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ERA
Did you know
80 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Shoeshine
1946 1h 31m IT
🙌
7.8
BANGER
★7.8TMDB · 282
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Two shoeshine boys in postwar Rome, Italy save up to buy a horse, but their involvement as dupes in a burglary lands them in juvenile prison; the experience take a devastating toll on their friendship.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Franco Interlenghi
Pasquale Maggi
Rinaldo Smordoni
Giuseppe Filippucci
Annielo Mele
Raffaele
Bruno Ortenzi
Arcangeli
Emilio Cigoli
Staffera
Gino Saltamerenda
il Panza (uncredited)
Peppino Spadaro
L'avvocato Bonavino (uncredited)
Antonio Nicotra
Bartoli, l'assistente sociale (uncredited)
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Vittorio De Sica
- Writers
- Cesare Giulio Viola, Sergio Amidei, Adolfo Franci
- Languages
- Italian, English
- Countries
- Italy
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
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WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Anchise Brizzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Alessandro Cicognini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Niccolò Lazzari shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Franco Interlenghi and Rinaldo Smordoni and Annielo Mele carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0038913 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Vittorio De Sica directs. Anchise Brizzi behind the camera. Alessandro Cicognini scores. Niccolò Lazzari cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 180 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
- 3Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Anchise Brizzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Alessandro Cicognini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Niccolò Lazzari shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Franco Interlenghi and Rinaldo Smordoni and Annielo Mele carry the top of the cast.
- 7IMDB entry: tt0038913 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Classified under 10 themes, including "fortune teller", "rome, italy", "italy", "black market".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Anchise Brizzi
- Original score
- Alessandro Cicognini
- Editing
- Niccolò Lazzari
- Production design
- Giulio Lombardozzi
- Runtime
- 91 min · 1h 31m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $17,480
- Original language
- IT
- IMDB
- Shoeshine (1946)
Awards
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Honorary Award
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Vittorio De Sica
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- SO
Societa Cooperativa Alfa Cinematografica
IT
Key crew
- Second Assistant DirectorElmo De Sica
- Second Assistant DirectorArgi Rovelli
- Camera OperatorElio Paccara
- Production AssistantFranco Serino
- Second Assistant DirectorArmando W. Tamburella
- First Assistant DirectorUmberto Scarpelli
- SoundTullo Parmegiani
- Production DesignGiulio Lombardozzi
- EditorNiccolò Lazzari
- Production DesignIvo Battelli
- Production ManagerNino Ottavi
- ProducerPaolo William Tamburella
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- fortune teller
- rome, italy
- italy
- black market
- juvenile prison
- orphan
- juvenile delinquent
- post world war ii
- military police
- shoeshine boy
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1947-08-26
Also known as
International titles
- LustrabotasAR
- El limpiabotasES
- SchuschiaDE
- SchuhputzerAT
- ShoeshineUS
- UngdomsfängelsetSE
