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IMDbPro

Bicycle Thieves

Original title: Ladri di biciclette
  • 19481948
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
162K
YOUR RATING
Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola in Bicycle Thieves (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
162K
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
    • 345User reviews
    • 141Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #121
    • 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

    Photos128

    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(story) (screenplay)
              • Luigi Bartolini(novel)
              • Oreste Biancoli(screenplay)
            • All cast & crew
            • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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            The Bicycle Thief

            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 reviews345

            Review
            Top review
            Quiet Desperation---Italian Style.
            In post-World War II Italy poverty is a dire reality for a large portion of the population. Work is scarce and the opportunities for employment are few and far between. "Ladri Di Biciclette" (translated "The Bicycle Thief") is quietly one of the finest films ever produced. It follows one economically distraught man (Lamberto Maggiorani) who is heading down a desperate path fast. Things look up when he gets a job putting posters on walls in town, but he must sell what few meager possessions he and his family have to buy a bicycle to uphold his end of the business bargain. Naturally tragedy strikes immediately as the title character shows up the very first day Maggiorani is on the job. The police are little help, believing the bicycle is not as important as it really is. Thus Maggiorani and young son Enzo Staiola take it upon themselves to look all over town to try and find the bicycle and bring the thief to justice. "The Bicycle Thief" was originally released in 1948 and won an Honorary Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film the following year (the movie was not released in the U.S. until 1949). It is still a production that strikes deep even today. The lengths and desperate measures that some go through is very evident here. Director Vittorio De Sica crafts a film that is much deeper than it appears on the surface. It examines the human condition and questions society, family, law enforcement, alliances and mental anguish perfectly. "The Bicycle Thief" is an excellent production that has aged well and allows the viewer to think about many subjects that go beyond ordinary cinematic depths. 5 stars out of 5.
            helpful•153
            19
            • tfrizzell
            • May 2, 2003

            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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