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Bicycle Thieves

Original title: Ladri di biciclette
  • 19481948
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
161K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
Trailer for The Bicylce Thief
Play trailer2:00
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama

In post-war Italy, a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.In post-war Italy, a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.In post-war Italy, a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.

IMDb RATING
8.3/10
161K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Vittorio De Sica
  • Writers
    • Cesare Zavattini(story)
    • Luigi Bartolini(novel)
    • Oreste Biancoli(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lamberto Maggiorani
    • Enzo Staiola
    • Lianella Carell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Vittorio De Sica
  • Writers
    • Cesare Zavattini(story)
    • Luigi Bartolini(novel)
    • Oreste Biancoli(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lamberto Maggiorani
    • Enzo Staiola
    • Lianella Carell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 343User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #122
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 20 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Bicycle Thief
    Trailer 2:00
    The Bicycle Thief
    The Bicycle Thief
    Trailer 3:58
    The Bicycle Thief
    THE BICYCLE THIEF Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    THE BICYCLE THIEF Trailer

    Photos127

    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Vittorio De Sica in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Ladri di biciclette (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani in Ladri di biciclette (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lamberto Maggiorani
    Lamberto Maggiorani
    • Antonioas Antonio
    Enzo Staiola
    Enzo Staiola
    • Brunoas Bruno
    Lianella Carell
    Lianella Carell
    • Mariaas Maria
    Elena Altieri
    Elena Altieri
    • The Charitable Ladyas The Charitable Lady
    Gino Saltamerenda
    Gino Saltamerenda
    • Baioccoas Baiocco
    Giulio Chiari
    Giulio Chiari
    • The Beggaras The Beggar
    Vittorio Antonucci
    Vittorio Antonucci
    • The Thiefas The Thief
    Michele Sakara
    • Secretary of the Charity Organizationas Secretary of the Charity Organization
    Fausto Guerzoni
    Fausto Guerzoni
    • Amateur Actoras Amateur Actor
    Emma Druetti
    Carlo Jachino
    • A Beggaras A Beggar
    Giulio Battiferri
    • Citizen Who Protects the Real Thiefas Citizen Who Protects the Real Thief
    • (uncredited)
    Ida Bracci Dorati
    • La Santonaas La Santona
    • (uncredited)
    Nando Bruno
      Eolo Capritti
        Memmo Carotenuto
        Memmo Carotenuto
          Giovanni Corporale
            Piero Heliczer
            • A young boyas A young boy
            • (uncredited)
            • Director
              • Vittorio De Sica
            • Writers
              • Cesare Zavattini(story) (screenplay)
              • Luigi Bartolini(novel)
              • Oreste Biancoli(screenplay)
            • All cast & crew
            • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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            Storyline

            Edit
            Antonio Ricci, an unemployed man in the depressed post-WWII economy of Italy, finally gets a job hanging up posters, but he needs a bicycle. But when his bicycle is stolen,, he and son walk the streets of Rome looking for it. Antonio finally manages to locate the thief, but with no proof he must abandon his cause. But he and his son know perfectly well that without a bike, Antonio won't be able to keep his job. —jolusoma
            • post world war two italy
            • bicycle theft
            • lack of money
            • poorness
            • bicycle
            • 214 more
            • Plot summary
            • Plot synopsis
            • Taglines
              • The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!
            • Genre
              • Drama
            • Certificate
              • Not Rated
            • Parents guide

            Did you know

            Edit
            • Trivia
              There's a scene late in the movie where Bruno is nearly run over twice whilst crossing the street. This was absolutely unrehearsed - it was filmed on location and the two cars happened to pass by at the same time.
            • Goofs
              All entries contain spoilers
            • Quotes

              Antonio Ricci: "There's a cure for everything except death."

            • Connections
              Edited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)

            User reviews343

            Review
            Top review
            8/10
            Heartfelt Drama of Post WWII Poverty a Must-See...
            The Italian neo-realist film movement began around the end of WWII with Roberto Rossellini's OPEN CITY in 1946. It is defined and encapsulated by this striking film directed by Vittorio De Sica. THE BICYCLE THIEF is the best of a group of films that depicted the hardship and despair that Europeans, specifically Italians, went through after the death and destruction of the war. The economy was horrible, and the towns and cities were half-destroyed and decaying. Rome is the location for THE BICYCLE THIEF and De Sica shoots the city in grainy black and white with non-professional actors to get a simple, yet unbearingly emotional point across. A simple thing such as a bike can be someone's entire world at that time and losing it means doing something irrational or perhaps necessary.

            The lead in the film is played by Lamberto Maggiorani who seems to be a very good actor. He is not an actor, however, and maybe this is why the film hits its mark so well and comes across so realistically. Maggiorani is of this difficult world and his brooding face is a clear indication of this. His job is to plaster film posters up on the walls of buildings all over Rome. He even hangs a picture that symbolizes the absolute opposite of the misery surrounding him. Rita Hayworth from GILDA is on the walls all over the city, a sign of joy to some, a representation of their own lowly status to others.

            When the bicycle is actually stolen, the "title" character is sought after by Maggiorani and his young son (Enzo Staiola), a little kid with so much acting ability, you swear this must be a documentary. A grueling search throughout Rome has the essential parts of the movie, because we see up close the actual people and places the neo-realist film movement came to represent. It is a small, sad world they live in and the bike has to be found so that they can live. The father is put to the ultimate test in front of his son. Will he do the honorable thing or will he do what his mind and heart know is only possible? These are the tense moments of the film's climax.

            There is a lot of THE BICYCLE THIEF in Benigni's LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and some obvious comparisons have been drawn because of the father-son relationship. They are worthy of comparison and have equal artistic prowess. What is different about THIEF is the level of intensity maintained throughout. I felt the key element was the music by Alessandro Cicognini, a simple horn that plays so tragically that it is a main character in the picture. What De Sica does here, as well as other neo-realist directors (Rossellini, Fellini), is create for American audiences a powerful counterpoint to what we are used to. An honest, non-corporate portrait of the struggle for life and self-respect. THE BICYCLE THIEF is one of the finest films ever made.

            RATING: 10 of 10
            helpful•138
            23
            • Don-102
            • Apr 16, 1999

            FAQ4

            • What is 'Bicycle Thieves' about?
            • Is 'Bicycle Thieves' based on a book?
            • How does the movie end?

            Details

            Edit
            • Release date
              • December 13, 1949 (United States)
            • Country of origin
              • Italy
            • Languages
              • Italian
              • English
              • German
            • Also known as
              • The Bicycle Thief
            • Filming locations
              • Citta Valmelaina, Via Salaria, Rome, Lazio, Italy
            • Production company
              • Produzioni De Sica
            • See more company credits at IMDbPro

            Box office

            Edit
            • Budget
              • $133,000 (estimated)
            • Gross US & Canada
              • $371,111
            • Opening weekend US & Canada
              • $25,377
              • Oct 4, 1998
            • Gross worldwide
              • $436,655
            See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

            Technical specs

            Edit
            • Runtime
              1 hour 29 minutes
            • Color
              • Black and White
            • Sound mix
              • Mono
            • Aspect ratio
              • 1.37 : 1

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