Lyotchiki (Russian: Лётчики, romanizedLyotchiki: ) (aka Men on Wings and The Pilots) is a 1935 Soviet romantic drama film directed by Yuli Raizman and Grigori Levkoyev.[1] Maxim Gorky called him among the best Soviet filmmakers of that time.[2]

The Pilots
Russian: Лётчики
Directed by
Written byAleksandr Macheret
Starring
CinematographyLeonid Kosmatov
Music byNikolai Kryukov
Production
company
Distributed byMosfilm
Release dates
  • 24 April 1935 (1935-04-24) (Russia)
  • 10 May 1935 (1935-05-10) (USA)
Running time
80 min.
CountrySoviet Union
LanguageRussian

Plot

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School Commander Nikolai Rogachyov (Boris Shchukin) and famous aerobatic pilot, is in charge of a civilian flying school in Russia. Pilot Sergei Belyaev (Ivan Koval-Samborsky), showing recklessness trying to emulate the test pilot Valery Chkalov), crashes the aircraft assigned to him.

Student flight school Galya Bystrova (Yevgenia Melnikova), who likes Belyaev, unfortunately, seeks to imitate him in the air. Commander Rogachyov falls for young student pilot Gayla, but their difference in age prevents him from declaring his love.

Rogachyov teaches that discipline in the air is necessary to survive as a pilot. Finally, that message begins to make sense to Sergei and Gayla.

Cast

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Production

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Principal photography for Lyotchiki took place in 1935 on the outskirts of Voronezh, on the airfield (now Holzunov Street in the Northern residential area).[4][N 1]

Reception

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Under the title, The Pilots, Lyotchiki was released worldwide, while in the United States, it was re-titled Men on Wings. Aviation film historian James H, Farmer in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1984) described the film's "poor production values."[5] Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo in Aviation in the Cinema (1985) had a similar opinion, noting, "unexciting flying scenes."[6]

in the Soviet films of the time, Lyotchiki was considered a classic.[7]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lyotchiki was a "state-sponsored export" from the Soviet Union.[5]

Citations

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Bibliography

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  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
  • Kherson, Chrysanth. Boris Shchukin: The Path of the Actor. 1954.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
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