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Bicycle Thieves

Original title: Ladri di biciclette
  • 1948
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
167K
YOUR RATING
Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Trailer for The Bicylce Thief
Play trailer2:00
4 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.

  • Director
    • Vittorio De Sica
  • Writers
    • Cesare Zavattini
    • Luigi Bartolini
    • Oreste Biancoli
  • Stars
    • Lamberto Maggiorani
    • Enzo Staiola
    • Lianella Carell
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    167K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vittorio De Sica
    • Writers
      • Cesare Zavattini
      • Luigi Bartolini
      • Oreste Biancoli
    • Stars
      • Lamberto Maggiorani
      • Enzo Staiola
      • Lianella Carell
    • 361User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #120
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 20 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos4

    The Bicycle Thief
    Trailer 2:00
    Watch The Bicycle Thief
    The Bicycle Thief
    Trailer 3:58
    Watch The Bicycle Thief
    THE BICYCLE THIEF Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Watch THE BICYCLE THIEF Trailer
    The Bicycle Thief: After Him!
    Clip 1:09
    Watch The Bicycle Thief: After Him!

    Photos131

    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Vittorio De Sica in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
    Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lamberto Maggiorani
    Lamberto Maggiorani
    • Antonio
    Enzo Staiola
    Enzo Staiola
    • Bruno
    Lianella Carell
    Lianella Carell
    • Maria
    Elena Altieri
    Elena Altieri
    • The Charitable Lady
    Gino Saltamerenda
    Gino Saltamerenda
    • Baiocco
    Giulio Chiari
    Giulio Chiari
    • The Beggar
    Vittorio Antonucci
    Vittorio Antonucci
    • The Thief
    Michele Sakara
    • Secretary of the Charity Organization
    Fausto Guerzoni
    Fausto Guerzoni
    • Amateur Actor
    Emma Druetti
    Carlo Jachino
    • A Beggar
    Giulio Battiferri
    • Citizen Who Protects the Real Thief
    • (uncredited)
    Ida Bracci Dorati
    • La Santona
    • (uncredited)
    Nando Bruno
      Eolo Capritti
        Memmo Carotenuto
        Memmo Carotenuto
          Giovanni Corporale
            Veriano Ginesi
            • Man in the Crowd
            • (uncredited)
            • Director
              • Vittorio De Sica
            • Writers
              • Cesare Zavattini
              • Luigi Bartolini
              • Oreste Biancoli
            • All cast & crew
            • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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            Storyline

            Edit

            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 reviews361

            Review
            Review
            Featured review
            10/10
            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. ###
            helpful•55
            15
            • harry-76
            • Apr 18, 2000

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            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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