Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Ladri di biciclette (original title)

A man and his son search for a stolen bicycle vital for his job.

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Luigi Bartolini (novel), Cesare Zavattini,

Stars:

Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

Top 250 #90 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins.

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

Storyline

A poor young father in postwar-ravaged Rome who finally finds work putting up Rita Hayworth posters around town, only to have his precious bicycle stolen the first day on the job. In a light moment as the father and his young son chase after the thief, the boy attempts to relieve himself against a wall, and his father lets him know they don't have time for that. In another scene, the father tracks the thief into the kitchen of a brothel.

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Plot Keywords:

Bicycle | Job | Thief | Poster | Search | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

13 December 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bicycle Thief

Filming Locations:

Citta Valmelaina, Via Salaria, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$11,845 (USA) (2 October 1998)

Gross:

$332,930 (USA) (3 September 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Produzioni De Sica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 80 min (DVD edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There's a scene later in the movie where Bruno is nearly run over twice while crossing the street. This was absolutely unrehearsed - it was filmed on location and the two cars happened to pass by at that time.

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Quotes

Antonio Ricci: Your mother and her prayers can't help us.

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Connections

Featured in Stardust Memories (1980)

User Reviews

Simple, Powerful Film Survives

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. ###