Umberto D. (1952)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Cesare Zavattini (story)
Cesare Zavattini (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 November 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Umberto Ferrari, aged government-pensioner, attends a street demonstration held by his fellow pensioners...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Landlady | Rent | Pregnant | Servant

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Carlo Battisti	...	Umberto Domenico Ferrari
Maria-Pia Casilio	...	Maria, la servetta (as Maria Pia Casilio)
Lina Gennari	...	Antonia, la padrona di case
Ileana Simova	...	La donna nella camera di Umberto
Elena Rea	...	La suora all' ospedale
Memmo Carotenuto	...	Il degente all' ospedale

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | South Korea:12 (2003) | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Amato Film

Trivia:

Vittorio De Sica dedicated this film to his father.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'uomo dal sigaro in bocca (1997)

There's hardly been a better film ever made

Umberto D. may be the single most powerful film ever made. It's pretty much impossible not to be affected by it, and I'd imagine only a monster could get through it without shedding a tear. It's not all sad, and certainly cannot be called unrelentingly depressing. There are plenty of beautifully funny moments. The main character, Umberto, is one of the greatest characters I've ever met at the movies. It would be simple to make him just a man to pity: he is a poor old man who is down on his luck. But the artists behind the film have fleshed him out into an incredibly human character. The supporting characters, even those who show up for just a moment, are just as well created. And the acting is godly. 10/10, without a second thought. It's one of the best films ever made.