VITTORIO DE SICA Contemporary Perspectives

Edited by Howard Curie and Stephen Snyder

Recognized as a master of Italian cinema, (1902-74) is perhaps best known and most respected for his critically acclaimed neorealist films of the period 1946-55. As this anthology reveals, how- ever, his production was remarkably multifaceted. The essays included here - some newly commissioned, some reprinted, and others in trans- lation - look at De Sica's varied career from many perspectives. Structured chronologically, the volume befgjins by introducing read- ers to De Sica's early popularity as an actor and singer during the years of Italian Fascism, and to his initial directorial efforts before the end of World War II. It was not until the postwar era, however, that De Sica made his mark in film history. Special attention is given to this critical phase of his career, which encompasses the neorealist films that made him famous: Shoeshine, , , and Umberto D: When the neorealist movement waned after 1955, De Sica returned to his roots in Neapolitan comedy for a series of commercially success- ful films starring and , such as and Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, which won De Sica an Academy Award in 1965. However, in , a film adaptation of Moravia's novel La ciociara, which was released in 1960, and in The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, one of De Sica's last films, he returned to the subject of World War II and to the human tragedy that is at the heart of his best neorealist productions. This fine anthology offers a comprehensive critical survey that cov- ers the entire scope of De Sica's career, and is an excellent resource for students, critics, and film enthusiasts.

(Toronto Italian Studies)

HOWARD CURLE is a lecturer in the Film Studies Programme at the University of Manitoba.

STEPHEN SNYDER is Associate Professor in the Film Studies Pro- gramme at the University of Manitoba. This page intentionally left blank VITTORIO DE SICA Contemporary Perspectives

Edited by Howard Curie and Stephen Snyder

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS Toronto Buffalo London www.utppublishing.com

© University of Toronto Press Incorporated 2000 Toronto Buffalo London Printed in Canada

ISBN o-8o2O-o654-x (cloth) ISBN 0-8020-8381-1 (paper) © Printed on acid-free paper

Toronto Italian Studies

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Main entry under title: Vittorio De Sica : contemporary perspectives (Toronto Italian studies) Includes filmography. ISBN o-8o20-o654-x (bound) ISBN 0-8020-8381-1 (pbk.) i. De Sica, Vittorio, 1901-1974 - Criticism and interpretation. I. Curie, Howard. II. Snyder, Stephen. III. Series. PN1998-3.D473V57 2000 79i.43'o233'o92 €00-930166-6

University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support for its pub- lishing activities of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP).