A line of dialogue was censored. When the protagonist doesn't know an answer at the final examination, another character silently tries to help him by mimicking big ears and nose (the answer was "elephant"). The protagonist answers "Bartali!" (the name of a famous Italian cyclist who had pronounced ears and nose); this prompts the anger of the examiner. However, the name of the cyclist has been obviously dubbed over, as it's not the lead actor's voice, but the one of his frequent dubber and co-star Carlo Croccolo. The original line was "De Gasperi!" (the Italian Prime Minister at the time, also with pronounced ears and nose), which was deemed offensive and censored.
Reportedly, when Totò, who was already a comedy star in Italy, first saw his young colleague Alberto Sordi at work (here in a minor part), he commented: "E' capacino..." ("He's pretty good"). Sordi would go on to become another major name of Italian comedy.
Only movie collaboration between Totò and Alberto Sordi.
The ministry where Pappalardo (Totò) works is really the Italian Ministry of Education in Rome.
Italian censorship visa # 11527 delivered on 24-9-1952.