Thief of Hearts (1984) is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. People always smirk or laugh out loud whenever I tell them how much I enjoy this movie and its music. They usually stop when they realize that I’m not pulling their leg or they start laughing even harder…but that’s all right. I don’t care really because I like what I like. I feel the same way about another 80s classic, FlashDance and its wonderful soundtrack.

I really liked Steven Bauer in the lead. I was certain he would become a big star but despite a steady working career (mostly on TV), he never did become a major leading man like many of his contemporaries. He was in Scarface with Al Pacino and was married to Melanie Griffith for several years. I also enjoyed his co-star, Barbara Williams who was believable as the lonely wife who shared her deepest secrets in her diary that the thief stole and used as a map to her heart.

A young David Caruso also starred in this movie as Bauer’s law-breaking partner in crime. As you know, he went on to do quite well with a couple of TV shows.

Interesting note about the writer-director, Douglas Day-Stewart. When I looked at his resume I was pleasantly surprised to see that he also wrote some of my other favorite movies from my youth. Besides Thief of Hearts (1984) he also did:

The Music

Here are several selections from the original motion picture soundtrack that I really like.
It strongly features Harold Faltermeyer who’s done many excellent soundtracks and experienced major pop success with hits such as Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop and the Top Gun theme. I think I really like his music because it reminds me a lot of Giorgio Moroder’s style. It makes sense because he actually worked with Giorgio on a few projects such as the soundtracks for Midnight Express, American Gigolo and Foxes).