Hands Off Me! Explained

Hands Off Me!
Director:Gero Zambuto
Producer:Gustavo Lombardo
Starring:Totò, Tina Pica
Music:Umberto Mancini
Cinematography:Otello Martelli
Editing:Giacinto Solito
Studio:Titanus
Distributor:Titanus
Runtime:77 minutes
Country:Italy
Language:Italian

Hands Off Me! is a 1937 Italian "white-telephones" comedy film directed by Gero Zambuto.[1]

The film is notable for being the screen début of Totò. Its most famous scenes include one in which he tries to give a haircut to a bald man; another one where he fishes from the fishmonger's counter (this scene was repeated in Cops and Robbers and Toto in Paris) and also the scene in which he holds a broom, using it as a gun (shooting in "Figaro here, Figaro there"). The scene involving the conductor was also repeated in many subsequent films.

It was shot at the Safa Palatino Studios in Rome.

Plot

In his first story, Totò plays the poor wanderer who meets up with a gentleman in poor economic conditions. The two try to earn a living as best they can, but they always incur misfortune and hatred because of their ineptitude. After being kicked out of a beauty salon because he was disguised as a nurse, Totò makes a bet between nobles and later wins a competition and a lot of money after replacing a famous conductor who was sick. Here Totò will show his theatrical flair performing in the famous gag of "Uncoordinated muppet". After having won the satisfactory sum, Totò will also discover to be of a noble family.

Cast

Count Totò di Torretota

Giulia

Vincenzino

Cavalier Gerolamo Battaglia

Capomastro

il capo cameriere

Bambina

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Moliterno p.179