Antonio de Curtis is born to Naples, in the ward “Sanità”, 15 February of 1898. His mother was Anna Clemente, from which he will acquire the last name that he will hold until the paternal acknowledgment of Giuseppe de Curtis, heir of marquis de Curtis. The first years he passes them in the city alleys. In his scholastic career he achieves the elementary licence but later on he does not complete the gymnasium. Soon he begins to take an interest of theatre, above all that comedian. In season 1913-14 makes one’s debut with the pseudonym of Clerment. In the successive year he begins the First world war and he voluntary part; above all for the guarantee of being able to put with the lunch and the supper. In any case that period will be revealed important for its formation of man and, in second sense, of actor. Concluded this experience it returns to its career in the theatrical world, in full development, in which it meets Eduardo and Peppino De Filippo. In 1928 the paternity of Antonio is recognized from Giuseppe de Curtis who already six years before had married itself with Anna Clemente, even if on this vicissitude there are several appraisals. They move themselves to Rome, and Antonio after a several period in theatres arrives to the happened one. To the beginning of years ‘30 the suicide of the singer happens in sentimental way Liliana Castagnola near he. He will decide of bury her in the family vault of de Curtis, and then he will give the same name to its daughter, been born from the successive wedding, in 1935 with Diana Rogliani, then concluded formally in 1940 even though the tie will continue until years ‘50.
In 1933 marquis Francisco Maria Gagliardi Focas adopts him, and Antonio will be able therefore acquire the noble titles, even though to legal conclusion of one controversy. First part of years ‘30 sanctions its happened one in theatre, and in 1937 the cinema with the interpretation from protagonist in the film Fermo con le mani arrives. In 1945 he acquires the noble titles of which over. Now it is: Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Ducas Commeno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio, Altezza Imperiale, Conte Palatino, Cavaliere del Sacro Romano Impero, Esarca di Ravenna, Duca di Macedonia e di Illiria, Principe di Costantinopoli, di Cilicia, di Tessaglia, di Ponte di Moldavia, di Dardania e del Peloponneso, Conte di Cipro e di Epiro, Conte e Duca di Drivasto e Durazzo.
In 1952 Franca Faldini knows, than it it will remain next in order always even if they will not be married. Is a period of remarkable artistic activity. Antonio de Curtis is engaged is in theatre is to the cinema where its Totò personage has happened shocking and enough a single name in the playbill of the film for guarantee the happened one commercial, even though not corresponded (then) from a proportional one happening of critic. The alternated theatrical career until then to that cinematographic one will be concluded in 1956 later on to a serious problem of blindness. Just in the same period the society with Peppino De Filippo begins that will have its epic moments in films, between the others, like Totò, Peppino e la Malafemmina, and in La banda degli onesti. Totò beyond that with Peppino it will not only make couple with all the greatest actors of the italian comedy (and not only), which Nino Taranto, Aldo Fabrizi, Macario, Vittorio De Sica, and also with character actors like Mario Castellani, Enzo Turco, and Carlo Delle Piane. Arrive the years ‘60 and with the the beginning of the the descendant parabola of the the italian comedy, also Totò must redefine the its personage. In 1964 it interprets one of its better films, Il comandante, and in the same year he makes an incursion in the black comedy with the film Che fine ha fatto Totò baby?. In 1965 is friar Timoteo in the cinematographic transposition of La mandragola by Machiavelli. In 1966 he begins the collaboration with Pier Paolo Pasolini. Totò, with Ninetto Davoli, is the main interpreter of the film Uccellacci e uccellini, and the successive year of the episode Che cosa sono le nuvole?, in the film Capriccio all’italiana. Antonio de Curtis dies 15 April of 1967. To its funerals participates approximately a million of persons and all Italy will assist with surprise and sadness. But it will not be the end. It will be the beginning of the new discovery of the greatest italian actor.
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Toto’ is the Italian Charlie Chaplin, the man that started it all. Any name related to Italian Cinema form Fellini to Sofia Loren, from Michelangelo Antonioni to Marcello Mastroianni, from Tornatore to Rossellini they all loved him and they all learned from him. Toto’ was a comedic genius that made people laugh together, rich and poor, young and old.
I think Toto’ is probably one of the men responsible for the evolution of Italian Cinema, I personally love most of his work among my favorite titles are Miseria e Nobilta’, Big deal on Madonna street, Uccellacci e Uccelini and Laugh for Joy.
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