The Mysteries of Bucharest (Misterele Bucurestilor)

The Mysteries of Bucharest (Misterele Bucurestilor) Original Theatrical Poster Country Romania West Germany Directed by Doru Nastase Release Date 1983 Language Romanian Studio Casa de Filme 5 Main Cast Character Actor Margelatu Florin Piersic Hare Lip Szabolcs Cseh Lt. Delvos George Motoi Martac Ion Dichiseanu Elisafta Eniko Szilagyi The Witch/Agatha Slatineanu Marga Barbu Costache Sutu Teofil Valcu Prince Gheorghe Bibescu Ion Besoiu

The Mysteries of Bucharest (Misterele Bucurestilor) is a Romanian 1983 adventure movie directed by Doru Nastase and starring Florin Piersic as noble brigand Margelatu "The Yellow Rose". The plot is set in the Principality of Wallachia (modern Romania) before the Revolution of 1848 and directly follows the events of Trandafirul galben. Revolutionaries of the movement "Justice and Brotherhood" try to negotiate with Prince Gheorghe Bibescu and persuade him in reforms. Meanwhile a group of court noblemen plan to kill Prince and put one of the aristocratic conspirators on the throne. In order to hire a murderer, they contact with the mysterious woman known as The Witch, the queen of Bucharest criminals and beggars. Margelatu is involved in this events.

The movie is the third of the six about the adventures of Margelatu.

The following weapons were used in the film The Mysteries of Bucharest (Misterele Bucurestilor):

Handguns

Margelatu's Pepperbox

In all six movies Margelatu (Florin Piersic) carries his signature weapon, an eight-barrel pepperbox. The gun is a custom prop, generally resembling Lefaucheux and Francotte models but with separate barrels, like on Mariette Pepperbox.

For a trivia about the gun see the page for the second film.

In the opening scene Margelatu fires at soldiers who try to intercept the wagon train with guns.

He rotates the block of barrels to ready the pepperbox for the next shot.

Margelatu stops Hare Lip from killing the Prince.

A side view of the pepperbox in the same scene.

Margelatu on the barricades during the uprising in Bucharest.

Flintlock Pistol

When Martac (Ion Dichiseanu) meets with Margelatu (Florin Piersic), he asks his old friend if he is still a perfect shooter and hands his Flintlock Pistol to Margelatu. The pistol is most likely a mockup (or maybe is a broken piecen) as the flintlock lacks frizzen.

For comparison: Russian Cavalry Pistol M1809 - .70 cal

Martac draws a flintlock pistol.

He hands the pistol to Margelatu.

Margelatu takes the gun.

Shotguns

Single Barreled Shotgun (visually modified as Percussion Cap Pistol)

Percussion Cap Pistols are seen in hands of Hare Lip (Szabolcs Cseh), The Witch's chief henchman Mincioaga (Costel Constantin), Margelatu's old friend Martac (Ion Dichiseanu), a member of "Justice and Brotherhood" Lt. Delvos (George Motoi), army officers and criminals. Close-ups releal some pistols as visually modified Single Barreled Shotguns with exposed hammer; very possibly all pistols in the movie are such mockups.

An officer fires his pistol during the attempt to capture the wagon train, loaded with guns.

A criminal fires a pistol during the encounter on the mill.

The Witch's men hold pistols during the pursue after Margelatu and Martac.

Hare Lip prepares a one of his two pistol for the attempt of the Prince. A closeup reveals that this is a sawed-off, visually modified shotgun.

Hare Lip surrenders his pistols to Margelatu.

Delvos and Martac disarms conspirators.

Mincioaga carries a pistol.

Hare Lip on barricade.

Again a close view shows a hammer of a shotgun.

Izhmekh IZh-K (visually modified)

Full-stock Single Barreled Shotguns, visually modified by adding a long handguard and additional barrel bands, are used as substitution for muskets in various scenes. They aren't fitted with any kind of fake flintlock or percussion cap lock. The spur of the trigger guard and the groove on the stock, combined with the general shape, allow to make a decent guess that the shotguns are Izhmekh IZh-K (but there is a possibility that this is some other model, maybe of local Romanian production).

Izhmekh IZh-K - 16 Gauge

Oseaca (Mihai Mereuta) holds a visually modified shotgun during the confrontation with The Witch's men. The exposed hammer is seen.

He fires.

Aristide (Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan), Margelatu enemy of old days, holds a visually modified shotgun in the scene of the hunt. The spur on the trigger guard is seen.

Aristide holds a shotgun when he goes away from other hunters for a duel with Margelatu.

Aristide drops his gun when Margelatu wounds him in hand.

Margelatu (Florin Piersic) holds his shotgun. The groove on the stock is seen.

Aristide's stepfather boyar (nobleman) Costache Sutu (Teofil Valcu) picks up the shotgun.

A rebel holds a visually modified shotgun during the uprising in Bucharest.

A close view of a shotgun in hands of another rebel.

Double Barreled Shotgun

In the scene of the hunt several hunters, including Delvos (George Motoi), Rosetti (Ion Marinescu) and Margelatu (Florin Piersic), carry Double Barreled Shotguns. These are top-break models, uncommon for 1840s.

Charles Parker 1878 Side by Side Shotgun - 12 gauge. An example of double barreled shotgun with exposed hammers.

A hunter at the right carries a double barreled shotgun with exposed hammers.

Margelatu with a double barreled shotgun. Later in same scene he carries a single barreled shotgun.

It can be seen that the shotgun is a top-break model.

Master of the hunt carries a double barreled shotgun shotgun with exposed hammers under his arm.

Rosetti fires at a boar.

Delvos with a shotgun.

Rifles and Muskets

Mauser Gewehr 1871 (visually modified)

Most flintlock muskets, seen in the movie, turn out to be visually modified bolt action Mauser Gewehr 1871 rifles, with removed bolt handles and fitted with mockup flintlocks. During the uprising they are used by soldiers and rebels.

Mauser Gewehr 1871 - 11x60mmR

Oseaca (Mihai Mereuta) holds a visually modified rifle during the confrontation with The Witch's men. In next moment his gun switches to a single barreled shotgun.

A rebel at the foreground holds a fake flintlock musket.

A closeup of a fake flintlock musket.

A closeup of another fake flintlock musket.

Rebels fire at soldiers.

A soldier with a visually modified rifle on the wall.

A soldier fires a fake flintlock musket.

A soldier at the background escorts arrested Margelatu.

Percussion Cap Musket

Some rebels are armed with percussion cap muskets. They are seen too unclear for the identification. These guns may be genuine or visually modified bolt action rifles.

A percussion cap musket is seen at the background.

Flintlock Musket

Some flintlock muskets in hands of rebels seem to be genuine rather than visually modified rifles.

A man at the foreground holds a long flintlock musket. The lock looks more authentic that on visually modified rifles, and the sling is attached to the trigger guard that is correct for early-mid 19th century.

Trivia

Muzzleloading cannons are used by government troops against the rebels.