The.Bicycle.Thief

Vittorio De Sica's masterpiece about a poor young father in postwar-ravaged Rome who finally finds work putting up Rita Hayworth posters around town, only to have his precious bicycle stolen the first day on the job. Two scenes from the film caused The Hays Office to deny the film a Seal of Approval - precluding wide distribution in the United States - because these scenes violated Code standards. The first is a light moment that happens as the father and his young son chase after the thief: The boy attempts to relieve himself against a wall, and his father lets him know they don't have time for that. The other is a scene in which the father tracks the thief into the kitchen of a brothel. De Sica refused to make the required cuts, and the movie played without the seal. Hollywood apologized to De Sica a year later by giving the movie a special Oscar.

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