Go Tell the Spartans

Go Tell the Spartans Theatrical Movie Poster Country United States Directed by Ted Post Release Date 1978 Language English Distributor AVCO Embassy Pictures Main Cast Character Actor MAJ Asa Barker Burt Lancaster CPL Stephen Courcey Craig Wasson 1SG Oleonowski Jonathan Goldsmith CPT Alfred Olivetti Marc Singer

Go Tell the Spartans is a 1978 American Vietnam War film directed by Ted Post (Magnum Force) and stars Burt Lancaster, Craig Wasson, and Marc Singer. Set during the United States' early involvement in the conflict, the film features Lancaster as Asa Barker, a grizzled US Army Major in charge of a small group of US Army advisers and local militia who has to juggle unreasonable army orders with local politics. Given only a limited release in 1978, it was overshadowed by two other Vietnam War films released in the same year, The Deer Hunter and Coming Home.

The following weapons were used in the film Go Tell the Spartans:

Handguns

M1911A1

MAJ Barker (Burt Lancaster) and CPT Olivetti (Marc Singer) carry M1911A1s, but CPT Olivetti is the only one who draws his.

World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

CPT Olivetti defends his position with his M1911A1. Note the Military Assistance Advisory Group - Viet Nam patch on his shoulder.

Olivetti reloads his pistol.

Olivetti draws his pistol when Cowboy won't back off.

Colt Trooper Mk III

Cowboy (Evan C. Kim) is armed with a Colt Trooper Mk III that he keeps in a shoulder holster. Since this film is set in 1964, this is an anachronism, since the Mk III series wasn't produced until 1969.

Colt Trooper Mk III with 4" barrel - .357 Magnum

Cowboy with his Colt Trooper Mk III.

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

2LT Raymond Hamilton (Joe Unger) and some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with M1928A1 Thompson submachine guns.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

2LT Hamilton with his slung Thompson.

A South Vietnamese soldier with his Thompson.

A stolen Thompson found on the body of a dead woman.

M3 Grease Gun

MAJ Barker (Burt Lancaster) is armed with an M3 Grease Gun in the field.

M3 "Grease Gun" .45 ACP

MAJ Barker's Grease Gun behind him.

Barker opens up with his M3.

Shotguns

Winchester Model 1897

Some of the militia members are armed with Winchester Model 1897 field guns.

Winchester 1897 Field shotgun - 12 Gauge

Two militia members with their shotguns.

Double Barreled Shotgun

One of the militia members is armed with a Double Barreled Shotgun.

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 Gauge

The militia member on the right with his shotgun.

Unknown Pump Action shotgun

A militia member is armed with an unknown pump action shotgun. It's not clear enough to determine the type.

Rifles/Carbines

M1 Carbine

CPL Courcey (Craig Wasson), 1SG Oleonowski (Jonathan Goldsmith), CPT Olivetti (Marc Singer), Cowboy (Evan C. Kim), and various other advisors and their South Vietnamese allies are armed with M1 Carbines.

Post-war M1 Carbine with 30 round magazine and metal barrel shroud - .30 Carbine

1SG Oleonowski and Cowboy with their carbines. 2LT Hamilton is seen with his Thompson. (Note: 1SG Oleonowski is credited and referred to as SGT Oleonowski, but when he first appears in the film he wears the stripes of a First Sergeant.)

A shot of Cowboy's carbine. The magazines are taped "jungle-style."

Cowboy and CPL Courcey with their carbines.

Courcey with his carbine.

M1 Garand

Some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with M1 Garands.

M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06

A South Vietnamese soldier with his M1 Garand.

A South Vietnamese soldier scouts a position.

Gewehr 98

The Old Man (James Hong) is first armed with a Gewehr 98. He presumably loses it when he's wounded while with Courcey's ambush patrol.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Gewehr 1871/84

The Old Man is later armed with a Gewehr 1871/84.

Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 - 11.15x60mmR

A shot of the muzzle of the Gewehr 1871/84 as Courcey fires.

Mosin Nagant 91/30

In a continuity error, the Old Man is later seen with a Mosin Nagant 91/30.

Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R

M1903 Springfield

One of the militia members is armed with an M1903 Springfield rifle.

Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06

Other

Browning Automatic Rifle

Some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with Browning Automatic Rifles.

Early Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06

BAR gunners are called forward.

A BAR gunner as the South Vietnamese troops fall back.

Browning M1919A4

Browning M1919A4 machine guns are dropped in to help defend Muc Wa.

Browning M1919A4 - .30-06 Springfield

An M1919A4 on a freshly dropped pallet.

An M1919A4 opens up during the first attack.

Mk 2 Hand Grenade

The American advisors and their allies are armed with Mk 2 Hand Grenades.

Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

Courcey, a demolitions expert, shortens fuses on Mk 2 grenades for use as booby traps.

A cache of stolen grenades found on a dead woman.

M29 Mortar

The defenders at Muc Wa are armed with M29 Mortars.

A South Vietnamese mortar position.

Olivetti directs the fight from a mortar position.