The Daughter of the Regiment (1953 film)

The Daughter of the Regiment (Italian: La figlia del reggimento) is a 1953 Italian musical comedy film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and Tullio Scarella. It is based on the 1840 opera La fille du régiment by Gaetano Donizetti.

The film stars Italian soprano actress Carla Del Poggio as Maria, the titular daughter of the regiment, and features Carlo Campanini and Fiorella Mari as prominent supporting characters. The plot generally follows the opera's storyline, centering around Maria, a young woman raised by a French army regiment, who falls in love with a peasant. Her aristocratic origins, unknown to her, complicate the relationship as her relatives attempt to claim her and dictate her future. The film emphasizes comedic elements and features musical performances inspired by Donizetti's score. While retaining the core narrative, the film adaptation takes liberties with the operatic material, presenting the music in a more accessible and popular style for a broader audience.