One day Renato told about me a dream he had had, about Totò and Charlot in Paradise. It had to do with a carriage, white horses and clouds. It is the meeting of two great men in the grandness of God.
There was no melancholy in their conversation, just like two old friends who remember, who laugh and who are accompanied by the rhythmical and elegant pawing of the clogs, which lightly touch the sky.
The memories turn into music, bells, archangels; the notes of “malafemmena” which become one with “luci della città”.
Upon waking the dream doesn’t leave him, but it remains in Renato’s mind with the same intensity in which it took place. This happens so much so that he tries to reproduce with the same kind of atmosphere, with the same interlacement with the echo of the dream.
He has me listen to it and the effect is really fantastic. We get to work immediately. Renato takes care of the musical aspect whereas I start looking for the voice much like that of Totò in order to use for the dialogues.
It wasn’t simple. At first I tried with Enrico Montesano, but I wasn’t able to convince the lawyer who represented him.
A young actor by the name of Dodo Gagliarde accepted an audition, but the result didn’t really convince Renato and so we didn’t use him.
Gigi Sabani was no where to be found. And therefore my only chance was Carlo Croccolo, perhaps the only one with the real spirit of Totò. The first approach was that of distrust. The meeting took place in via Capo d’Africa in Rome, where he ran a theatre and after some explaining he confirmed his availability.
The embrace between the two was to say the least very affectionate, an embrace of two old friends who meet after several years. It was after this that we began recording.
The title of the song will be “I magnifici due”. I can remember a very funny episode which took place, towards the end of the song Totò and Charlot say goodbye and Renato had thought of the line to use: “Statte buono Charly” (take care Charly), but Carlo Croccolo looks at Renato and says: “Renato, Totò would have said, my homage Charly….”.
Renato laughs at this and says: “Very well!” My homage Charly…. And that will be the final line of the song.
Only a few days have gone by and the photograph of the dream is already ready.