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 Sources: LM Leonard Maltin “100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century” VY Variety.com (12/21/2022). “The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 1 – most outstanding foreign language film (honorary award) Nominations: 1 – Best Adapted Screenplay Lists: Expert Picks: Genre Lists: First posted 6/9/2023.