Bicycle Thieves

World War II has ended, and Rome is in shambles. Everyone is desperate for some way to survive the festering slums, and Antonio Ricci is no different. He finally finds the means of supporting his family with a job putting up advertising bills. The only thing his job requires is a bicycle. Antonio makes a great sacrifice to get a bicycle, and all is well until someone steals the Bicycle. Bicycle Thieves is striking for its simplicity. It is less of a film and more a parable about the scars that war can leave behind wherever it goes, and the lengths the innocent must go through to live.

Production

Directed by Vittorio De Sica

Produced by Giuseppe Amato, Vittorio De Sica

Story by Cesare Zavattini

Based on Bicycle Thieves by Luigi Bartolini

Starring Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

Music by Alessandro Cicognini

Cinematography by Carlo Montuori

Edited by Eraldo Da Roma

Production companies: Produzioni De Sica

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Ente Nazionale Industrie Cinematografiche

Release date: 24 November 1948 (Italy)

Running time: 89 minutes

Country: Italy

Language: Italian

Budget: $133,000

Box office: $428,978