A dashing captain, a foreign prince, and seaplanes — 1938 French cinema said 'yes, this needs explosions.'
An officer saves the life of a foreign prince who is in France to buy seaplanes, while pursued by his enemies.
Practical Effects
Real seaplanes in flight — no CGI, just actual 1930s aviation risking actual pilots.
Costume
Mireille Balin's wardrobe alone justifies the restoration print.
Director
Maurice de Canonge
Jean Murat
Captain Benoît
Mireille Balin
Véra Agatcheff
Madeleine Robinson
Denise Benoît
Raymond Aimos
Vic, policeman
Jean Mercanton
Prince Joachim / Jean-Jacques de Landelle
Jean Témerson
Tripoff, tourist
Jean Brochard
Mercadier
Jean Daurand
Griffon
Hugues de Bagratide
Sultan
Marguerite de Morlaye
Nilda Duplessy
Pierre Magnier
Colonel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jean Murat was so typecast as heroic officers that he later became a genuine French Resistance officer — life imitating art imitating propaganda.
Maurice de Canonge directed this during the Popular Front era, when French cinema paradoxically celebrated military heroes while the left governed — the film's apolitical derring-do was itself a political choice.
FR
