Umberto D.
Seen it?1952 | 91 min | Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.9 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 31 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1952: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
When elderly pensioner Umberto Domenico Ferrari returns to his boarding house from a protest calling for a hike in old-age pensions, his landlady demands her 15,000-lire rent by the end of the month or he and his small dog will be turned out onto the street. Unable to get the money in time, Umberto fakes illness to get sent to a hospital, giving his beloved dog to the landlady's pregnant and abandoned maid for temporary safekeeping.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 92 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.9 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$71K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 33K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Vittorio De Sica
- Carlo BattistiUmberto Domenico Ferrari
- Napoleone the DogFlike
- Maria Pia CasilioMaria
- Lina GennariAntonia Belloni
- Elena ReaThe Nun at the Hospital
- Memmo CarotenutoThe Patient at the Hospital
- Ileana SimovaThe Woman in Umberto's Room
- Lamberto Maggiorani(uncredited)
- Pasquale Campagnola(uncredited)
- Riccardo Ferri(uncredited)