Eagles learn to fly This is the first film in which the future great Italian actor Alberto Sordi played his big film role. Sordi made his film debut in 1937: an extra from Cinechitta’s studio can be found in one of the Roman legionaries in Scipio Africanus. By the way, that film at the Venice Film Festival received the Mussolini Cup. "Three Eagles" also visited Venice, and it is strange that he was left without any award, because one of the screenwriters of the film was the son of the Duce - Vittorio Mussolini, about which the site "Kinopoisk" shamefully silent.
We have a fascist agitation telling us how to serve in the Italian Air Force. Most of the events take place in the south of Italy, in the city of Caserta. In the local grandiose country palace of Neapolitan kings, a flight academy was located. By the way, during the Second World War, the residence of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was indeed located here.
The three "eagles" are senior cadets Mario (Carlo Minello), Marco (Leonardo Cortese) and Philippe (Alberto Sordi). They learn to fly, they tease each other. When they are on leave, they try to take care of the girls. We see cheerful, healthy and athletic young men about to join the ranks of the Italian Air Force and young Italian military pilots. But suddenly Marco begins to pursue trouble: first his brother dies in an air battle. The young man then falls in love with Adriana, the sister of one of his best friends, Mario, but the friend doesn't like it. Finally, Marco has a fear of landing and is banned from flying.
Next is going to war. Mario and Philippe will perform feats on the eastern front, Marco will serve at the airfield. But one day fate will give him a chance to improve his career and personal life.
Interestingly, there is almost no reference to fascism in the film, except for a few Roman salutes. The Germans are absent from history. Not specific and the enemy — “eagle” fighting somewhere in Russia, but not a single plane with red stars you will not see.
The film was released in Italy on August 30, 1942. This is the beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad. Of the “eagles” the most successful career was Sordi. Michela Belmonte, starring in only three films, engaged in literature and archaeology. Carlo Minello died two years after the end of the war at the age of 29.
5 out of 10