tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post2939243098001234511..comments2023-11-05T01:59:43.451-08:00Comments on Windmills of My Mind: "The Bicycle Thief" or "Bicycle Thieves?"Damian Arlynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07937513879456460221noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-75415524995172746122018-06-26T20:59:11.218-07:002018-06-26T20:59:11.218-07:00I never thought I will ever get an answer to my qu...I never thought I will ever get an answer to my question when the confusion about this name first appeared in my mind...but just by random googling my question I came across your blog...which beautifully answers it...yes really beautifully I must say as it explores all aspects and opinions...as I have found out over the years there cannot be one right answer to anything in this world...thus a<br />truly open mind always ponders in the gray. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15851064063236573462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-46184927635062737752018-01-29T00:58:34.884-08:002018-01-29T00:58:34.884-08:00That is an even better title!That is an even better title!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15834492894938082816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-88624161581358201502010-07-30T23:12:10.483-07:002010-07-30T23:12:10.483-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.hanlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16683901856792466616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-86166227503122209932009-11-28T11:53:09.532-08:002009-11-28T11:53:09.532-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Adihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06355802787660974633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-7785618324293294452008-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:002008-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00We can settle this with a lesson in italian gramma...We can settle this with a lesson in italian grammar.<BR/><BR/>In italian, words that end with "i" or "e" indicate plurality. Same goes for plural articles. If I was talking about <I>the thief</I>, I would say "il ladro." If I wanted to indicate <I>the thieves</I>, I would say "i ladri."<BR/><BR/>If the title were <I>Ladro di Bicicletta</I>, then we'd call it <I>Bicycle Thief</I>.<BR/><BR/>If the original title were <I>I Ladri di Biciclette</I>, then it would be correct to translate this as <I>The Bicycle Thieves.</I> <BR/><BR/>But the title is <I>Ladri di Biciclette</I>: <I>Bicycle Thieves</I>, or literally, Thieves of Bicycles.<BR/><BR/>Analyze that!Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14429181427881054376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-3764505810579625692008-08-11T13:46:00.000-07:002008-08-11T13:46:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-80938908537488932372007-03-19T16:07:00.000-07:002007-03-19T16:07:00.000-07:00Just "Bicycle Thieves" or "THE Bicycle Thieves?"Just "Bicycle Thieves" or "THE Bicycle Thieves?"Damian Arlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937513879456460221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-40124461927113531712007-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:002007-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00It's "Bicycle Thieves"!It's <EM>"<A HREF="http://www.romefile.com/film/ladridibiciclette.php" REL="nofollow">Bicycle Thieves</A>"!</EM>Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18140268835174790038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-42095808540721905452007-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:002007-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00Those are all good points and I am inclined to agr...Those are all good points and I am inclined to agree with you.<BR/><BR/>Something else that just occurred to me as I was reading your comment was that "The Bicycle Thief" (even in spite of its article "the") feels more universal, more like an idea/concept whereas the plural "Bicycle Thieves" feels, to me at least, very specific. It is referring to a particular group of people ("those bicycle thieves over there"). It seems to me that "The Bicycle Thief" could be referring to <I>any</I> bicycle thief and the fact that, as you pointed out, <I>anyone</I> can become a bicycle thief.Damian Arlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937513879456460221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6332525178317601464.post-73245980437916727712007-02-14T16:06:00.000-08:002007-02-14T16:06:00.000-08:00I also was recently wondering about this, prompted...I also was recently wondering about this, prompted by Criterion's decision to give the film the plural title. I am inclined to agree with you. I prefer the singular title, and I think it is because the singular title seems more striking. If you say it out loud, The Bicycle Thief sounds more like The Godfather or The Conformist as a great film than Bicycle Thieves.<BR/><BR/>Also, after just saying the two titles aloud, I prefer The Bicycle Thief because of the hard "f" sound at the end. The singular title has a more rythmic beat to it, making it easier to discuss in conversation. I know that's a shallow reason for preferring a title, but it is just another in a list.<BR/><BR/>I agree with the second poster you mentioned. The singular title leaves the viewer what will happen when the hero finally catches the bicycle thief. But in reality, it is the hero who ends up the bicycle thief. The unification between the evil man and good man is more solid in the singular title.Dan E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03922932534988355330noreply@blogger.com