Roberto Benigni named his character "Attilio" as a tribute to poet Attilio Bertolucci (1911-2000) father of famous directors Giuseppe and Bernardo Bertolucci.
Attilio de Giovanni: I told myself: "There must be people whose job it is to use the right words, put things in a way... who when their heart beats, can get other people's hearts to beat."
Attilio de Giovanni: [in broken English]
Tell him to stay calm! He's very nervous... he's going to shoot me; he's shaking! Stay calm! Molto calmo! Stay calm, I am having heart attack!