The very first pictures remind us of Decoin's former glories as a fighter pilot from September 1917 onwards ; but it is brief ,for it's a comedy ,ponderous and derivative, and I can find little fault with the first reviewer's opinion .
Handsome Albert Préjean is cast against type as a bashful self-conscious guy whose work is to fill the planes tanks ;a thankless task ,for a man in love with a brilliant pilot (the film had a feminist side ,for this woman is a winner )this role was tailor made for Fernandel or Noel-Noel who would team up the following year in "Adémaï aviateur ",and who were genuine comic actors.
The fact that this man needs an "energy teacher" whose motto is "when there's a will,there's a way " is hard to swallow; besides, there's a dubious line in the teacher's encouragements :"you're my best student after Hitler".
I guess Decoin cast Préjean because he already knew him and because he was a singer : there're two or three ditties, including the peppy "Je suis quelqu'un "
Interesting for Decoin's fans ; but he was to make so many outstanding works that this one should be considered a footnote .
