTINCT (1992) Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis References: “Thief: That One Last Job and the American Dream” by Sophie Durbin for Perisphere, the Trylon blog “The Study of Mann” by F.X. Fe…

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