This is indisputably a masterpiece, from Italian comedy prospect.
Not easy to grasp (even with subtitles) for non Italian-spoken persons.
The main theme recals that of the famous Poem by Aesop, The Ant and The Cricket: Two brothers live opposite lives, one being an extreme economizer and sober family man (Peppino/Pio), while the other just a big spender and pleasure-seeker (Totò/Zazà). The latter also boasts about a supposed nobleness whenever creditors complain about his debts and often he gets away with it this way. With his greed for money and sex, Zazà gets accidentally involved in the production of a stage revue; not having money of his own he tries to involve his rich brother into the business, just to please a young dancing-girl he's fond of. The plot gets all the more entangled as new characters get into the picture all along, because of various misunderstandings. Every single line of this movie gives Totò the chance of cracking jockes, one after the other ... I've seen it quite a few times, and it always makes me cry with laughter (regardless of age and fashions). Once again, to his side we find one of the best of Totò's "stooges": the great Peppino DeFilippo (brother of the "monster" Eduardo).
Being a comedy the muddle will eventually untangle, and all the characters will end up happy ever after.
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