profile image

Vittorio De Sica

Jul 07, 1901 - Nov 13, 1974 (73 years old) in Sora, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy

Vittorio De Sica (7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement.

Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: Sciuscià and Bicycle Thieves (honorary), while Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and Il giardino dei Finzi Contini won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Indeed, the great critical success of Sciuscià (the first foreign film to be so recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and Bicycle Thieves helped establish the permanent Best Foreign Film Award. These two films are considered part of the canon of classic cinema. Bicycle Thieves was cited by Turner Classic Movies as one of the 15 most influential films in cinema history.

De Sica was also nominated for the 1957 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing Major Rinaldi in American director Charles Vidor's 1957 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, a movie that was panned by critics and proved a box office flop. De Sica's acting was considered the highlight of the film.

Known For

poster
The Anatomy of Love
Conte Ferdinando / Don Corradino Scognamiglio
poster
The Angel Wore Red
General Clave
poster
It Started in Naples
Mario Vitale
poster
Hello Elephant
Carlo Caretti
poster
Gastone
The Prince
poster
Blood for Dracula
Marquis Di Fiore
poster
Das Lied der Sonne
Dr. Giuseppe Paladino
poster
Time of Vacation
Aristide Rossi
poster
Gran varietà
Veneziani
poster
It Happened in the Park
Arturo Cavazzuti - the lawyer (segment: Incidente a Villa Borghese)

Credits