Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor. He was one of the pioneers of the Golden Age of Italian Cinema. Vittorio was born into poverty and struggled hard to make a name for himself in the film fraternity. He got his break as an actor with the Italian film Il processo Clemenceau (1917). He went on to act in films like Beauty of the World (1927), What Scoundrels Men Are (1932), Mr. Desire (1934) and Castles in the Air (1939). Vittorio then turned director with the film Rose Scarlatte (1940) which was a hit at the box office. A few of his other notable works include Bicycle Thieves (1948), The Gold in Naples (1954) and A Farewell to Arms (1957) for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Vittorio was also seen in critically acclaimed films like La Ciociara (1960), Il giardino dei Finzi Contini (1970) and A Brief Vacation (1973). During his long and illustrious career, Vittorio has been the recipient of many laurels and accolades and is of Italian cinema`s most well-known figures. He passed away on November 13rd, 1974. His film Bicycle Thieves is now going to be re-released in theaters.