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IMDb > Ladri di biciclette (1948)
Ladri di biciclette
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Ladri di biciclette (1948) More at IMDbPro »

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Ladri di biciclette (1948) -- A man and his son search for a stolen bicycle vital for his job.

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Vittorio De Sica
Writers:
Luigi Bartolini (novel)
Cesare Zavattini (writer) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Bicycle Thief on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 December 1949 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Plot:
A man and his son search for a stolen bicycle vital for his job. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins more
User Comments:
Simple, Powerful Film Survives more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Lamberto Maggiorani ... Antonio Ricci
Enzo Staiola ... Bruno Ricci
Lianella Carell ... Maria Ricci
Gino Saltamerenda ... Baiocco
Vittorio Antonucci ... The Thief
Giulio Chiari ... The Beggar
Elena Altieri ... The Charitable Lady
Carlo Jachino ... A Beggar
Michele Sakara ... Secretary of the Charity Organization
Emma Druetti
Fausto Guerzoni ... Amateur Actor
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Bicycle Thieves (UK)
The Bicycle Thief (USA)
The Bicycle Thieves (UK)
more
Runtime:
93 min | Spain:80 min (DVD edition)
Country:
Italy
Language:
Italian
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Lead actor Lamberto Maggiorani really did struggle for work after this film was completed. more
Quotes:
Antonio Ricci: "There's a cure for everything except death." more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Scent of a Cow (2009) more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is this movie based on a novel?
I see this film described as an example of Italian "neorealism". What is neorealism?
more
22 out of 26 people found the following comment useful:-
Simple, Powerful Film Survives, 18 April 2000
10/10
Author: harry-76 from Cleveland, Ohio

There's not much that can be said about "The Bicycle Thief" that hasn't already been expressed. It is considered a great work of the Italian cinema, and looking at it in its 1999 release version, one can see why.

Structurally, it's a theme and variations, with such a simple, clearly stated main motif that one can identify and follow its mutations with no effort. DeSica is clearly the fine craftsman here, directing every scene with a beautiful sense of control and balance.

His work with young Enzo Staiola (as Bruno) is especially commendable, and he allows then nonprofessionals Lamberto Maggiorani (as Antonio) and Lianella Carell (as Marie) to act in a model of naturalism.

Carlo Montuori's photography is brilliant, and Antonio Traverso's production design is pungent and atmospheric. Like most "masterpieces," a film-classic score provides emotional depth in a subliminal way: here it's a romantic, Italianesque original composition by Aessandro Cicognini wraps up the entire production.

DeSica's career is most impressive, being involved in nealy 200 films, 165 of them as an actor. This film remains one of his greatest achievements. It seems to be standing the test of time very nicely, too. It's been criticized, sometimes quite severely, and just continues to bounce back, winning new admirers with each reissue. The public just won't let "The Bicycle Thief" fade away. That alone tends to override any negative factors. It looks like this film is going to be around for quite a while. ###

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Ladri di biciclette (1948)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Am I The Only One Who Thinks that the Image Entertainment DVD is bad? beeniebag
Moral Relativism? romanticnihilist
Meaning Of 'Bicycle Thieves' Mr_Royalewithcheese
Am I the only person that didn't think it was too great? AnUnknownPleasure
When they find the thief, who are those well-dressed men? perorewen
Who are the people that help Ricci try to find his bike? captive4040
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