The extraction process on a Carcano is an entirely human-powered operation. As such, the vigor with which the cartridge is ejected is completely controlled by the hand pulling on the bolt. Pull hard, the case hits the ejector hard and gets flung out fast and far. Pull slow, and the case doesn't get much of a fling. Pull slowly enough, and the ejector will have little noticeable effect. You can even stop pulling the bolt before the case even hits the ejector at the end of the bolt's travel, and the case might just be liable to fall out of the extraction claw on its own if you hold it right. In short, the cartridge just falling is no indication whether the rifle had been fired or not.
I agree with you Mitch...EXCEPT.....the film does NOT show Captain Fritz
slowly pulling the bolt handle back....
Fritz appears to be completely unaware that the cartridge could be flung up and away from the rifle ...and it does not require a hard rapid pull of the bolt to fling the cartridge out and away. The manner in which Fritz opened the bolt would have caused the live round to have been flipped out and away...It would not have simply dropped out and fell at his feet.
Thank you for the intelligent response....