Toto at Night

Nini and Mimi are a pair of down-on-their-luck street musicians eking out a living on the sidewalks of Rome. Their days are a loop of small gigs, jokes and meager tips, until Nini announces he has inherited an unexpected sum from his late grandmother. Suddenly the two imagine a life beyond their routines, plotting visits to Paris, Madrid, England, Scotland, Hong Kong and the United States. What follows is a string of comic episodes, musical interludes and odd encounters as they test how far sudden wealth can stretch their dreams and their friendship, all without revealing any major twists or the final outcome.

Released in 1962, Toto at Night was directed by Mario Amendola, with a screenplay credited to Bruno Corbucci, Pipolo and Giovanni Grimaldi. The film stars Totò as Nini, alongside Erminio Macario, and features appearances by musicians who play themselves.

No reliable box office totals are widely cited for this film, and it did not register as a major international hit. Its commercial footprint is modest, with the picture mostly circulating within Italian markets and later finding viewers through retrospectives and classic film programming.

The movie functions as part of Totò's later body of work, showcasing his comic timing and expressive face in a series of sketches and musical set pieces. Fans of classic Italian comedy will spot familiar rhythms and stock character types, and the cameos by real musicians add a lively, variety-show feel. For collectors and Totò enthusiasts, it’s an interesting slice of early 1960s popular entertainment rather than a landmark film.

Critical and audience response has been mixed, reflected in a user average around 5.72/10 from a small number of votes. Reviewers tend to treat it as light, episodic entertainment that leans on slapstick, musical gags and the chemistry between the two leads. Thematically it plays with friendship, aspiration and the absurdities that come with sudden money and big plans, keeping the tone breezy rather than serious.