''A Pilot Returns'' (Italian: ''Un pilota ritorna'') is a 1942 Italian

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...

directed by

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 ...

and starring

Massimo Girotti Massimo Girotti (18 May 1918 – 5 January 2003) was an Italian film actor whose career spanned seven decades. Born in Mogliano, in the province of Macerata, Girotti developed his athletic physique by swimming and playing polo. While studying eng ...

, Michela Belmonte and

Piero Lulli Piero Lulli (1 February 1923 – 23 June 1991) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 111 films between 1942 and 1977. He was the brother of actor Folco Lulli. Selected filmography * ''A Pilot Returns'' (1942) - De Santis * ''Love Story ...

. The film forms part of Rossellini's "Fascist trilogy" along with '' The White Ship'' (1941) and ''

The Man with a Cross ''The Man with a Cross'' ( it, L'uomo dalla croce) is a 1943 Italian war film directed by Roberto Rossellini and starring Alberto Tavazzi, Roswita Schmidt and Attilio Dottesio. It was the final part of Rossellini's "Fascist trilogy" following '' ...

'' (1943). It was made with the co-operation of the

Italian Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello , mascot = , anniversaries = 28 March ...

.Bondanella p.32 The film's sets were designed by the architect

Virgilio Marchi Virgilio Marchi (21 January 1895 – 30 April 1960) was an Italian architect and art director. He designed the sets for more than fifty films during his career. Marchi was stylistically identified with the Futurist movement.Sabatino, Michelangelo ...

Synopsis

During the 1940-1941

Italian invasion of Greece Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, an Italian pilot is shot down and captured by British forces who place him in a

prisoner-of-war camp A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured by a belligerent power in time of war. There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, and military prisons. ...

. While there he meets and falls in love with a young Italian woman who has volunteered to care for the prisoners. After escaping from the British, he manages to steal a plane and return to Italy for further duty. On his arrival he learns that Greece has been successfully conquered by the Axis Powers.

Cast

as Gino Rossati * Michela Belmonte as Anna *

as De Santis * Gaetano Masier as Trisotti *

Elvira Betrone Elvira Betrone (1881–1961) was an Italian actress of stage, film, radio and television.Cardullo p.114 Selected filmography * '' Teresa Venerdì'' (1941) * ''A Garibaldian in the Convent'' (1942) * ''A Pilot Returns'' (1942) * ''Disturbance'' (1 ...

as Signora Rossati *

Piero Palermini Piero Palermini (1925–1996) was an Italian film actor. He was cast by Riccardo Freda in the 1949 swashbuckler, possibly due to a physical resemblance to the Hollywood actor Gene Kelly. Freda would come to regret this casting although Palermini w ...

as English Official * Giovanni Valdambrini as medico * Nino Brondello as Vitali * Jole Tinta as madre

References

Bibliography

* Bondanella, Peter. ''The Films of Roberto Rossellini''. Cambridge University Press, 1993. * Haaland, Torunn. ''Italian Neorealist Cinema''. Edinburgh University Press, 2012.

External links

* 1942 films Italian war drama films Italian black-and-white films 1942 drama films 1940s war drama films 1940s Italian-language films Films directed by Roberto Rossellini Italian aviation films World War II films made in wartime Films set in Greece Greco-Italian War Films scored by Renzo Rossellini Italian World War II films 1940s Italian films {{1940s-Italy-film-stub