by Sam Juliano
One of world cinema’s crowning glories, Vittorio DeSica’s seminal neo-realist post-war masterpiece, Bicycle Thieves, was named the greatest film of the movie-rich 1940’s by a comfortable margin, in a polling result announced today by Angelo D’Arminio Jr. The 1949 film, known in Italian as Ladri di biciclette, chronicles the desparate attempts of a Roman workingman and his young son to locate the stolen bicycle that is so essential to the father in his newly-obtained job as a billposter- a job which is his first of many months, and on which the future livelihood of his family depends. The naturalistic film records nothing more than this ultimately useless one-day search, but its observations of the relationship between father and son-played by two non-professional actors as is DeSica’s trademark-and its realistic portrait of the poverty-stricken streets, back alleys, brothels and black markets of Rome, have made the film themost famous and identifiable in all of Italian cinema. The final shot when the man, having himself been driven to steal a bicycle, with his tearful son looking on is apprehended, may well be the most shattering conclusion in movie history.
D’ Arminio stated that the film held an early lead in the voting and never looked back, as it was named on all but a few ballots of the 28 cast. Despite the long prominence of the film as an arthouse favorite, the fact that it is in Italian with English subtitles made it’s a prospects for a first-place finish as somewhat of a longshot, especially since the balloting included several voters who resisted including foreign-language cinema on their lists. But in the end, the serious film lovers carried the day for this emotional powerhouse of a film, one that has unwaveringly affected generations of moviegoers all around the world.
Bicycle Thieves received 472 points in the weighted ballot system, outdistancing the second-place film, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, which garnered 431. John Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath finished third with 407; the popular Casablanca was fourth with 385, and the beloved It’s A Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra finished fifth with 339.
Rounding out the Top Ten were: the British The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed with 335; Carl Dreyer’s Danish The Day of Wrath with 303; Japanese master Ozu’s Late Spring with 280; Marcel Carne’s Les Enfants du Paradis with 271, and Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity with 246.
As with the previous 1930’s poll, which was headed by Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz, the Top 25 films of the decade were presented. They are:
1 Bicycle Thieves (Italy, DeSica 1948 )
2 Citizen Kane (USA, Welles 1941)
3 The Grapes of Wrath (USA, Ford 1940)
4 Casablanca (USA, Curtiz 1942)
5 It’s A Wonderful Life (USA, Capra 1946)
6 The Third Man (GB, Reed 1949)
7 Day of Wrath (Denmark, Dreyer 1943)
8 Late Spring (Japan, Ozu 1949)
9 Les Enfants du Paradis (France, Carne 1945)
10 Double Indemnity (USA, Wilder 1944)
11 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (USA, Huston 1948 )
12 The Maltese Falcon (USA, Huston 1941)
13 La Belle et la Bete (France, Cocteau 1946)
14 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (GB, Powell 1943)
15 How Green Was My Valley (USA, Ford 1941)
16 Out of the Past (USA, Tourneur 1947)
17 Brief Encounter (GB, Lean 1945)
18 Rebecca (USA, Hitchcock 1940)
19 Great Expectations (GB, Lean 1946)
20 Notorious (USA, Hitchcock 1946)
21 The Red Shoes (GB, Powell 1948 )
22 Open City (Italy, Rossellini 1945)
23 Sullivan’s Travels (USA, Sturges 1941)
24 Kind Hearts and Coronets (GB, Hamer 1949)
25 Hamlet (GB, Olivier 1948 )
Well deserved win here. The de Sica is easily one of the most ‘universal’ films ever made. And endlessly watchable.
An excellent choice for the best film, but the boy didn’t help steal the bicycle. He looked on aghast once he figures out that his dad did, I believe.
I’ve also been watching DeSica’s Umberto D, and it holds up extremely well.
Hey Film Dr! You are actually quite right there. I wrote the piece late last night, and despite having seen this film well over 20 films in my life, at age 53 I am beginning to show serious signs of senility. The boy’s shocked look, while the father commits the unthinkable is actually the film’s most unforgettable frame.
Thanks for that clarification, and yes, I quite agree with you and Kaleem Hasan that this is a choice that really can’t be contested by any barometer of measurement.
Film Dr., again thank you, I have just revised the post to reflect what really happened at the end of the film.
That’s a fantastic list, guys. I’m heartened to know that despite my late blooming as a cinephile, I’ve seen and enjoyed the great majority of these, at least. The 40s were an awfully strong decade. I have a huge number of gaps in my film history knowledge, but it’s so much fun filling them in, I can’t even say I mind that much.
I can’t quibble with the #1 choice. Had I voted, Les Enfants du Paradis would have topped my personal list, as I consider it a practically perfect film and one of my all-time favorites. I’m happy to see it in the top 10, though. You folks do have exquisite taste.
Jenny Bee:
Once again thank you so much for that lovely response! I must admit I am thrilled with the poll results, especially since some had suggested after the 30’s poll (headed by THE WIZARD OF OZ) that a foreign-language film would never succeed in placing #1 in any subsequent decade-poll. The 27 voters who cast ballots are admittedly a diverse bunch. A number of them are locals who are serious film lovers, Criterion DVD collectors, and advocates of both the Hollywood classica and world cinema. Several others are unapologetic xenophobes, who vote for the films that entertained them, and are less concerned with “doing what is right.” Still a few others cast ballots, admitting they had not seen a number of the “vital films.” Oddly and miraculously this divergent mix yielded a result that could match up with any 40’s poll ever taken on the net. While honoring CASABLANCA, for example, with a #4 placement, the group resisted the standard practice of naming that film in the top spot. Similarly, with the eternally-beloved IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, which ended up at #5. The serious world cinema lovers seem to keep the “popular” lovers in check and vice versa. As a result I will make a conscious effort to enlist these same people for the rest of the decade polls, in adddition to campaigning for the participation of several more.
I am hardly surprised at your own love for the De Sica, as your own taste is impeccable, nor with your great passsion for LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS, one of the jewels of French and world cinema. (Yes, I think it’s great that film landed in the Top 10, much deserved.)
And yes Jenny Bee I quite agree with you on what you say here about the pre-eminence of the 40’s which arguably is the greatest decade of all-time. (However the upcoming 50’s poll, which will showcase the advent and/or continuity of Bresson, Bergman, Fellini, Bunuel, Ozu, Mizoguchi, Hitchcock, Wilder, Kazan, S. Ray, Visconti, and others will make an argument for the 50’s persuasive as well.)
Quite a list. Once again, very well done, everyone at Wonders in the Dark.
Oddly, or perhaps merely interestingly, American films make up for 80% of the Top Five, and yet the groundbreaking Italian neo-realist film takes the very top honors.
Actually, I must say I agree with Jenny on the Number 1 designation of Carne’s film, as I voted it top film on my own ballot.
I think this was result to be proud of, even though I must confess I am a bit disappointed that several of my others top films did not make the cut. “Pinocchio”, “Fantasia”, “The Magnificent Ambersons”, and “To Be or not to be” are films that I believe deserved some recognition.
Still, I know 25 is restricting, and there isn’t a bad choice on that list. I guess some people will argue that “Henry V” should have been in there before “Hamlet” but that’s strictly a matter of taste.
Congrats to all who cast ballots. It was fun. I look forward to the 50’s project.
Most impressive results. I think everyone who toiled over lists should be taken out for a free meal, Sam. I am happy that Day of Wrath made the top ten, but would have liked Kind Hearts to finish higher than 24. But I guess the competition was stiff, and it did make it after all.
Mr. Fish: What will be your best movie of the 50’s? The Greatest Show on Earth or Invaders From Mars?
……..Can’t say anything against these results. My own best movie was ‘The Third Man’ but I’m happy it made as high as #6…………..
No, Bill, Glen or Glenda…
Alexander: Thanks again for your compliments, and I quite agree it is ironic that the only film in the top five that isn’t American, finished on top. Yet, the four American films chosen are unquestioned masterpieces as both of us know.
Seven of the top 25 by the way were British, a result that accurately gaged the dominance of what was surely their greatest decade in movie history.
Frank G: I am also surprised that one of two animated films didn’t place, but I would suppose as far as the brilliant AMBERSONS, voters seemingly weren’t willing to support two Welles’ movies. And the one that would dominate in voters’ perceptions is obvious.
Frank A: Your lifelong love for THE THIRD MAN is legendary. Thanks again!
Bill: LOL!!!!!! Nice observations there. I expect Allan will name THE BLOB as his top film!
Interesting result here. Of course as you know, I voted “Great Expectations” No. 1, but was happy to see it made it in. It would be difficult to argue against “Bicycle Thieves” although I was expecting that “Citizen Kane” was going to prevail.
I knew Bicycle Thieves would prevail, with many of those Sam badgered into voting coming from the same ITALIAN-American background. Indeed, some of them have probably only seen that single foreign films in their lives which, or else knew of it, so included it so as to sound less bigoted.
It’s a great film and as worthy of the title as any other, but the dice were loaded to start with. All bar one of the selections rates at ****½ or ***** with me, so not bad overall.
Not a surprise at the English language domination, though, the forties being Hollywood’s golden era and definitely the UK’s. The fifties, however, will be a different story…
My countdown begins on Tuesday.
Hi! WitD readers,
I’am so very glad to see that
“Casablanca,”
“Citizen Kane,” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” along with 2 of director Alfred Hitchcock’s films and a couple of films from my favorite “style” of film making…call “noir” also made the list!…
The Third Man (GB, Reed 1949)
Les Enfants du Paradis (France, Carne 1945)
Double Indemnity (USA, Wilder 1944)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (USA, Huston 1948 )
The Maltese Falcon (USA, Huston 1941)
La Belle et la Bete (France, Cocteau 1946)
Out of the Past (USA, Tourneur 1947)Rebecca (USA, Hitchcock 1940)
Notorious (USA, Hitchcock 1946)
Tks,
DarkCityDame 🙂
During the 30’s poll Allan made a statement (check it out under the 30’s thread) that “no foreign-language film could or would ever place first in any decade poll.” Allan was resoundingly rebuffed by the 40’s results, and may be further invalidated in upcoming contests.
What is inexcusable though with his latest inane rant is the slur against the voters who participated in this poll, where he erroneously accuses the membership of being fervantly Italian-American, and of supporting Italian-language films.
Although Tony D’Ambra, Steve Russo and Louis Aveta (who all supported the film) are Italian descent, the vast majority of the film’s ballot supporters are NOT Italian descent:
Robert McCollough
Kaleem Hasan
Frank Gallo (Cuban)
Joe Farilla (Spanish)
Frederick O. (Cuban)
Henry Killat
Bill Hegarty
Bill Carroll
David Noack
Rene Kessler
Ari
Bill Riley
Bobby J. (U.K. blogger)
The argument that the film’s supporters only backed up a single foreign-language film to show they weren’t xenophobes is outright herecy, as the ballots of all those above (as well as Tony D’Ambra’s) contained numerous other foreign-language choices like LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS, LATE SPRING, DAY OF WRATH, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, OPEN CITY and others in addition to the BICYCLE THIEVES submission.
As far as my “badgering” people to vote, perhaps Mr. Fish could recommend an alternate methos to enlist and encourage film lovers to partcipate in this poll. I have concentrated on securing the votes of those who respect film as an art form, and despite the occasional novice (also represented here in smaller numbers) I have spent endless hours and days trying to promote the balloting, even going to exclusive DVD stores, where cinema loving clerks are all-too-willing to cast their own ballots, even if it means me taking dictation.
I think the REAL reason BICYCLE THIEVES prevailed is because it is a beloved work of cinema that has deeply affected all those who have seen it, and it really has nothing at all to do with it’s country origin. Ironically, 80% of the support the film garned on this poll was from non-Italian decented voters.
Allan, you owe this voting membership an unconditional apology.
I didn’t know that you needed to be Italian to vote for “Bicycle Thieves.” Heck, I’m Irish and I’ve loved this film for many years.
The end results had much less to do with country of origin than it did with cinematic stature.
28 people voted. In what parallel dimension is 13 a VAST MAJORITY of 28. I know your maths is somewhere on the far side of shite, but that sets new depths.
I wasn’t saying that you had to be Italian to vote for BT, only that the large Italian-American demographic in Sam’s home town meant it was helped. That’s inarguable, only a completely blind fool could say otherwise.
16 of the 28 voters were non-Italians!!!!! How pray tell, does that figure support the “large Italian-American demographic in Sam’s home town?”
What’s “inarguable” is your bizarre and erroneous contentions.
The town of Fairview (which by the way in recent years is 70% Hispanic and 20% Arabic) did not vote on this poll.
28 voters did. And 16 of those 28 are not Italian. Furthermore, most of teh film’s support point-wise came from the “non” contingent!!!
Yes, but 12 of the 28 WERE, which when you add it to the movie lovers who would vote for it, meant it was guaranteed to get in nearly everyone’s list…AS IT DID…only 3 people didn’t vote for it…
Just a suggestion…statistics and probability, not your thing…
“Just a suggestion…statistics and probability, not your thing…”
I pose they are not YOUR thing!
To repeat one again, as you seem to be adverse to facts—75% or more of the film’s point total was amassed by non-Italians.
This tells me two things:
1.) The film is universally loved by everyone, regardless of heritage.
and
2.) It is apparent that regardless of the make-up of the voters, they will support QUALITY films. BICYCLE THIEVES has won numerous polls through the years and has been consistently names one of the greatest films of the 40’s –always in the top two or three. Those voters are almost exclusively non-Italian.
And by the way Allan, CITIZEN KANE, THE GRAPES OF WRATH and CASABLANCA made it to just as many lists basically as BICYCLE THIEVES did.
I’d be a fool to get in the middle of this one, but I will say that my own Italian-American heritage (my father is from Canarsie, a once overwhelmingly Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn) is what initially drew me into the film. There’s that painfully melodic scene towards the middle where the father and son snack on toast and discuss all the luxuries they’ll be able to afford once they retrieve the bicycle. Optimistically voicing one’s aspirations whilst munching on cheesy bread is, I think, a holy Italian rite.
Disclaimer: this observation is in no way meant to support either of the arguments above. I also did not vote in this poll. No refunds.
Hey Jon! Somehow your name suggested you are French, but thanks for sharing those Carnarsie roots. That location is maybe 30-40 minutes from here by car!
Yes, the cafe scene is surely one of the film’s great joys.
“Optimistically voicing one’s aspirations whilst munching on cheesy bread is, I think, a holy Italian rite.”
Indeed, LOL!!!!
“No refunds.”
hahahaha!! that is precisely how you should line up here!
Thank you, sir.
Robert: I too am an ‘Italian-American’ who voted for Bicycle Thieves! And when it shows up at the top of so many lists it’s of course because Italian-Americans rule the world. of course some Japanese folks vote for Blimp as top film!
Sam: What sort of Italian-American are you? You had it at # 5 on your list? You are an insult to your ethnic heritage.
Now I know why no Indian film topped the list. There’s only one poor soul here. And that ‘traitor’ didn’t vote for a single Indian film for even the top 50.
Let us also congratulate all those Italian-Americans who decided to be more ‘Italian’ than ‘American’ for one day and voted for de Sica over Welles!
Whew, another spat. Maybe you should have stolen Kris Tapley’s blog name, Sam, as it seems to be rather contentious over here of late.
I did not vote and don’t know anything about the voting demographic for the poll. I will submit that had I voted, The Bicycle Thief (I always heard/saw it as singular, but maybe that’s a linguistic inaccuracy?) would have been somewhere in my top 5. The French film, as I mentioned earlier, would have been my #1.
I’m a Southern gal who’s about as Italian as Kraft macaroni and cheese, and about as French. The films’ nationalities would never have occurred to me as a reason to include a film or not. Personally, I’ve always thought multiculturalism was pretty nifty.
I think I can see where Alan’s coming from, though. There’s something to be said for having a cultural affinity for a film–Shotgun Stories is my #4 for 2008 because it resonated with me so much as a story from my neck of the woods–and I can understand why Allan might *speculate* about and wonder if the voting demographic had more cultural affinity for this one. Taking it beyond speculation–and particularly the inference that American voters didn’t want to seem bigoted–seems a bit extreme (and laughable, given how little attention most of us give to whether something sounds bigoted or not; we’re a rather egocentric nation, after all). But Mr. Fish, as I’ve noticed, is a man of strong opinions and convictions. This one just happens to come across as deeply cynical, and unfortunately, likely more offensive to some than was intended.
But that’s just my take; I could be wrong. Hope I haven’t stoked any fires. I’m not a big fan of the flames.
“Hope I haven’t stoked any fires. I’m not a big fan of the flames.”
LOL Jenny Bee!!! I assure you no fires have been stoked, this kind of discussion between Allan and am is typically in the contentious halls of WitD, but such tiffs always end happily. Allan was over here from his U.K. home for three weeks in December, and he has an unassailable bond with my family, my young children especially. From time to time, when two people with strong opinions clash, all hell is to pay. LOL!!
I agree however that the ‘bigoted’ assertion is over-the-top as I illustrated in several e mails. The fact that BICYCLE THIEVES (and the plural is now the generally-accepted total, even though the singular is the American heading) won in this poll, considering the 2/3 non-Italian-Americans who cast ballots pretty much puts to rest the conspiracy theory.
We received 134 comments on our 30’s poll thread, and I think Allan was posing his argument here partially tongue-in-cheek to fuel some responses, which he has cetainly achieved a measure of success with.
Your SHOGUN STORIES example Jenny Bee, however does support (as you pose) the possibility for some instances of regional attachment.
Thanks for these insights as always.
A correction. I am an Italo-Greek-Australian.
My ethnic heritage had nothing to do with voting Ladri #1. As I said under Allan’s review of the picture:
It is visual poetry; a truth beyond artifice; a transfiguration of the everyday to the realm of the sublime; the love, the sorrow, and the pity of real lives lived in earnest and without ego, artifice, affectation or ambition. Art for the people of the people and for all time.
The movie just happens to be Italian.
Anyway, good to see Allan stirring up a hornet’s nest of indignation – though I notice no-one attacked him for putting a British movie at the top of his list…
Don’t worry, guys, only one British movie makes it into my 1950s list, and that scrapes in at no 50…
LOL Tony!!!!
Your fecund statement under BICYCLE THIEVES was indeed remembered, and yes the fact that the movie is Italian is almost a second-thought.
I guess we can conclude that Allan will always try to fan some controversy, but in the end it’s admittedly harmless.
Awesome list!
Was David Lean’s OLIVER TWIST one of the runners up? I’m surprised not to find it on here.
Personally I would put THE THIRD MAN at the top (hell, at the top for all time perhaps, too, though that is probably shaded by my Graham Greene bias) but I can’t argue with the brilliance of BICYCLE THIEVES, a film that has really haunted me.
THE GRAPES OF WRATH also deserve(s) all the love. Many people forget about that film nowadays, and it seems even more relevant now in light of the global economic woes.
And suppose DOUBLE INDEMNITY will always be a favorite, and suppose people will always quote it…but I better get out of this post, get out of it but quick.
Thanks so much for posting here David, and I can’t argue with any of your astute observations of the list.
I share your love for THE THIRD MAN, as it was very high on my own Top 25 ballot submission. OLIVER TWIST finished in the 30’s, ,which all things considered isn’t bad. It seems that GREAT EXPECTATIONS was favored, but Allan Fish feels OLIVER TWIST is Lean’s greatest film, and it placed very high on his own list.
Of course, THE GRAPES OF WRATH and DOUBLE INDEMNITY are unquestioned masterworks.
Your “writer bias” as you call it is actually a wonderful thing, as it enriches and accentuates all the truly great films of this period.
Thanks very much!
And David, THE THIRD MAN is actually in my own view (and I believe in Tony D’Ambra’s as well) the greatest British film ever made.
The Third Man = excellence. Great stuff, timeless.
What a terrific compilation! So much work went into this, and the results have made it well worth it. Can’t contest these choices, and look ahead to the 1950’s.
Great list Sam!
I had ‘Citizen Kane’ at Number 2–which is where it landed–and had ‘Bicycle Thieves’ in my Top 5. My personal top pick is ‘Les Enfants du Paradis’ which did place in the Top 10. To be honest there isn’t a single pick on this list that is undeserving. You guys really have outdone yourselves with this one.