Video id 11712

A patriotic film tinged with humor and sentimentalism. Stock footage (the crowded town, the departure of warships) and reconstructed war scenes in the desert are part of the second half about the war in Libya. The soldier Bidoni (P. Cuticca) is a mess-maker but has a great affection for Claretta (M. Tucci), the young daughter of the colonel, which she returns. At the beginning of the film he knocks over a pile of plates in the kitchen, but thanks to Claretta her father lightens the punishment. Later at the park with the young girl, Bidoni wants to buy her a balloon, but by accident he makes the balloon seller lose all the balloons: Claretta gives her pocket money to make up for the damage. The colonel leaves for the colonial war in Libya, taking Bidoni with him. Before their departure Claretta gives Bidoni a small medal and a letter in which she tells the soldier to protect her father from the violence of the "Turks". The troops leave in the midst of a joyous crowd, the warships reach Libya and they begin combat. The Italian army is winning, but the colonel is in danger. Against orders not to move from the encampment, Bidoni saves the colonel engaging in hand to hand combat with the enemy. He is awarded a medal for his performance. Upon returning home, Bidoni hugs Claretta and tells her that her medal is dearer to him than the one given to him by the army.

The struggle between the Italian and Turkish forces is still being carried on with no immediate signs of abatement, not withstanding the attitude of the world to arrange a settlement. As can readily be understood, a struggle of this kind is replete with incidents which make excellent plots for dramas such as On the Firing Line, and which are rendered still more interesting and realistic by the fact that many of the scenes in the film are actual happening, showing real soldiers in active warfare. The many battle scenes in the film are very thrilling indeed; the charges of the infantry and cavalry across the fields will bring people to their feet. Newspaper reports indicate that the war will last but about two months longer; but the fighting between armies of the two opposing countries as shown in the film does not lend much encouragement toward the belief that an amicable settlement will be reached soon.
“Motography”, n. 7, 1912.