It was entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival, where a "Special Mention" was made of Totò, for his acting performance.

It features the popular Italian comic-actor Totò, accompanied on a journey by his son (played by Ninetto Davoli).

They encounter other individuals: land-owners who order them off their land when they are caught defecating; a family living in absolute poverty, with no food and whom Totò threatens to drive out of the house if the rent is not paid; a group of travelling actors (representing figures marginalised from society such as women, gays, the elderly, racial minorities, and the disabled) who persuade the pair to push the group's Cadillac car for them; and a rich man who is waiting for Totò to give him the money he owes him (in contrast to the earlier episode where Toto had demanded rent).

Ennio Morricone's opening theme music features Domenico Modugno singing the movie's credits.

Pasolini chose to use both non-professional actors from off the streets and Italian cinematic icons such as Totò, because he felt the brutality of the amateur and the lightness of the professional worked together.

[2] Totò was used to choosing his own jokes and ad-libbing his own lines, but for this film he learned to respect Pasolini's script and direction.