OK, a year ago, but not quite. Dave Grusin wrote not only the theme but the incidental music for the series. Ernie Freeman plucked it apart and put it together for the TV movie, "Magnificent Thief" which was made of the pilot (and some other footage). Freeman also scored the recut and cast TV movie version. All the original music was Grusin's, unless I'm totally misremembering.
I prefer Grusin's theme (the expanded version ued in Season 2) but this theme here for the pilot movie was used again in the show, during episodes where Al is being chased or whatnot. Grusin's theme is excellently orchestrated too and is so darned addictive! I could listen to it all day, wanting more and more of a longer version. I wish he had included this theme in his own CD compilations, but there must be some sort of copyright with Universal that prevented this. What a shame.
Hint of Trivia: Did anybody knew that Robert Horton of TV's Wagon Train auditioned for the part of Al Mundy? Yeah,that Robert Horton who told TV Guide in an interview that he was tired of playing western characters and wanted to change gears in his acting career. However,it didn't work out the way he planned it. He lost the part to Robert Wagner. Wagner,not only was the suave hero,but he also made a fashion statement too. The suits this man wore on that show were original editions.
Wow. I was too young to remember this but my mother liked Robert Wagner & I think she mentioned this. Is "The Magnificent Thief" and "It takes a thief" the same show or do you have a wrong title? (Sorry for question) Thanks, Sam
A lot of connections here to my favourite show The Virginian, Doug McClure and James Drury, of course but also V geusts John Saxon, Leslie Nielsen, Donald Barry and producer Frank Price and director Leslie Stevens.
being a master of 60's and 70's theme tunes I really like this themore I hear it, a lot of instruments and an intersting arrangement not as good as sries 3 but still good.
I first knew of this pilot when I read the insert of a vhs tape from Unviersal Home Video about the premere collection and the pilot for "It Takes A Thief" was one of them. I wondered if it had the same Universal jingle at the. I bought it in spring 1995 and the copyright said 1994 and at Suncoast Motion Picture Company. They ran out though. You should have the closing credits along with the closing logo.
This is the opening for the feature "Magnificent Thief" - episodes 1 and 2 spliced together. This theme was composed by Ernie Freeman, an influential arranger working notably for Frank Sinatra during the mid-sixties. As I recall, when first broadcast, episode 1 already had the Dave Grusin themed opening with RJ holding the sparkler, etc. But then it's been more than 40 years...the bouncy tune playing during the following scene in the prison has been lingering in mind for just as long.
Interesting. Sure glad they turned around and used Dave Grusin instead. A cool, show deserves a cool theme. His theme makes it. Like I've always said...a good show can be made great by the theme song.
this is very good, but it reminds me of too many other related action-adventure themes, like the Peter Gunn theme, for instance. even the original Jonny Quest theme, which is superlative.
At that time it was not that usual to find another theme for the regular show once the pilot had been accepted? Magnum PI, Starsky & Hutch (even if we hear what would be the first season theme in the pilot score) were in the same case... Maybe we could make a list from the shows that have changed their music themes between the pilot and the regular episodes?
This version appears on the Television's Greatest Hits: In Living Color CD. I had never heard it before and was scratching my head...this wasn't the It Takes a Thief theme I remembered! Now after seeing this, I know where they got the music. I much prefer Grusin's theme to the show to this.
I heard there's a movie in production with Will Smith in Robert Wagner's part... Maybe Universal will make some dvds whn the movie will hit the screens ! Let's cross fingers !!!
WOW ! one of my favorites! i haven't seen this in years. i wish Universal or whomever owns the rights would re-issue this and the series as a DVD series! i'm still waiting...
Elio4, Thanks for posting! I too like the weekly theme music better but I really enjoyed seeing/hearing this clip. I remember seeing this as a movie on TV & being so surprised to find that it really was the pilot of ITAT. Hope Columbia will release the show on DVD soon! Thanks again!
The reason I uploaded the pilot theme is because I was very surprised when I first saw it ! I so much prefer the regular Dave Grusin theme, but I thought it was interresting fo all the itat fans...
the one with Astaire? or the regular season 3? My favorite is season 1. The music theme seems a bit more serious... great work by Dave Grusin and great music library. Hope they'll produce a cd score...
OK, a year ago, but not quite. Dave Grusin wrote not only the theme but the incidental music for the series. Ernie Freeman plucked it apart and put it together for the TV movie, "Magnificent Thief" which was made of the pilot (and some other footage). Freeman also scored the recut and cast TV movie version. All the original music was Grusin's, unless I'm totally misremembering.
hypnoboth 8 months ago
I prefer Grusin's theme (the expanded version ued in Season 2) but this theme here for the pilot movie was used again in the show, during episodes where Al is being chased or whatnot. Grusin's theme is excellently orchestrated too and is so darned addictive! I could listen to it all day, wanting more and more of a longer version. I wish he had included this theme in his own CD compilations, but there must be some sort of copyright with Universal that prevented this. What a shame.
pixeleen8 10 months ago
A classy show. Thanks.
RocketTCoyote 11 months ago
WHEN COOL WAS REALLY COOL, BECAUSE OF INTRIGUE AND INTELLECT.
davisismail1comcast 1 year ago
Great show. Robert Wagner was perfect for the part. Senta Berger sure was easy on the eyes...
ronetteloverz 1 year ago
Hint of Trivia: Did anybody knew that Robert Horton of TV's Wagon Train auditioned for the part of Al Mundy? Yeah,that Robert Horton who told TV Guide in an interview that he was tired of playing western characters and wanted to change gears in his acting career. However,it didn't work out the way he planned it. He lost the part to Robert Wagner. Wagner,not only was the suave hero,but he also made a fashion statement too. The suits this man wore on that show were original editions.
rayssonation 1 year ago
Wow. I was too young to remember this but my mother liked Robert Wagner & I think she mentioned this. Is "The Magnificent Thief" and "It takes a thief" the same show or do you have a wrong title? (Sorry for question) Thanks, Sam
SamHillFilms 1 year ago
@SamHillFilms : That's the same show. Until I watched the pilot, I didn't know it had a different title. Good question.
elio4 1 year ago
Robert Wagner in great new bio (All About Jeffrey Hunter)at amazon!
Bestmanme08 2 years ago
This is the theme heard on "Television's Greatest Hits Volume 5," not the one actually used for the series.
TonyDuMont 2 years ago
Dave Grusin always wrote interesting themes
creolelady182 2 years ago
yes, except the pilot theme is written by Ernie Freeman (all three seasons are Dave Grusin's) !
but you're right. He always wrote very good themes !
elio4 2 years ago
A lot of connections here to my favourite show The Virginian, Doug McClure and James Drury, of course but also V geusts John Saxon, Leslie Nielsen, Donald Barry and producer Frank Price and director Leslie Stevens.
suir52 2 years ago
please get this series on DVD.
GOOSEYGOOSE9 2 years ago 2
being a master of 60's and 70's theme tunes I really like this themore I hear it, a lot of instruments and an intersting arrangement not as good as sries 3 but still good.
Rob
gerladiant 2 years ago 2
I first knew of this pilot when I read the insert of a vhs tape from Unviersal Home Video about the premere collection and the pilot for "It Takes A Thief" was one of them. I wondered if it had the same Universal jingle at the. I bought it in spring 1995 and the copyright said 1994 and at Suncoast Motion Picture Company. They ran out though. You should have the closing credits along with the closing logo.
britfrenir 3 years ago
Sorry, I meant I wonderd if it had the same Universal jingle at the end as the season 1 episodes.
britfrenir 3 years ago
This is the opening for the feature "Magnificent Thief" - episodes 1 and 2 spliced together. This theme was composed by Ernie Freeman, an influential arranger working notably for Frank Sinatra during the mid-sixties. As I recall, when first broadcast, episode 1 already had the Dave Grusin themed opening with RJ holding the sparkler, etc. But then it's been more than 40 years...the bouncy tune playing during the following scene in the prison has been lingering in mind for just as long.
lou914 3 years ago
Interesting. Sure glad they turned around and used Dave Grusin instead. A cool, show deserves a cool theme. His theme makes it. Like I've always said...a good show can be made great by the theme song.
assignmentearth 3 years ago
this is very good, but it reminds me of too many other related action-adventure themes, like the Peter Gunn theme, for instance. even the original Jonny Quest theme, which is superlative.
the Dave Grusin theme is best.
astronomius 3 years ago
At that time it was not that usual to find another theme for the regular show once the pilot had been accepted? Magnum PI, Starsky & Hutch (even if we hear what would be the first season theme in the pilot score) were in the same case... Maybe we could make a list from the shows that have changed their music themes between the pilot and the regular episodes?
elio4 3 years ago
i agree, but *whew* that's a lot of effort, lol. and this is the "It Takes A Thief" mini forum, anyway, lol.
astronomius 3 years ago
You're right ! Let's stay focused ! ;-)
elio4 3 years ago
This version appears on the Television's Greatest Hits: In Living Color CD. I had never heard it before and was scratching my head...this wasn't the It Takes a Thief theme I remembered! Now after seeing this, I know where they got the music. I much prefer Grusin's theme to the show to this.
recordman64 3 years ago 2
100 % agree !
elio4 3 years ago
thanks again!
astronomius 4 years ago
I heard there's a movie in production with Will Smith in Robert Wagner's part... Maybe Universal will make some dvds whn the movie will hit the screens ! Let's cross fingers !!!
elio4 4 years ago
yes, i read that, but i forgot about it. that's the hope.
astronomius 4 years ago
Well, at least they couldn't possibly screw it up worse than they screwed up "The Wild Wild West" with Will Smith in it.
scotpens 3 years ago
Well, at least they couldn't possibly screw it up worse than they screwed up "The Wild Wild West" with Will Smith in it.
scotpens 3 years ago
WOW ! one of my favorites! i haven't seen this in years. i wish Universal or whomever owns the rights would re-issue this and the series as a DVD series! i'm still waiting...
astronomius 4 years ago
I've never seen this or heard this before..amazing...
Robo1415 4 years ago 2
Adds to the legacy of this great show. Thanks for including what has been unknown to many of us up till now.
Vanderwolff 4 years ago 2
Elio4, Thanks for posting! I too like the weekly theme music better but I really enjoyed seeing/hearing this clip. I remember seeing this as a movie on TV & being so surprised to find that it really was the pilot of ITAT. Hope Columbia will release the show on DVD soon! Thanks again!
redcar96 4 years ago 2
Using this version on the tv themes is a ripoff! I love all the regular openings posted by ittakesathieffan. Universal, please put it on DVD already!
elmerfusco 4 years ago
I'm sure they will put the show on dvd... sooner or later... The sooner the better of course...
elio4 4 years ago
The reason I uploaded the pilot theme is because I was very surprised when I first saw it ! I so much prefer the regular Dave Grusin theme, but I thought it was interresting fo all the itat fans...
elio4 4 years ago
I believe it was the regular season. It's been so many year (over 30) since I have seen the show.
Firelogger 4 years ago
I've never heard that version.
Firelogger 4 years ago
It was only used for the pilot. That's the version you find on some tv themes cd audio.
elio4 4 years ago
I like all of them, but my favorite is season3
Firelogger 4 years ago
the one with Astaire? or the regular season 3? My favorite is season 1. The music theme seems a bit more serious... great work by Dave Grusin and great music library. Hope they'll produce a cd score...
elio4 4 years ago