Bicycle Thieves

"The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!"

1948 1h 29m IT

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 2,768

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Unemployed Antonio is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. However on his first day, his bicycle—essential to his work—gets stolen. His job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his son, Antonio combs the city, becoming desperate for justice.

“The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!”

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Cast

Lamberto Maggiorani
Antonio
Enzo Staiola
Bruno
Lianella Carell
Maria
Gino Saltamerenda
Baiocco
Vittorio Antonucci
Alfredo Catelli, The Thief
Giulio Chiari
The Beggar
Elena Altieri
The Charitable Lady
Carlo Jachino
A Beggar

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Vittorio De Sica
Writers: Vittorio De Sica, Gerardo Guerrieri, Oreste Biancoli
Languages: Italian
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 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

89 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.4× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

78 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Carlo Montuori. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

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#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Editor Eraldo Da Roma shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola and Lianella Carell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Vittorio De Sica directs. Carlo Montuori behind the camera. Alessandro Cicognini scores. Eraldo Da Roma cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

189 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Made its money back 3.4× over at the box office.
478 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
5Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Carlo Montuori. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Alessandro Cicognini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Eraldo Da Roma shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola and Lianella Carell carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!".
10IMDB entry: tt0040522 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 14 themes, including "rome, italy", "italian", "society", "riding a bicycle".
12Released under 22 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Carlo Montuori
Original score: Alessandro Cicognini
Editing: Eraldo Da Roma
Production design: Antonio Traverso
Runtime: 89 min · 1h 29m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $133,000
Box office: $450,159
Return: 338% of budget
Original language: IT
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Awards

National Board of Review Award for Best Film
Academy Honorary Award
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Vittorio De Sica

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Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

barrymost2020-08-06
★ 7/10
When in Rome... keep an eye on your bicycle! Or else it might be stolen and you'll find yourself fruitlessly searching the streets of Italy, as the father and son do in this classic Italian film. Lamberto Maggiorani, as the desperate, out of work father, and Enzo Staiola, as his frustrated young son, play off each other nicely and a nice pace keeps things interesting. It's heralded as one of the greatest movies ever made, but personally I don't quite see why. It's a good story none the less, and it kept my attention. There's a very satisfying dose of irony at the end.
CinemaSerf2022-07-09
★ 7/10
In post war Rome, money is very tight for "Antonio" (Lamberto Maggiorani) so when he gets a chance to earn some extra cash, he grabs the opportunity. Snag is, he needs his bike to do the work and someone has just pinched it. Together with his young son "Bruno" (a superb Enzo Staiola) he sets out on the near impossible task of tracking the thing down! What ensues are a series of escapades as the father and son team encounter a range of equally war ravaged citizens - some more helpful than others - on their mini-quest. It's an interesting study on humanity this, centred around something so apparently pedestrian as losing a bike, but the cascading impact of that event on their lives and their relationship as well as with the profound effects on their livelihood and self respect are expertly laid out by De Rica, who draws us gradually into their series of adventures. The simplicity of the story also engenders an opportunity to look at the poverty endured by many sections of the citizenry (those who sit through the mass so they can be rewarded with a bowl of soup rather than worrying about any redemption of their soul, for example). The performance from the young Staiola is excellent. He plays the role of the young boy with considerable natural skill - his character has no real idea of why this bike is so important, nor of why it's loss is causing his father's behaviour to vacillate - but like a loyal puppy, he continues to help out, even saving the day at one stage. The settings in this ancient city add considerably to the sense of despair - ruins (old and new) - and at times they make you wonder of life here has really moved on so much from Roman times. The pace of the film is very well measured, the script is not devoid of a bit humour, even joy, now and again and the momentum builds steadily to a conclusion that is remarkably poignant and that left me with a smile on my face. Question is though, does he find his bike???
James2023-10-22
★ 7/10
A heartwarming yet surprisingly bleak masterpiece of hope and despair.