Bicycle Thieves (1948)
The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!
Director: Vittorio De Sica · Writers: Cesare Zavattini, Oreste Biancoli, Suso Cecchi d'Amico, Vittorio De Sica
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.
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video
HBO Max Amazon Channel
HBO Max
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Trailer
Director
Vittorio De Sica
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
Michele Sakara
Secretary of the Charity Organization
Emma Druetti
Eolo Capritti
Carabiniere (uncredited) 
Fausto Guerzoni
Amateur Actor (uncredited) User Reviews (3)
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.
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 st…
A heartwarming yet surprisingly bleak masterpiece of hope and despair.
