''Hands Off Me!'' () is a 1937 Italian " white-telephones"

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Gero Zambuto.Moliterno p.179 The film is notable for being the screen début of

Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il principe della risat ...

. 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 Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

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 *

Tina Pica Tina Pica (31 March 1884 – 15 August 1968) was an Italian supporting actress who played character roles on stage. Her film debut came in 1935 with '' The Three-Cornered Hat''. In the 1950s, she became a celebrity thanks to her role as Caram ...

: Giulia *

Franco Coop Franco Coop (27 September 1891 – 27 March 1962), was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 65 films between 1931 and 1960. He was born in Naples, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Before the Jury'' (1931) * '' Moth ...

: Vincenzino *

Oreste Bilancia Oreste Bilancia (24 September 1881 – 31 October 1945) was an Italian film actor. Born in Catania, Sicily, he was a star of Italian films in the silent era. He worked during the 1920s in Weimar Germany, which had the largest European film ind ...

: Cavalier Gerolamo Battaglia * Cesare Polacco: Capomastro * Guglielmo Sinaz: il capo cameriere * Miranda Bonansea: Bambina

References

Bibliography

* Moliterno, Gino. ''Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2008; /.

External links

* 1937 films 1937 comedy films 1930s Italian-language films Italian black-and-white films Italian comedy films Films directed by Gero Zambuto Films shot at Palatino Studios 1930s Italian films {{1930s-Italy-comedy-film-stub