Tuesday, November 24, 1998

50 years ago: Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette) released

Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)


Released: November 24, 1948


Studio: Ente Nazionale Industrie Cinematografiche


Genre: foreign


Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 0.33 Worldwide: --


Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Vittorio De Sica


Screenwriting: Oreste Biancoli, Suso D'Amico, Vittorio De Sica, Adolfo Franci, Gherardo Gherardi, Gerardo Guerrieri, Cesare Zavattini


Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell



Review:

The Bicycle Thieves is a “timeless humanist gem of Italian Neorealism.” VY that “that deservedly earned a special Academy Award (before foreign films had a category of their own).” LM It is “an honest, beautiful film” LM and “one of the all-time classics.” LM

This is a “simple, realistic tale” LM “with urgent working-class concerns” VY during “unforgiving post-World War II Italy where the poor must own bikes for below-minimum-wage jobs.” VY

The focus is on the “dignified yet underprivileged Antonio” VY as he “desperately searches for his stolen pedals and tries to set an upstanding example for his impressionable young son.” VY


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Dave’s Movie Database Lists:


Awards:


Oscars:

Wins: 1 – most outstanding foreign language film (honorary award)

Nominations: 1 – Best Adapted Screenplay


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First posted 6/9/2023.