| L'Armata Azzurra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Gennaro Righelli |
| Written by | Aldo Vergano Tomaso Smith |
| Produced by | Giulio Lombardozzi |
| Starring | Alfredo Moretti Germana Paolieri Ennio Cerlesi Leda Gloria |
| Cinematography | Carlo Montuori Domenico Scala |
| Edited by | Ferdinando Maria Poggioli Giorgio Simonelli |
| Music by | Felice Montagnini |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Società Italiana Cines |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
L'Armata Azzurra (English:The Blue Army orThe Blue Fleet AKAThe Winged Armada andItaly Speaks) is a 1932 Italianaviationdocu-drama andadventure film directed byGennaro Righelli and starringGermana Paolieri andEnnio Cerlesi. It was Italy's firstaviation drama film, with a fictional story that celebrated theItalian Air Force.[1][N 1]
Commander Mario Spada (Alfredo Moretti) and Carlo BantiEnnio Cerlesi are pilots and best friends in theRegia Aeronautica Italiana (Italian Air Force). The air armadas that are flying on military exercises show off the air power of Italy.
The two friends find that their minds are not on flying, they have something that comes between them – a woman. Spada's sister, Elena (Germana Paolieri) is being pursued by Banti. Spada sees his friend as a womanizer and does not like the advances being made on his sister.
Banti attempts an altitude record in an aircraft prepared by Spada. When he crashes in the mountains, Spada doesn't hesitate in flying to his friend's rescue. Spada, motivated by his sister's anguish, and releasing she loves Banti, manages to bring him back to the base where he is warmly greeted by Elena.
L'Armata Azzurra is apropaganda effort, with obvious deference to theFascist government of Italy.[3] "Most of the aerial sequences were shot during the 1931 army manoeuvres and involved vast formations of aircraft. However, somewhat artificially, a narrative theme was introduced involving the friendship of two young pilots, a daring rescue and other melodramatic incidents."[4] Upon completion, the production was released in 1932 although some sources have a 1935 release date.[3]
Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo inAviation in the Cinema (1985) in his evaluation of the film, referred to the review fromThe New York Times, "... a motion picture record of Italy's 1932 naval and airplane manoeuvres followed by a series of Sicilian folk songs and dances ..."[5] Aviation film historian Michael Paris inFrom the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema (1995) considered "the expensive and prestigious production was made to promote Italian Air power."[4]