Vittorio De Sica

Known for: Bicycle Thieves (1948), Umberto D. (1952)

Vittorio De Sica directed the two films most closely identified with Italian neorealism — Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Umberto D. (1952) — using non-professional actors and location shooting to achieve social documentary precision. Both films were scripted by Cesare Zavattini, with whom he maintained a long creative partnership. He was equally active as an actor throughout his directing career.