The Thief

Rating:
Summary: Unspeakably Brilliant
Review: "The Thief," a moody and atmospheric noir masterpiece, is one of the most thoroughly engrossing espionage movies I have ever seen. The plot is intense and thrilling, the black and white cinematography visually stunning, the acting superb. The story revolves around a nuclear physicist (Ray Milland) who is also a spy. Torn by guilt and doubt and sinking deeper and deeper into dispair as FBI agents close in on him, he is forced into making a terrifying choice. All without a single word of dialogue.

The movie succeeds mainly because of the brilliant acting ability of Ray Milland. His performance, which owes much of its flavour to his Oscar winning role in "The Lost Weekend," is quite probably his best ever. Dialogue would have destroyed this movie because its atmosphere thrives on the solitude and loneliness of spies and their world.

I have read many reviews that mention that "The Thief" leaves unclear the political convictions of the protagonist as well as the name of the country for which he actually works. Why the emphasis on this I do not understand since the movie intentionally leaves so many things unclear (i.e.: Ray Milland is the only character whose name we learn). I feel that this works decidedly to the movies' advantage. Isn't that the very nature of espionage?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: Ray Milland proves again what an excellent and diverse actor he was in THE THIEF, one of the most interesting and unique movies it has been my pleasure to watch. The fact that there was no dialog seemed to dissapear as I became absorbed in the story. I think it was excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Nice movie
Review: That's a nice movie. I mean it

Rating:
Summary: Interesting experiment/failed cold war film
Review: The Thief contains no spoken dialogue. It was an interesting experiment that really is a dead end. One cannot imagine or desire a whole series of films like this but, as a stand alone, the film is good. It fails as a "cold war" film since the viewer cannot really tell who the "thief" actually is working for. Could be Moscow but could easily be Egypt. That said. The Thief is very watchable. The direction is excellent. The performances are all first rate, especially Ray Milland. The film really hinges on Milland's silent acting skills and he truly carries the film. This is a must have for any Milland fan. One is hard pressed to think of a film that so completely belongs to a single actor yet here it is. Milland is commended for taking a chance on such an unorthodox film. He succeeds. The film succeeds.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting experiment/failed cold war film
Review: The Thief contains no spoken dialogue. It was an interesting experiment that really is a dead end. One cannot imagine or desire a whole series of films like this but, as a stand alone, the film is good. It fails as a "cold war" film since the viewer cannot really tell who the "thief" actually is working for. Could be Moscow but could easily be Egypt. That said. The Thief is very watchable. The direction is excellent. The performances are all first rate, especially Ray Milland. The film really hinges on Milland's silent acting skills and he truly carries the film. This is a must have for any Milland fan. One is hard pressed to think of a film that so completely belongs to a single actor yet here it is. Milland is commended for taking a chance on such an unorthodox film. He succeeds. The film succeeds.

Rating:
Summary: Successful experiment/failed Cold War movie
Review: The Thief was an experiment to see if a film could be made without any spoken dialogue. It does succeed yet it does not encourage other similar attempts. It is a dead end that limits film's potential. That said, THE THIEF is a director's and actor's glory. For those are the two factors that would make or break a film like this. Both come through with ease. Ray Milland, who is to be commended for attempting such a project, does a magnificent job. One is hard pressed to think of a film that is so literally carried by a single actor. His performance, made up of only expressions and very revealing eyes, is superb. This film is a Milland fans dream. Where the film flounders is in its attempt to be a Cold War espionage film. Because of the nature of espionage and the nature of the film, there is really no opportunity is explain just who THE THIEF is working for. Spies don't carry little pictures of Stalin in their wallets. It would be foolish. So one could assume that he is working for Moscow yet one can very easily decide that he is working for Gamal Nasser. The film is obscure on this point. The direction is very very good with many bravura sequences. The business on the Empire State building being of special note. It is plain that Hitchcock must have seen this film and was heavily influenced by it especially NORTH BY NORTHWEST and perhaps THE WRONG MAN. Yet another "thief".

Rating:
Summary: Successful experiment/failed Cold War movie
Review: The Thief was an experiment to see if a film could be made without any spoken dialogue. It does succeed yet it does not encourage other similar attempts. It is a dead end that limits film's potential. That said, THE THIEF is a director's and actor's glory. For those are the two factors that would make or break a film like this. Both come through with ease. Ray Milland, who is to be commended for attempting such a project, does a magnificent job. One is hard pressed to think of a film that is so literally carried by a single actor. His performance, made up of only expressions and very revealing eyes, is superb. This film is a Milland fans dream. Where the film flounders is in its attempt to be a Cold War espionage film. Because of the nature of espionage and the nature of the film, there is really no opportunity is explain just who THE THIEF is working for. Spies don't carry little pictures of Stalin in their wallets. It would be foolish. So one could assume that he is working for Moscow yet one can very easily decide that he is working for Gamal Nasser. The film is obscure on this point. The direction is very very good with many bravura sequences. The business on the Empire State building being of special note. It is plain that Hitchcock must have seen this film and was heavily influenced by it especially NORTH BY NORTHWEST and perhaps THE WRONG MAN. Yet another "thief".