''Luciano Serra, Pilot'' (Italian: ''Luciano Serra pilota'') is a 1938 Italian

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Goffredo Alessandrini Goffredo Alessandrini (20 November 1904, in Cairo – 16 May 1978, in Rome) was an Italian scriptwriter and film director. He also acted, edited, and produced some films. He practiced athletics in his youth, and won a title of Italian champion ...

and starring

Amedeo Nazzari Amedeo Nazzari (10 December 1907 in Cagliari – 5 November 1979 in Rome) was an Italian actor. Nazzari was one of the leading figures of Italian classic cinema, often considered a local variant of the Australian–American star Errol Flynn. Al ...

, Germana Paolieri and Roberto Villa. It was screened at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

in August 1938, where it was awarded the

Mussolini Cup The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

for Best Italian Film. It was considered the defining film of Nazzari's career, establishing him as the leading male star in Italy. The film's

assistant director The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to tak ...

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such ...

supervised the shooting of footage on location in

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

.Bondanella p.27 Rossellini made his own directorial debut three years later with '' The White Ship'', and went on to become a leading Italian filmmaker.

Cast

as Luciano Serra * Germana Paolieri as Sandra Serra * Roberto Villa as Aldo Serra *

Mario Ferrari Mario Ferrari (September 3, 1894 – June 28, 1974) was an Italian film actor. After making his debut in 1920, Ferrari became a mainstay of Italian cinema during the Fascist era appearing in a mixture of leading and supporting roles. He pla ...

as Colonel Franco Morelli * Beatrice Mancini as Bice Mancinotti *

Egisto Olivieri Egisto Olivieri (1880–1962) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in more than forty films during his career including '' The Little School Mistress'' (1934).Goble, Alan. ''The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film''. Walter de ...

as Nardini *

Guglielmo Sinaz Guglielmo Sinaz (20 November 1885 – 5 February 1947) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1935 and 1947. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * ''I Love You Only'' (1935) * '' The Grea ...

as José Ribera *

Andrea Checchi Andrea Checchi (21 October 1916 – 29 March 1974) was a prolific Italian film actor. Biography Born in Florence, Checchi appeared in over 150 films in his lengthy career, which spanned from 1934 to his death in 1974. The son of a painter, ...

as Lieutenant Binelli * Felice Romano as Mario * Oscar Andriani as the Military Chaplain *

Nico Pepe Nico Pepe (19 January 1917 – 13 August 1987) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1936 and 1981. Selected filmography * '' The Two Sergeants'' (1936) * ''The Cavalier from Kruja'' (1940) * '' Captain Fraca ...

as the Count * Olivia Fried as Dorothy Thompson *

Silvio Bagolini Silvio Bagolini (4 August 1914 – 26 September 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1936 and 1973. Life and career Born in Bologna, Bagolini studied architecture at the Bologna University, without g ...

as the Club Member *

Felice Minotti Felice Minotti (19 November 1887 – 21 March 1963) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 91 films between 1908 and 1963. Selected filmography * '' The Revenge of Maciste'' (1921) * '' Maciste on Vacation'' (1921) * ''The House of Pulci ...

as Andrea

References

Bibliography

* Bondanella, Peter. ''A History of Italian Cinema''. Continuum, 2011. * Gundle, Stephen. ''Mussolini's Dream Factory: Film Stardom in Fascist Italy''. Berghahn Books, 2013.

External links

* * * 1937 films Italian war drama films Italian black-and-white films 1930s war drama films 1930s Italian-language films Films directed by Goffredo Alessandrini Italian aviation films 1937 drama films 1930s Italian films {{1930s-Italy-film-stub