To Catch a Bicycle Thief: David O. Selznick’s Failed Attempt to Co-Opt the Neorealist Classic

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn the fall of 1947 the Hollywood film producer David O. Selznick worked vigorously to become a partner in the production of the Italian director Vittorio De Sica’s forthcoming project Bicycle Thieves, and to have De Sica direct a second, English-language version for American consumption starring Cary Grant or Bing Crosby (among other candidates) in the lead role. Over a year later the roles of the two auteurs were reversed when De Sica, likely motivated by his desire to direct Jennifer Jones (then under contract to Selznick), submitted three film treatments for Selznick’s consideration, including an adaptation of Six Characters in Search of an Author. This account of these two failed attempts to come to business and creative agreements provides insight into the conflicting interests of American producers and Italian actors and directors after the war and sets the stage for the story of De Sica’s and Selznick’s eventual collaboration on the film Stazione Termini.