Just read that Vitto Scotti of Any Old Port in a Storm, Candidate for Crime, Negative Reaction, Swan Song, Identity Crisis and Murder: A Self Portrait learnt the Italian art of acting "commedia dell'arte" during his youth, which you can see replicated in his somewhat ostentatious, flamboyant and cosmopolitan roles in Columbo. An analysis of the acting style is explained below (apologies in advance for the dialogue):

Beginning during the Renaissance and lasting into the eighteenth century, traveling troupes performed the commedia dell' arte, the Italian comedy. The company's ten or more actors each developed a specific type of character, such as the Captain, two old men (Pantaloon and the Doctor), the Zanni (valet-buffoons). Since all wore masks, their roles were eventually called masks. Along with these comic characters were the lovers. Female parts were originally played by men, but later played by females. The actors had specific comic business (lazzi) that they developed. Before going on-stage, actors would agree on a basic plot and a general idea of how it should be performed. The improvised performances were never subtle; the humor was often bawdy and coarse. Starting in Italy, troupes moved into all of Europe, influencing theatre in Spain, Holland, Germany, Austria, England, and especially, France. A series of engravings from the eighteenth century offer this typical "bare-bones" scenario:

I thought it was interesting anyway.

Good stuff Rob.....It sort of reveals a little more about Vito's acting style.

I noticed a mention of the comedy being "bawdy". It made me think of Vito Scotti's role in The Godfather, he was Nazorene the baker. During the wedding reception he is up on stage with a group of people singing a song in Sicilian. If I'm not mistaken it is a rather dirty song and the people who were singing it were really into it. You can see Nazorene laughing his keister off as another guy makes some sugestive gestures.

Vito played so many great characters on Columbo.

I am a big fan of Vito Scotti. What is interesting
is that in "Any Old Port", "Identity Crisis", and
"Candidate for Crime" he plays Italian/Mediterranean
types, i.e. in an emotional way. However, in "Negative Reaction" he plays
Mr Dolan, the wino which is a very different type of role. The name "Dolan" is Irish and he plays a drunk, but not like an Italian/Mediterranean, but he
plays it rather as a "disengaged" person who is not
really aware of what is going on. This shows great acting ability. BTW-I really love it in "Negative Reaction" when Columbo is sitting with him in the mission for homeless people and Columbo asks him "if he has a minute" to answer questions. He gives this
shrug and half-chuckle as of to say "what else do I, an unemployed, homeless drunk who lives in a junked car, got to do with my time?" (as Sgt Hoffman said earlier in the episode "There's nothing worse than
a sober drunk!"

[It made me think of Vito Scotti's role in The Godfather, he was Nazorene the baker. During the wedding reception he is up on stage with a group of people singing a song in Sicilian. If I'm not mistaken it is a rather dirty song and the people who were singing it were really into it. You can see Nazorene laughing his keister off as another guy makes some sugestive gestures.]

The wedding scene in GFI was almost a real wedding. Director Cappola told all the extras to have a good time.

Here is a little background on the song and its English translation.

Synopsis: A young woman has difficulty in choosing a man to be her husband. She asks her mother to decide. Her mother describes each man and his livelihood. The mother gives a comic answer for each one, indicating for instance, that if you marry the butcher, his sausage will become your fantasy. Obviously, a song fraught with double entendre.

AND THE MOON IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA:
OH MY MOTHER I MUST GET MARRIED --
OH MY DAUGHTER WHO WILL WE GET?
MY MOTHER I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU.

(I)
IF I GET YOU THE BUTCHER
HE WILL COME AND HE WILL GO,
BUT HE'LL ALWAYS HOLD THE SAUSAGE IN HIS HANDS...
IF HE GETS A BRIGHT IDEA
HE'LL SAUSAGE YOU OH MY DAUGHTER.

(II)
IF I GET YOU THE FISHERMAN
HE WILL COME AND HE WILL GO,
BUT HE'LL ALWAYS HOLD THE FISH IN HIS HANDS...
IF HE GETS A BRIGHT IDEA
HE'LL FISH YOU OH MY DAUGHTER.

(III)
IF I GET YOU THE SHOEMAKER
HE WILL COME AND HE WILL GO,
BUT HE'LL ALWAYS HOLD THE SHOE IN HIS HANDS...
IF HE GETS A BRIGHT IDEA
HE'LL SHOE YOU OH MY DAUGHTER.

(IV)
IF I GET YOU THE GARDEN MAN
HE WILL COME AND HE WILL GO,
BUT HE'LL ALWAYS HOLD THE CUCUMBER IN HIS HANDS...
IF HE GETS A BRIGHT IDEA
HE'LL CUCUMBER YOU OH MY DAUGHTER.

Excellent Mrs. Peck!! I have always wondered what the words were to that song. Thanks.

Of course we all know that Scotti appeared with Dick VanDyke in Negative Reaction. But did you know that they also appeared together on VanDykes old TV show? In that episode he plays a man that the Petries hire to paint their living room. He spends much of his time goofing off & playing with Ritchie & getting very little work done. The Petries want to fire him, but eventually he does the job, does an excellent job & even signs the wall as if it were a painting.