Quintavalle was an Italian author (In Cerca Di Upamanyu (1995), La
Festa (1953)) with no prior film experience, chosen by Pasolini for the
role of His Excellency "for your physical aspect, which is perfect for
the role of a decadent intellectual, which I need." (quoted in
Schwartz, Pasolini Requiem (Pantheon, 1992)).