Arrow Video has announced the UK Blu-ray release of Michael Mann’s debut feature film Thief (originally released in the UK as Violent Streets), which arrives on 26th January 2015. This new release will be limited to 3,000 exclusive slip-case Blu-rays which will include two versions of the film, the original theatrical cut and an extended director’s cut.

James Caan plays Frank, a jewel thief and former convict who is looking to settle down with his girlfriend (Tuesday Weld – Once Upon a Time in America) and begin a family. But when his ‘fence’ is thrown from a window and the Chicago mafia begin to flex their muscles, his hopes of a quiet life become anything but…

With a sterling supporting cast in the shape of James Belushi, Robert Prosky, Willie Nelson and Dennis Farina, lush electronic score by Tangerine Dream and the assured direction of Mann, Thief is a standout eighties crime flick that paved the way for the his later urban thrillers such as Heat and Collateral as well as Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive.

Released in 1981, Thief, Michael Mann's first theatrical feature, paved the way for his iconic 80s TV show Miami Vice and his acclaimed films which followed thereafter; Manhunter, Heat and Collateral. The new restoration of the film includes a director-supervised 4k transfer of the film and a host of exciting new extras, including a Michael Mann and James Caan commentary, an hour-long doc on Michael Mann's career and two interviews with James Caan, one conducted in 1981 for French television, the other especially commissioned for this release.

Alongside this, this exclusive edition will also include the new featurette The Art of the Heist, an examination of Thief with writer and critic F.X. Feeney, as well as a theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by maarko phntm and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Brad Stevens.

Thief will be released on UK Blu-ray as a Limited Slipcase Edition (3000 units) on 26th January 2015 by Arrow Video at the RRP of £19.99.

Featuring a High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the director’s cut from a new 4K film transfer, approved by director Michael Mann, with uncompressed 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, and High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the original theatrical cut [Limited Edition Exclusive] with original uncompressed 2.0 Stereo PCM audio, plus optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, the disc will have the following extras:

• Optional isolated music and effects track on the theatrical cut

• Audio commentary by writer-director Michael Mann and actor James Caan

• The Directors: Michael Mann – a 2001 documentary on the filmmaker, containing interviews with Mann, James Belushi, William Petersen, Jon Voight and others

• Stolen Dreams – a new interview with Caan, filmed exclusively for this release

• Hollywood USA: James Caan – an episode of the French TV series Ciné regards devoted to the actor, filmed shortly after Thief had finished production

• The Art of the Heist – an examination of Thief with writer and critic F.X. Feeney, author of the Taschen volume on Michael Mann

• Theatrical trailer

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by maarko phntm

• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Brad Stevens