As professional men of every artistic and political tendency, the directors, screenwriters, actors, critics and technicians of the Italian cinema wish to extend their greetings to Charlie Chaplin, the screen’s first and greatest poet, who, in his work, has achieved the highest artistic expression of basic human values. As ordinary men they would manifest theirgratitude, not only to “Charlot the tramp”, that fabulous poetic invention, but to “Charlot”, fellow friend of children, of humble folk, an example for all, who knew how to touch men’s minds and hearts as they have never been touched before, spreading joy, hope, and above all, goodness and purity: priceless gifts of his soul which make him the first citizen of that world of brotherhood and liberty to which all men aspire.

Il cinema italiano a Charlie Chaplin, by Circolo Romano del Cinema, December 1952