Heat

Heat Theatrical Release Poster Country United States Directed by Michael Mann Release Date 1995 Studio Regency Enterprises Distributor Warner Brothers Main Cast Character Actor Lt. Vincent Hanna Al Pacino Neil McCauley Robert De Niro Chris Val Kilmer

Heat is the 1995 crime drama directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino as a relentless LAPD detective who is determined to take down a high end robbery crew led by a master criminal (Robert De Niro). Notable for its detailed depiction of the techniques used by both law enforcement and criminal elements, the film was first made as the 1989 television movie L.A. Takedown. Heat also was reported to have been viewed repeatedly by the robbery duo involved in the infamous North Hollywood shootout (depicted in the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout).

The following weapons were used in the film Heat:

Handguns

Colt M1991A1 Series 80 Officers ACP

Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino)'s sidearm during the movie is an ivory gripped Colt M1991A1 Series 80 Colt Officers ACP model that he carries on his waist in a cross draw holster. Hanna's choice of sidearm might also be a nod to his service with the Marine Corps.

The actual Colt Officers ACP used by Al Pacino during the film (picture supplied by Yourprops.com) - .45 ACP

Hanna (Al Pacino) goes to pick up his Colt Officers ACP on the table. Note the screwdriver indent in the spring cover, which was one of the "improvements" made to the Series 80 1911s.

Hanna's Colt in a cross draw holster.

Hanna does a brass check on his gun while he and Casals are heading up the elevator to apprehend Hugh Benny. This particular way of doing a brass check was also done by James Caan in Michael Mann's Thief.

Hanna is armed with the Colt as he searches for McCauley at the airfield.

Hanna searches for McCauley.

Hanna scans his surroundings, seconds before he fires his Colt Officers ACP.

Heckler & Koch USP45

Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) can be seen carrying a Heckler & Koch USP chambered in .45 ACP (noted by longer grip and barrel) in the early scenes of the film. Note the checkered back of the grip and the shape of the external thumb safety and slide release, all uncommon to a SIG-Sauer P220. It is usually not seen clearly during the film, but the shape of the slide can easily be discerned during the shootout at the drive-in (when McCauley fires the gun through the window of his sedan at the shooter with the Steyr TMP). Neil then dumps his H&K USP45 for the SIG-Sauer P220, most likely to get rid of the evidence, since it was used during the drive-in theater shootout.

Heckler & Koch USP45 - .45 ACP

McCauley (Robert De Niro) searches for Waingro at the truck stop with his H&K USP in hand after the meeting at the café.

McCauley lays his H&K USP45 on a table in his seaside house

McCauley (Robert De Niro) fires his USP45 at van Zant's assassin through the windshield of his sedan. As many know, gunfire inside a small place such as a car is deafeningly loud.

SIG-Sauer P220

After dumping his H&K USP after the drive-in theater shootout, Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) replaces his USP with a SIG-Sauer P220 in .45 ACP as his sidearm for the rest of the movie. In the script it is also mentioned that he holds a .45 caliber pistol.

SIG-Sauer P220 1st Generation "American" model - .45 ACP

A promotional still depicting Robert De Niro holding the P220 during the showdown between McCauley and Hanna at the airport.

McCauley hides his SIG-Sauer P220 under his leg when Hanna pulls him over and approaches his car.

McCauley keeps his SIG-Sauer P220 tucked in his waist band during the bank heist.

McCauley holds his SIG-Sauer P220 on the dying Trejo.

At Trejo's request, McCauley puts him out of his misery with his SIG-Sauer P220.

McCauley kills Roger Van Zant (William Fichtner) by shooting him three times in the chest. You can clearly tell that the gun has malfunctioned. If you watch carefully, you can also see the wires running up William Fichtner's leg that trigger the bullet wound.

When it cuts back to McCauley, the gun is back in battery.

McCauley does a brass check on his P220 in the elevator on his way to kill Waingro. Quite dangerously, he puts his hand over the muzzle with his thumb inside the trigger guard when pushing the slide back. When he releases the slide, the sound of it closing is far too loud for such a short release.

"Look at me!" McCauley holds his P220 on Waingro.

McCauley executes Waingro with a double tap to the chest and a shot to the head (this is Michael Mann's trademark execution, also referred to as "The Mozambique Drill"; this M.O. also is used by Cheritto when he executes the third guard during the armored car robbery).

McCauley fires his P220 at Hanna in the air field. This particular blank produced a long after-fire flame. Damp powder, perhaps?

McCauley searches for Hanna at the airfield.

McCauley hides when the landing lights turn on.

A nice close-up of McCauley's P220.

Star Megastar

Waingro (Kevin Gage), the unstable newcomer to Neil McCauley's (Robert De Niro) crew, carries a blued Star Megastar during the armored car robbery. He uses this one to first pistol-whip and then execute the first guard by shooting him in the face at point-blank range. He also carries a nickel one when he answers the door at his hotel suite.

Star Megastar - .45 ACP

Waingro pistol-whips the first guard, unaware that he is deaf.

Waingro holds his gun on the guard.

Waingro executes the first guard with his Star Megastar by shooting him in the face at point-blank range. Although muzzle flash is visible, the hammer remains cocked, indicating that this is a non-gun, given that shooting blanks at point-blank range would be deadly for the guard.

Waingro answers the door armed with a nickel Star Megastar.

Smith & Wesson 6904

Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) is seen with a compact pistol in a holster next to him when McCauley walks in and sees him sleeping on the floor. He wakes up and then sticks the holstered gun in his pants. The closest gun it seems to resemble is a Smith & Wesson 6904 blued compact pistol.

Smith & Wesson 6904 - 9x19mm

Shiherlis sleeps with his possible Smith & Wesson 6904 near by. That bruise on Val Kilmer's left elbow is the result of a stunt that went wrong while filming The Doors.

Shiherlis gets up and sticks his 6904 in his pants.

Beretta 92FS

The LAPD patrol officers responding to the bank robbery return fire on Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and his crew with their standard issue Beretta 92FSs. Sgt. Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) uses one while pursuing Cheritto after he runs out of ammunition for his Mossberg 500 shotgun.

Beretta 92FS - 9x19mm

An LAPD patrolman opens fire with the Beretta, taking cover behind the Chevrolet Caprice police cruiser. The officer behind him is wielding a Mossberg 500.

An officer fires his Beretta 92FS at Cheritto.

After running out of ammo for his Mossberg, Sgt. Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) pursues Cheritto with his Beretta 92FS drawn.

Sgt. Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) with his Beretta 92FS in his holster.

M1911A1

One of the SWAT officers checking Shiherlis' car has an unknown M1911A1 pistol in his holster. Since Kimbers weren't issued yet to LAPD officers, it is doubtful it is a Kimber Custom II, the current sidearm of LAPD special weapons and tactical units.

Colt MKIV Series 70 M1911A1 - .45 ACP

An unknown M1911A1 is seen in an SWAT officer's holster.

Ruger KP90

Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) has a Ruger KP90 in a crossdraw holster on his tac vest during the armored car robbery. This is NOT the P90, as sometimes claimed, but the stainless KP90.

Ruger KP90 - .45 ACP

A Ruger KP90 can be seen on Cheritto's tac vest as he stands guard.

Glock 19

After McCauley executes Waingro, he leaves the room, and a detective working surveillance at the hotel draws a Glock 19 on him. McCauley backs the detective against the wall and then expertly subdues and disarms the man.

Glock 19 - 9x19mm

An LAPD detective aims his Glock 19 at McCauley.

The detective holds the Glock.

Taurus PT92

A stainless Taurus PT92 can be seen in the holster of the bank guard that McCauley kicks to the floor during the start of the bank robbery.

Taurus PT92AFS (Stainless) (Pre-1998) with slimline black factory grips - 9x19mm

A Taurus PT92AFS is seen in this security guard's holster at the beginning of the bank heist as McCauley binds his hands behind his back.

Smith & Wesson Model 36

When Hanna and his men visit Alan Marciano (Hank Azaria) in Las Vegas to question him about his relationship with Charlene Shiherlis (Ashley Judd), Det. Casals (Wes Studi) is seen in the background holding a nickel Smith & Wesson Model 36 snub nose revolver.

Smith & Wesson Model 36 (nickel) - .38 Special

Det. Casals in the background is holding a stainless steel Smith & Wesson Model 36.

Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard"

During the armored car robbery, as soon as Waingro uses his Star Megastar to execute the first guard, McCauley guns down the second guard (Thomas Rosales Jr.) as he tries to grab a Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard" from his ankle holster.

Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard" - .38 Special

The second guard tries to draw a Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard" before McCauley guns him down.

A crime scene technician picks up the Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard".

Submachine Guns & Machine Pistols

Heckler & Koch MP5A3

Heckler & Koch MP5A3s are seen held by an LAPD SWAT officer in a hiding position during the stakeout scene at the precious metals repository. It is also used by a surveillance team watching for Shiherlis and is used by the SWAT team that is sent to the hotel in the climax.

Heckler & Koch MP5A3 - 9x19mm

An SIS surveillance unit member hides in a trash bin with an H&K MP5A3.

An SWAT officer aims his H&K MP5A3 at Shiherlis' approaching car.

SWAT officers check Shiherlis' car, all armed with H&K MP5A3s.

After McCauley kills Waingro, SWAT officers climb the stairwells (because McCauley had pulled the fire alarm to disable the elevators) with H&K MP5A3s in hand.

Steyr TMP

The assassin sent to the drive-in theater (Max Daniels) to kill McCauley brings a Steyr TMP.

Steyr TMP - 9x19mm

The drive-in theater shooter firing his Steyr TMP at McCauley's car just before Shiherlis shoots him in the back, allowing McCauley to shoot him from in front, killing him. Notice how he pulls the sling forward to tighten it and steady his aim. This is a well known technique for firing stockless guns. The expression on his face comes from McCauley having pinned his leg between his car and the pickup truck he came in.

The shooter fires his Steyr TMP at McCauley.

Shotguns

Benelli M3 Super 90

After the assassin is gunned down at the drive-in-theater, the truck driver starts to drive towards the exit, but just as he reaches the gate, Cheritto steps out from behind cover and opens fire with a Benelli M3 Super 90 12 gauge shotgun.

Benelli M3 Super 90 with pistol grip stock - 12 Gauge

Cheritto with a Benelli M3 Super 90.

Cheritto fires a Benelli M3 Super 90 at close range, killing the driver.

Mossberg 590

Detective Casals (Wes Studi) brings a Mossberg 590 to breach the door of Hugh Benny's (Henry Rollins) apartment. Sergeant Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) appears to carry the exact same Mossberg 590 in the firefight outside the bank heist. Hanna later takes one from an officer towards the end of the film as he chases down McCauley on the tarmac.

Mossberg 590 with heat shield and bead sight - 12 Gauge

Sergeant Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) with a Mossberg 590. In the foreground is Detective Casals (Wes Studi) with an M16A1 (with M16A2 handguard).

Det. Casals (Wes Studi) with a Mossberg 590 in the elevator.

Note 590 style magazine tube cap.

Det. Casals (Wes Studi) loads some 12 gauge low brass slugs into his 590.

Hanna and Casals head to Hugh Benny's apartment, Casals holding a Mossberg 590. When he pumps it, it sounds empty.

Det. Casals (Wes Studi) blows out the hinges of Hugh Benny's door with the 590, which is extremely loud in such tight quarters.

Hanna (Al Pacino) takes a 590 from an officer before pursuing McCauley (Robert De Niro).

Hanna fires his acquired 590 at a fleeing McCauley.

Mossberg 500

Some of the LAPD officers are seen armed with Mossberg 500s during the bank robbery shootout.

Mossberg 500 - 12 Gauge

An officer takes cover from Shiherlis' barrage with a Mossberg 500 in hand.

An officer fires a Mossberg 500 at Cheritto.

Ithaca 37 "Stakeout"

An Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" short-barreled shotgun can be seen resting behind a security desk when McCauley goes to kill Waingro in the hotel.

Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" Parkerized finish with Synthetic forearm - 12 Gauge

A Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" shotgun appears to be lying behind the desk.

Remington 870

Some of the LAPD officers are seen armed with Remington 870s during the bank robbery shootout.

Remington 870 Police Magnum Riot Shotgun - 12 Gauge

Two LAPD officers fire their Remington 870s during the shootout.

An LAPD officer pursues McCauley and Shiherlis with a Remington 870 in hand.

Rifles & Carbines

Colt Model 654

During the armored car robbery, McCauley carries a Colt Model 654 carbine, a 14.5" barreled predecessor to the M4, with M16A1-style lightweight barrel and sights. He uses his to execute the second guard (the one who tries to draw the Smith & Wesson Model 38 Bodyguard in his ankle holster), who gets hit in his right arm, his shoulder and in his chest. Based on configuration it may be a 654 upper on a GAU-5A receiver (or possibly even an SP1 receiver with a drop-in autosear to allow it fire fully-automatic).

Colt Model 654 - Export version of the 653 with no forward assist - 5.56x45mm

McCauley holds his M654 while watching the street.

McCauley holds his Model 654.

"80 seconds left!" McCauley calls out to the others while holding his Colt Model 654. The Goodhew ambulance patches on his uniform establish that this is McCauley.

McCauley gives Cheritto a nod to give him approval to execute the third guard.

McCauley guns down the second guard

A view from over McCauley's shoulder after Cheritto executes the third guard. Because of the lighting from this angle, you can only see the bodies of the first and third guards. If you look to the left of Cheritto, however, you can make out the second guard's body.

Colt Model 733

During the armored car robbery, Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) uses a Colt M733 carbine as his weapon of choice. During the bank robbery, Shiherlis and McCauley both carry short barreled Colt Model 733 carbines. They are ultra-compact versions of the M16 rifle family with 11.5-inch barrels.

Trivia: Allegedly, footage of Shiherlis expertly reloading his rifle during the bank robbery shootout has been shown to American Special Forces trainees, with the message from their instructor, "This is how I want you to reload."

Colt Model 733 - 5.56x45mm

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) with an M733 during the armored car robbery. Shiherlis can be identified because he is wearing a black hockey mask, whereas all of the other men are wearing white hockey masks.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) holds his M733 after retrieving the bearer bonds from the back of the armored car.

McCauley with his M733 in the bank.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) fires his M733 at Det. Bosko, who is taken down with a bullet to the neck.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) fires his M733.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) readies his M733 in the car.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) fires his M733 through the windshield. With three men firing out of the car, everyone here would probably have suffered permanent hearing loss as the result of loud rifle reports.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) fires his M733 down Fifth Street.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) fires his M733.

Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) reloads his M733.

Shiherlis smacks the bolt release on his M733. The car license plate on the right, "2LUP382", is an in-joke: LUP is British Army (ex-SAS commandos were technical advisors for this film) terminology for lying up pposition. The 2LUP indicates that this is the second time during the shootout that Shiherlis has been in this position.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) lays down suppressing fire with his M733.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) fires his M733 on Fifth Street.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) fires his M733.

McCauley (Robert De Niro) fires his M733 at the police blockade.

McCauley drags the wounded Shiherlis through the parking lot while firing his M733 at Hanna. Despite firing it one-handed, McCauley manages to hit one of the officers with his bursts.

FN FNC-80

Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) pulls out an FN FNC-80 assault rifle during the shootout on Flower Street, and uses it to kill Cheritto when Cheritto - who is firing at Drucker and several other cops - grabs a little girl as a human shield. According to the on-set armorer, Hanna's rifle was a Select Fire FNC-80 assault rifle that was chopped down by the armorer to a Para length barrel, and an M16 style birdcage was attached. The FNC-80 was imported into the U.S. as a full automatic weapon and as a Semiautomatic Sporter rifle named the FNC 223 Sporter. Despite being a full auto weapon, Michael Mann instructed Al Pacino to fire only in semi-automatic mode, because Hanna and all of the other cops who were involved in the shootout would be concerned about the possibility of endangering bystanders.

FN FNC model - 5.56x45mm. This semi automatic imported rifle is marked (FN FNC CAL 223 REM SPORTER) on the receiver.

Al Pacino holds the FN FNC-80 in a promotional still.

Hanna (Al Pacino) fires his FN FNC-80 at Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) as he gets into the getaway car.

Hanna readies his FN FNC-80 as the shootout begins. Here we can see the shorter barrel and the M16 birdcage flash hider.

Hanna with his FNC-80.

Hanna reloads his FNC-80 and forgets there is a round in the chamber. Note live round ejecting in mid air.

Hanna fires his FNC-80 down Fifth Street.

Hanna takes aim with his FNC-80.

Hanna fires his FNC-80.

Hanna tries to lower civilians out of McCauley's firing area.

Hanna readies his FNC-80 to give Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) his 5.56mm present for the head when he trips and then grabs a little girl as a human shield.

Hanna aims his FNC-80 at Cheritto.

Confident in his aim, Hanna shoots Cheritto in the head. If you look very closely, at the very instant that Hanna fires, the shot switches to a slightly different angle. This was likely done to edit out a cycling malfunction.

FN FAL 50.61

During the armored car robbery, Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) uses a 20" barreled FN FAL 50.61 Paratrooper version with a side-folding stock. He uses his to execute the third guard with a double tap to the sternum and a third shot to the head. This is a military tactic known as the Mozambique Drill, and is a prominent feature in Michael Mann's movies (it appears twice in Heat - this incident, and then at the end, when McCauley executes Waingro in his hotel room).

FN FAL 50.61 Paratrooper rifle with folding stock and 21" barrel - 7.62x51mm

Cheritto stands guard with a FN FAL 50.61 rifle with a Para folding-stock - 7.62mm NATO

Cheritto advances on the last guard.

Cheritto shoots the third guard in the chest with his FN FAL 50.61 "Para".

He then steps forward and shoots the guard in the head at point-blank range.

Heckler & Koch HK91A2

Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) covers McCauley (Robert De Niro) at the drive-in theater with a Heckler & Koch HK91A2 fitted with a bipod, and manages to take out the Steyr TMP-wielding assassin with a shot to the back.

Heckler & Koch HK91A2 - 7.62x51mm NATO

"Behind you, on the right!" Shiherlis, in cover with his HK91A2, spots the assassin and alerts McCauley.

Shiherlis fires at the pickup truck.

Shiherlis gets a clean shot and fires his HK91A2 at the TMP-wielding thug.

IMI Galil ARM (5.56mm)

Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) uses an IMI Galil ARM Model 372 during the bank robbery and the shootout. While inside the bank, the stock is removed from the mounting bracket. However, it appears when he enters the car, an obvious continuity error. He gets separated from the rest of the crew during the gun battle but managed to wound one of Hanna's men, Detective Schwartz (Jerry Trimble) by shooting him in the shoulder by a transit bus. Oddly enough, Mann refers to the weapon as a 7.62mm in his audio commentary.

IMI Galil ARM - 5.56x45mm

Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) with an IMI Galil while inside the bank during the heist.

Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) right before the shootout.

Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) fires his IMI Galil through the windshield from the back seat.

Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) fires his IMI Galil during the bank heist shootout.

After the heist, Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) flees the scene, with his IMI Galil.

Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) flees with his IMI Galil in hand.

M16A1 (with M16A2 handguards)

Several M16A1 assault rifles feature prominently in the film, fitted with M16A2-style handguards and Rapidex type rear sight adjustment knobs. They are wielded by various L.A.P.D. officers, including Detective Casals (Wes Studi), Detective Bosko (Ted Levine) and Detective Schwartz (Jerry Trimble). Casals uses one to assist in disabling the Lincoln Town Car being used as a getaway vehicle, and also manages to shoot and wound Shiherlis during the shootout. According to the on set armorer, the director wanted the actors to fire in semi-automatic mode only. The reason given was that the police would be less interested in 'suppressing fire' and more interested in controlled shots given the proximity of so many innocent bystanders.

M16A1 - outfitted with A2 handguards (from the movie Heat) - 5.56x45mm

An LAPD officer (Steven Ford) hides in a truck during the stakeout with an M16A1 with A2 handguards slung over his back.

Det. Schwartz (Jerry Trimble) holds his M16A1 after the stakeout.

Detective Bosko (Ted Levine) exchanges fire with Shiherlis, but the more experienced Shiherlis kills Bosko with a shot to the neck. Here you can see the Rapidex rear sight adjustment knob.

Sergeant Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) with a Mossberg 590. In the foreground is Detective Casals (Wes Studi) with an M16A1 (with M16A2 handguard). This shot clearly shows the Rapidex rear sight adjustment knob.

Detective Casals readies his M16A1. This shot clearly shows the Rapidex rear sight adjustment knob.

Detective Casals (Wes Studi) fires his M16A1 during the firefight outside the bank heist.

Norinco Type 56-1

During the armored car robbery, Trejo (Danny Trejo) carries a Chinese Norinco Type 56-1 assault rifle.

Norinco Type 56-1 - 7.62x39mm

A closeup of Trejo's Norinco Type 56-1 as the call on the robbery goes out on the police scanner. The slanted AKM Style compensator is not standard on the military Type 56, however, manufacturers like Norinco and Poly Technologies added them on to their civilian rifles for export to the United States in the 1980s.

Trejo's Type 56-1 as seen while Trejo is deploying the spike strip.

Heckler & Koch SR9(T)

A police sniper of the surveillance team watches over McCauley with a Heckler & Koch SR9(T) sniper rifle. This same sniper is seen during the stakeout for Shiherlis with the rifle.

Heckler & Koch SR9(T) Sniper rifle - 7.62x51mm NATO

A sniper aims his SRC-9(T) at McCauley but is ordered not to fire.

A police sniper watches Shiherlis through the scope of his SR9(T).

Trivia

Alex Colville's Pacific (1967) that inspired the famous shot in Heat.

Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) looks out the window of his house.