un colpo di pistola (1942)

two officers of the russian guard are in love with the same girl, mascia. one, andrea, is shady and reserved, the other, sergio, is instead extrovert and likeable. having come to a fight, they fight a duel with a gun: sergio shoots first but does not hit his rival; andre, on the other hand, refuses to shoot, reserving the shot for another moment, the one in which life will seem more precious to the rival. after four years andrea returns to mascia to confess her love, but is shocked by the news that the girl has become engaged to sergio, her old rival. at this point andrea demands the gunshot in credit which is his due, awaits his rival in a duel but then repents and deserted the meeting place. just then mascia, struck by his generous gesture, realizes that she has loved nothing but him.