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

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Luigi Bartolini (novel)
Cesare Zavattini (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 December 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Bicycle | Job | Thief | Poster | Search

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 17 wins

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Giulio Battiferri	...	Citizen Who Protects the Real Thief (uncredited)
Ida Bracci Dorati	...	La Santona (uncredited)
Nando Bruno	...	(uncredited)
Eolo Capritti	...	(uncredited)
Memmo Carotenuto	...	(uncredited)
Giovanni Corporale	...	(uncredited)
Sergio Leone	...	A Seminary Student (uncredited)
Mario Meniconi	...	Meniconi, the Street Sweeper (uncredited)
Massimo Randisi	...	Rich Kid in Restaurant (uncredited)
Checco Rissone	...	Guard in Piazza Vittorio (uncredited)
Peppino Spadaro	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Umberto Spadaro	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Vittorio De Sica

Writing credits
Luigi Bartolini		(novel)
Cesare Zavattini		writer &
Suso Cecchi D'Amico		(as Suso D'Amico) &
Vittorio De Sica		writer &
Oreste Biancoli		writer &
Adolfo Franci		writer &
Gerardo Guerrieri		writer

Produced by
Giuseppe Amato	....	producer
Vittorio De Sica	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alessandro Cicognini		(also as Cicognini)

Cinematography by
Carlo Montuori

Film Editing by
Eraldo Da Roma

Production Design by
Antonio Traverso

Production Management
Nino Misiano	....	production supervisor
Umberto Scarpelli	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Luisa Alessandri	....	assistant director
Gerardo Guerrieri	....	assistant director
Sergio Leone	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Biagio Fiorelli	....	sound technician (as Gino Fiorelli)
Bruno Brunacci	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mario Montuori	....	camera operator
Carlo Di Palma	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Music Department
Willy Ferrero	....	conductor

Other crew
Joseph Burstyn	....	distributor
Roberto Moretti	....	production secretary
Alberto Sordi	....	voice dubbing (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Produzioni De Sica

Distributors

• Ente Nazionale Industrie Cinematografiche (ENIC) (1948) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Arthur Mayer & Joseph Burstyn (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Image Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Vídeo Mercury Films (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (????) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Corinth Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (subtitled)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1951) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Rosenbergs Filmbyrå (1950) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• VEB Progress Film-Vertrieb (1953) (East Germany) (theatrical)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Another World Entertainment (2008) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• DVD Magic (2005) (Russia) (DVD)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Multimedia San Paolo S.r.l. (2002) (Italy) (DVD)
• Studio S (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (TV) (PAY TV)

Also Known As:

"Ladri di biciclette" - Italy (original title)
"The Bicycle Thief" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

93 min | Spain:80 min (DVD edition) | West Germany:88 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Australia:PG | West Germany:12 (f) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Citta Valmelaina, Via Salaria, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Produzioni De Sica

Trivia:

The actors in the film were all amateurs. Vittorio De Sica decided not to use professionals.

Quotes:

La Santona:[Addressing a young man seated before her, apparently seeking advice on his love life] You must plant your seeds in another field. Do you understand what I mean?
Young man seeking advice:No, I don't understand.
La Santona:It's simple, my boy. What good is planting seeds if the soil rejects them? You plant, but don't gather. Understand?
Young man seeking advice:I haven't understood a word.
La Santona:[Becoming impatient] She doesn't love you! Forget her!
La Santona:[Pausing for effect] Dear boy, you're very ugly. Yes, ugly. There are so many other women... Go and plow another field!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Holiday for Henrietta (1952)

Exceptional film which should be honored and treasured

Italian Neorealism has always been one of my favorite film movements, and The Bicycle Thief appears to be one the finest examples of this medium. While people today might not understand the power in the story, one has to understand the nature state of Italy after World War II. The country was in ruins, and finding a good job was difficult. Desperation took over more often than reason, and this leads to the eventual climax of self pity and remorse. Quite a powerful film, for it is the only foreign film I have on my personal Top 25 list.