In 1946, following the end of the Second World War (post-war, as it were), an Italian named Luigi Bartolini penned a novel entitled “Ladri di biciclette (The Bicycle Thieves)”.
In 1948 this novel was adapted for the silver screen by the Italian neorealist Vittorio De Sica.
The story goes that the main character, Antonio, whom is unemployed in the post-war depression, needs a job to support his wife and two children.
Eventually he acquires a job pasting posters, but on the condition that he must use his bicycle travel around as he hangs the posters (he is told ‘no bicycle – no job’)
As he is hanging a poster, however, his bicycle is stolen. Antonio and his friends spend hours trying, in vain, to find the stolen bicycle. Eventually Antonio visits a fortune teller, who he earlier mocked, who tells him “you’ll find the bike quickly, or not at all”.
Feeling somewhat cheated, he pays the fortune teller and leaves, only to happen across the thief as he does do. A foot Chase ensues and the thief is cornered in a brothel. Unfortunately for Antonio, it seems that the thief had already sold the bicycle, and furthermore, the neighbours of the thief turn on Antonio. Meanwhile, as Antonio is dealing with the thief and the neighbours, his son, Bruno, rushes off the alert the police. Upon his return with the constabulary, the police inform Antonio that, despite the fact that he witnessed the crime, he has no evidence and the neighbour provide the thief with a false alibi.
As the film draws to it’s close, we see Antonio sitting on the curb, outside a packed football (soccer) stadium, looking at the hundred of bicycles that are parked there as he wallows in his own sorrow. He decides that the only course of action left open to him is to steal a bicycle himself, and chooses one to purloin. Unfortunately for Antonio a group of witnesses confront him and begin to march him to the local police station, however, the owner of the bicycle sees how upset Bruno, Antonio’s son, is and declines to press charges.
The film closes with Antonio and Bruno walking hand in hand, both in tears.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Thieves
The Alamo header is a reference to “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” in which Pee-Wee Herman tries desperately to find his stolen bike. He seeks help from a fortune teller who tells him his bike is in the basement of the Alamo just to get him out of her hair, and when he gets there, he discovers there is in fact no basement at the Alamo. I am clearly a font of previously useless trivia….
This is actually a design by Julian Glander (aka secretlyrobots) that was printed on Threadless a while ago. It was quite popular and has been printed and posted all over the place…
Alamo is the church in Texas where a few farmers held off a ton of mexicans during the texas revolution. it has nothing to do with italy. the joke is that is is buried in the rubble. Also, this sign is a joke that has been posted in loads of places. The guy who posted this is likely not “legit”
I am going to spend all day thinking about this and in math class I’m gonna answer everything as,”I hope you ride my bike without a helmet and get hit by a monster truck!”
This is not post-war Italy
Please explain to me what “post-war Italy” has to do with this.
Probably he just went out form a neorealism movies marathon 🙂
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Thieves
Certainly.
In 1946, following the end of the Second World War (post-war, as it were), an Italian named Luigi Bartolini penned a novel entitled “Ladri di biciclette (The Bicycle Thieves)”.
In 1948 this novel was adapted for the silver screen by the Italian neorealist Vittorio De Sica.
The story goes that the main character, Antonio, whom is unemployed in the post-war depression, needs a job to support his wife and two children.
Eventually he acquires a job pasting posters, but on the condition that he must use his bicycle travel around as he hangs the posters (he is told ‘no bicycle – no job’)
As he is hanging a poster, however, his bicycle is stolen. Antonio and his friends spend hours trying, in vain, to find the stolen bicycle. Eventually Antonio visits a fortune teller, who he earlier mocked, who tells him “you’ll find the bike quickly, or not at all”.
Feeling somewhat cheated, he pays the fortune teller and leaves, only to happen across the thief as he does do. A foot Chase ensues and the thief is cornered in a brothel. Unfortunately for Antonio, it seems that the thief had already sold the bicycle, and furthermore, the neighbours of the thief turn on Antonio. Meanwhile, as Antonio is dealing with the thief and the neighbours, his son, Bruno, rushes off the alert the police. Upon his return with the constabulary, the police inform Antonio that, despite the fact that he witnessed the crime, he has no evidence and the neighbour provide the thief with a false alibi.
As the film draws to it’s close, we see Antonio sitting on the curb, outside a packed football (soccer) stadium, looking at the hundred of bicycles that are parked there as he wallows in his own sorrow. He decides that the only course of action left open to him is to steal a bicycle himself, and chooses one to purloin. Unfortunately for Antonio a group of witnesses confront him and begin to march him to the local police station, however, the owner of the bicycle sees how upset Bruno, Antonio’s son, is and declines to press charges.
The film closes with Antonio and Bruno walking hand in hand, both in tears.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Thieves
Also: http://fortsanders.net/node/645
Also: Word to your mother (ref:http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0133f326cfab970b-500wi)
tl;dnr
Really, how lazy are you?
Stopped listening after ‘in 1946’
Dood, I know you’re probably really smart, but you need to learn how to use whom. You’re usage in the third paragraph is incorrect.
Kind of like your usage of “you’re” in your second sentence.
“Alamo” is post-war Italian for “Lost-and-Found”.
Okayyy…
Sorry, still don’t get it.
The Alamo header is a reference to “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” in which Pee-Wee Herman tries desperately to find his stolen bike. He seeks help from a fortune teller who tells him his bike is in the basement of the Alamo just to get him out of her hair, and when he gets there, he discovers there is in fact no basement at the Alamo. I am clearly a font of previously useless trivia….
if useless trivia was a drug you could sell it by the gram 🙂
You need to stop.
Now, collaborate and listen.
Thank you.
NOW I understand!
I just now learned from this thread that Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure contains a reference to the Italian neo-realist film “The Bicycle Thief.”
This is SPARTA!
I’m going to laugh all day thinking of the title of this Fail, IMMD! Cultural Reference WIN!
Wow kid…
Should be on PAN.
I love legit people like the guy that made this sign… XD
THIS IS THE BEST
20’s???
It’s a Threadless t-shirt design. The company had a competition in which people posted this sign up for a short time.
This is actually a design by Julian Glander (aka secretlyrobots) that was printed on Threadless a while ago. It was quite popular and has been printed and posted all over the place…
The Alamo doesn’t have a basement!
whooosh
The person who made this sign submitted it to Threadless, where it was made into a t-shirt. http://www.threadless.com/product/1941/Missing
Alamo is the church in Texas where a few farmers held off a ton of mexicans during the texas revolution. it has nothing to do with italy. the joke is that is is buried in the rubble. Also, this sign is a joke that has been posted in loads of places. The guy who posted this is likely not “legit”
Obviously, you’re not a Paul Reubens fan. Which probably isn’t a bad thing.
Deep in the heart of Texas!
LOL, nice ref.
I am going to spend all day thinking about this and in math class I’m gonna answer everything as,”I hope you ride my bike without a helmet and get hit by a monster truck!”
for the win
Coolest bike ever? Perhaps.
this is on a t-shirt… that i own. from thredless…
I tried to go in the basment of the alamo they wouldn’t let me in the building lol