Vittorio De Sica- Father of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

Responsible for making Italian cinema a front-runner at the Academy Awards, six of Vittorio De Sica’s films were praised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during the golden years of his career.

From 1917 until his untimely death in 1974, Vittorio De Sica worked to become one of the most prolific filmmakers of our time. With nearly 200 films to his credit, including beloved classics including "The Bicycle Thieves" and "Two Women," Vittorio De Sica created timeless portraits of characters struggling to survive in the darkest days.

Like the common theme in many of his films, De Sica grew up with the bare minimum. Born into poverty in 1901 in the town of Sora, a picturesque village along the banks of the Liri river near the Simbruini Mountains in Lazio, De Sica lived in a town stricken with hardship. Perhaps that is why he was a leading force in Neorealism, a film movement born out of the necessity to make films with few resources in the wake of World War II.

Watch this clip in which De Sica mentions his hometown.

De Sica’s characters search for hope and beauty among desolation. Perhaps he drew from his experience growing up in such a beautiful place. Sora’s neighboring commune, Isola del Liri, is a charming island known for its waterfalls that have served as visual muses for artists throughout time. De Sica grew up with nothing among this beautiful landscape in which he prospered as an artist and adapted that experience and message for his neorealist films.

De Sica began his film career in 1917 with a part in Alfredo De Antoni’s silent adventure film, “Il processo Clémenceau” (The Clemenceau Affair).  Shortly thereafter, he began a successful stint in theater, in which his dashing looks made him a local stage idol. De Sica enjoyed the stage and screen, appearing in both art forms throughout the 1920s. The next decade would go on to launch his career. In 1932, he made his talkie film debut in “La Vecchia Signora,” and at the same time, he and his first wife, Giuditta Rissone founded their own theater company along with fellow actor and playwright, Sergio Tofano. The company prospered, specializing in comedies, but also featured the work of big-name directors like Luchino Visconti. Meanwhile, De Sica's film career was flourishing and he was making a name for himself as a respected comedy actor.

Two years later, De Sica made "Ladri di biciclette" (The Bicycle Thieves), the story of a Roman family struggling to survive on the streets of Rome, again in the wake of World War II. Antonio Ricci, played by Lamberto Maggiorani is desperately searching to support his family of four. When he is offered a position posting advertisements around the city, he tells his wife that he has to decline because he needs a bike and obviously cannot afford to buy one. She is so happy that he has finally been offered a job, she pawns all her bed sheets and humble valuables to raise the money for the bike. The two are so ecstatic; they enjoy a beautiful victory ride home rejoicing in their new life. Then on the first day of work, Antonio’s bike is stolen. What follows is a portrait of desperation and the lengths a father and young son will go to find justice. The film also won an Honorary Award at the Oscars and to this day, is considered one of the classic films of all time.

"Umberto D," De Sica's 1952 neorealist film and heart-wrenching story of an elderly man and his dog struggling to survive on his pension, earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay by Cesare Zavattini.

"Sciuscià" and "Ladri di biciclette" were awarded honorary Oscars, while De Sica's 1963, "Ieri, oggi, domani" and his 1971, "Il giardino dei Finzi Contini" won the official awards for Best Foreign Language Film. 

In 1951, De Sica’s second wife, Spanish actress Maria Mercader, gave birth to their son, Christian, who followed in his father’s footsteps. Christian De Sica planted his performing roots in music but fate took over and he has since become a celebrated comic actor and director known for his hilarious sketches of Roman characters and infamous Cinepanettone Christmas comedies. He is married to Silvia Verdone, the sister of fellow actor/director, Carlo Verdone.

Watch this clip of Christian talking about his father's work..

De Sica’s legacy lives on in the masterpieces he created, and the unique way in which he documented a difficult time in Italy's history through his neorealist films.