The Blue Squadron (1934 film)
Encyclopedia
The Blue Squadron is a 1934 Anglo-Italian aviation drama film directed by George King
and starring Esmond Knight
and John Stuart
. The film was a co-production between Britain's Twickenham Studios (the UK arm of Warner Brothers
) and Italy's
Pittaluga studios. Although made under quota quickie conditions, the film seems to have enjoyed a rather more generous budget than was the norm with such productions and was able to include convincing location shots in the snowy Italian mountains.
The film deals with two young officers in the Italian Royal Air Force
(Knight and Stuart) competing for the hand of the attractive Elena (Greta Hansen) and finding their comradeship under strain as a result. Both try to impress her with daredevil aviation stunts which become increasingly reckless as they try to outdo each other in bravery. Finally, Knight goes too far and crashes his plane on a mountainside. Putting rivalry aside, Stuart courageously risks his own life to save his injured colleague and both realise that their friendship is more important than silly squabbling over a woman. They decide to let Elena make her own choice.
The Blue Squadron is classed by the British Film Institute
as a lost film
.
George King (film director)
George King was an English actors' agent, film director, producer and screenplay writer. He helmed several of Tod Slaughter's melodramas, including 1936's The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.-Career:...
and starring Esmond Knight
Esmond Knight
Esmond Penington Knight was an English actor.He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind...
and John Stuart
John Stuart (actor)
John Stuart, born John Alfred Louden Croall , was a Scottish actor, and a very popular leading man in British silent films in the 1920s. He appeared in two films directed by Alfred Hitchcock....
. The film was a co-production between Britain's Twickenham Studios (the UK arm of Warner Brothers
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
) and Italy's
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
Pittaluga studios. Although made under quota quickie conditions, the film seems to have enjoyed a rather more generous budget than was the norm with such productions and was able to include convincing location shots in the snowy Italian mountains.
The film deals with two young officers in the Italian Royal Air Force
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(Knight and Stuart) competing for the hand of the attractive Elena (Greta Hansen) and finding their comradeship under strain as a result. Both try to impress her with daredevil aviation stunts which become increasingly reckless as they try to outdo each other in bravery. Finally, Knight goes too far and crashes his plane on a mountainside. Putting rivalry aside, Stuart courageously risks his own life to save his injured colleague and both realise that their friendship is more important than silly squabbling over a woman. They decide to let Elena make her own choice.
The Blue Squadron is classed by the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
as a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Cast
- Esmond KnightEsmond KnightEsmond Penington Knight was an English actor.He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind...
as Captain Carlo Banti - John StuartJohn Stuart (actor)John Stuart, born John Alfred Louden Croall , was a Scottish actor, and a very popular leading man in British silent films in the 1920s. He appeared in two films directed by Alfred Hitchcock....
as Colonel Mario Spada - Greta Hansen as Elena
- Cecil ParkerCecil ParkerCecil Parker was an English character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice, who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969....
as Bianchi - Ralph ReaderRalph ReaderWilliam Henry Ralph Reader CBE , known as Ralph Reader, was a British actor, theatrical producer and songwriter, best known for staging the original Gang Show, a variety entertainment presented by members of the Scouting Movement.Reader was born in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, the son of a...
as Verdi
External links
- The Blue Squadron at BFI Film & TV Database