Shoeshine (1946)

Two shoeshine boys in postwar Rome, Italy, save up to buy a horse, but their involvement as dupes in a burglary lands them in juvenile prison where the experience take a devastating toll on their friendship.

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Sergio Amidei (story), Adolfo Franci (story)

Stars:

Rinaldo Smordoni, Franco Interlenghi, Annielo Mele

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Franco Interlenghi	...	Pasquale Maggi
Rinaldo Smordoni	...	Giuseppe Filippucci
Annielo Mele	...	Raffaele (as Aniello Mele)
Bruno Ortensi	...	Arcangeli (as Bruno Ortenzi)
Emilio Cigoli	...	Staffera

Storyline

At a track near Rome, shoeshine boys are watching horses run. Two of the boys, the orphan Pasquale and his younger friend Giuseppe, are riding. The pair have been saving to buy a horse of their own to ride. The boys meet Attilio, Giuse's much older brother, and his shady friend at a boat on the Tiber. In return for a commission, the boys agree to deliver black market goods to a fortune-teller. Once the woman has paid, Attilio's gang suddenly arrives, pretending to be cops, to shake the woman down. With a payoff from Attilio, the boys are able to make the final payment and stable their horse in Trastevere over the river. The fortune-teller identifies Pasqua and Giuse. Held at an overcrowded boys' prison, they are separated. Giuse falls under the influence of an older lad in his cell, Arcangeli. During interrogation, Pasqua is tricked into betraying Giuse's brother to the police. With their trial still in the future, the two friends are driven further apart.

---

Plot Keywords:

post world war two | poverty | juvenile delinquency | boy | italy | 

---

Taglines:

Un milagro como no conoció el cine en los 50 años de su historia! [Spanish poster.]

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 533 delivered on 4-4-1946.

---

Quotes

Giuseppe Filippucci: Whoever invented the elevator is a genius.
Pasquale Maggi: Tell me about it. I slept in one for three months.

---

Alternate Versions

Some USA video editions are edited to suppress the full nudity in the shower scene and to minimize the subsequent fist fight between two boys.

---

Connections

Referenced in A Chance to Live (1949)

User Reviews

It's surprising that many haven't watched this movie yet.

Honestly speaking I watch movies based on their ratings and IMDb is one site that I rely on (despite the fact that many good movies are underrated; anyway I suppose it is because movies are subjective) and if I find any movie rated 8 and above I would just die to watch them. One of that kind is Vittorio De Sica's The shoeshine and not just because it was rated 8 and above, but also for the movie being a European product.

Unlike American movies most of the European movies have close ends rather open ends which make them phenomenal. Now let me tell you why 'The shoeshine' is phenomenal. After having seen the movies Umberto D, Bicycle thief and The Shoeshine(the third movie of De Sica which I watched) it became evident to me that the narrative is spun around the characters (emphasising on the dimensions of the character)where there is a transformation of the character from being vibrant to becoming docile or vice-versa and the like. This can be encountered in all the three movies which I have stated above. Say it be the Father and the son in The Bicycle thief or the old man and the dog in Umberto D or the two boys in The shoeshine.

For movie buffs this movie is one gem to archive.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

26 August 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shoeshine

Filming Locations:

Scalera Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Societa Cooperativa Alfa Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1