Animali pazzi

Toto was one of the funniest screen comics so even a lesser early vehicle like this one (only his second film) carries a certain amount of kooky humor and charm. Here he seizes the opportunity of a dual role, a starving man about to kill himself who is paid to substitute for his look alike, a baron unable to extricate himself from a clinging mistress, in preparations for a wedding. (If the baron doesn't appear at the wedding in time, an inheritance goes instead to a hospital for animals with psychological problems!) The comedy is often clumsy because of crude direction, with shots awkwardly edited together. But it moves briskly with a running time of just over an hour, and the resulting programmer,if frivolous, must have amused audiences of the time in an Italy getting ready for WWII.

Unfortunately, the director and writers were lacking. A lot of screen time was wasted on childish animal jokes instead of more valuable character development.

It's still very interesting to see a young and talented Totò working his craft. He used many of his signature moves and was spry enough to really nail them.

I have to say that while Totò kept a constant smile on my face, I did most most of my laughing because of Bianca Stagno Bellincioni who played Aunt Elisa.