Nazi Party power in Italy, the National Fascist Party, under the leadership of the charismatic Benito Mussolini. The Fascists, like the Nazis, promoted a national rebirth of their country, as they opposed communism and liberalism; appealed to the working-class; opposed the Treaty of Versailles; and advocated the territorial expansion of their country. The Italian Fascists used a straight-armed Roman salute and wore black-shirted uniforms. Hitler was inspired by Mussolini and the Fascists, borrowing their use of the straight-armed salute as a Nazi salute. When the Fascists came to power in 1922 in Italy through their coup attempt called the "March on Rome",
Benito Mussolini topical insult of "chisler". William Saroyan wrote a short story about Mussolini in his 1971 book, "Letters from 74 rue Taitbout or Don't Go But If You Must Say Hello To Everybody". More serious biographical depictions include Rod Steiger in Carlo Lizzani's 1974 movie "Last Days of Mussolini", and George C. Scott's portrayal in the 1985 television mini-series "Mussolini: The Untold Story". Another 1985 movie was "Mussolini and I", in which Bob Hoskins plays the dictator (with Susan Sarandon as his daughter Edda and Anthony Hopkins as Count Ciano). Actor Antonio Banderas also played the title role in "Benito" in