OK Watching a DVD of Heat and was looking at Mann's other films and remember I owned Thief directors cut at one time
but I see that there was a theatrical version and was different.

Was this released on LD? and is it this version?

Thief (1981) [ID6468MG]

What's getting me is that the run time is the same at 124 minutes

This is my ongoing quest to collect films I like but theatrical versions that have not been released on other formats.

A bit confused. Are you saying both the theatrical and special editions are 124 minutes?

That certainly happens from time to time. A directors cut doesn’t have to be longer and have more stuff in it.

Yeah, according to the listing of the first release its 124 minutes and the directors edition is also 124 minutes.

Thief: Special Director's Edition (1981) [ML105114]

So one may be wrong or like zeta says it could just be cut differently.
I don't know what the Criterion DVD/Bluray is but its a directors cut as well, but supposedly different from the directors edition on LD.

https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=665044

So it seems that the first DVD is the same as the second LD but the Criterion is the theatrical with an added scene and change
of a few seconds to make for the soundtrack.

Thanks all.

Michael Mann - A top tier Director of our times.....
The Keep☆☆☆☆☆
Plus ~
Heat☆☆☆☆☆
Thief☆☆☆☆☆
Collateral☆☆☆☆☆
Last of the Mohicans☆☆☆☆☆
- and more ......
What a legacy !

& Manhunter

I've seen both - theatrical on 35mm and DC on Blu-Ray - and from what I remember the theatrical version was missing the scene where Caan is fishing. According to Caps-A-Holic the DC seems to be a little more than a minute longer, which I think makes sense.

Regarding Mann let's not forget about The Insider. That's a great film for sure.