They formed a songwriting duo who produced about forty songs and created Buscaglione's public persona, a humorous tough guy with a penchant for whisky and women.

During World War II, Chiosso was deported to Poland, while Buscaglione ended up in a US internment camp in Sardinia.

They were humorous stories about gangsters and their babes, New York City and Chicago, tough men who were ruthless with enemies but easily fell victims to a woman's charms.

It was followed by many other hits, including "Che notte", "Criminalmente bella", "Il dritto di Chicago", "Eri piccola così", '"Lontano da te", "Love in Portofino", "Porfirio Villarosa", "Sgancia e pedala", "Teresa non sparare", and "Whisky facile".

Chiosso wrote both the story and the script for the movie, as well as the lyrics for two songs of the soundtrack, "Noi duri" and "Ninna nanna del duro".