Bicycle Thieves ( Ladri di biciclette ) Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 195

Average Rating: 3.3/4

# of Ratings: 158

Theatrical Release Date: 12/12/1949

Language: Italian

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: NR

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Actors: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Gino Saltamerenda, Vittorio Antonucci, Giulio Chiari

Plot: An unemployed man of 2 years is finally given a job which requires a bicycle. He pawns his way to receive a bicycle only to have it stolen on his first day of work.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/07/2019

"The Bicycle Thieves" is quite depressing, but it's a masterpiece of neorealism.

Gabe - wrote on 12/01/2014

I know it's sacrilege to give this filmy anything less than 3 stars, but that's what I did. There where just too many scenes that drug on. The cinematography is beautiful, and the acting is top notch, but it was just too long. It found like it took all day to find that damn bike, which was probably the point. You can't help but feeling for these people, they have nothing, but I think got the point before the movie ended. It's a great character study in fatherhood and trying to what's best for your family, even if you have to break the law to do it.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 10/07/2010

This film is, pure and simple, art. It's an emotional story that is presented in a very straightforward way, but that simplicity is what brings moments of true transcending connection to this film. For everyone who wasn't immediately born into wealth, it has moments of personal recollection and power.

SteelCity99
Director

Bicycle Thieves

SteelCity99 - wrote on 04/28/2018

While the worldwide general situation was in an extremely tragic state, the economy was alarmingly delicate, several millions of people had died in one of the greatest and most catastrophic wars human ever made, and major cities were in a reconstruction period, a new form of filmmaking was being born in Italy, adopting totally new perspectives. A movement called Neorealism was created, which was mainly characterized by its portrayal of common citizenship living in extreme poverty conditions surrounded by delinquency, violence and considerately high economical needs. Inexperienced actors were used for trying to depict a story in the most realistic way possible and it exposed existentialist ideas, like the fact that society led a tragically boring life everyday, causing it to resort to its …

SIngli6
Producer

Neo-Realism for an Indifferent Generation

SIngli6 - wrote on 07/06/2015

The archetypal Italian neo-realist film, Bicycle Thieves tells a minimalist tragedy as a good man, incessantly hampered by the cruel and unreasonable demands on a working class family man of post-WWII Italy, is compelled to violate his own moral code just to survive. It's a sad, sad film, and although its final moments give you a morsel of hope for the power of human kindness, the ultimate fate of our protagonist and his family is pretty much assured to be bleak. While there is much to praise about the performances, the editing, and the cinematography, what Bicycle Thieves - and other neorealist films - really deserve a high commendation for is showing audiences the plight of the poor at a time when the middle-classes were far more indifferent to such things than (arguably) they are now.

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

Bicycle Thieves review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 03/15/2012

Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) starts work with the use of a bicycle. His son Bruno (Enzo Staiola), cleans the bicycle and rides with Antonio on the way to work. The bicycle was then stolen by a thief so he asks assistance from the authorities and his friend Baiocco. Screenplay was extraordinary with lines from Antonio – “I fell like a man in chains.” Policeman - “We all make mistakes.” One of the off putting scenes were the kid was kicked on the behind while Antonio was being briefed in his work and hitting his son. Its artists and score were endearing while the camera direction was good. The realistic incidents, simple portrayals and yet effective in terms of motion picture for its era. The heartfelt conclusion and actual attempt in bringing back the bike from …