Operation Caviar

Operation Caviar Es muß nicht immer Kaviar sein C'est pas toujours du caviar Movie Poster Country France West Germany Directed by Géza von Radványi Release Date October 18, 1961 Language English French German Studio Central Cinema Company Film (CCC) Comptoir d'Expansion Cinématographique Distributor Europa-Filmverleih AG Main Cast Character Actor Thomas Lieven O. W. Fischer Chantal Senta Berger Siméon Jean Richard Loos Viktor de Kowa Bastian Peter Carsten Feldwebel Zumbusch Werner Peters

Operation Caviar (alternative title: It doesn't always have to be caviar) is a 1961 German-French adaptation of the novel of the same name by Johannes Mario Simmel. Thomas Lieven, a dutiful employee of a London bank, would have preferred to pursue his passion as a hobby cook at home, rather than bringing seemingly harmless bank documents to Berlin on behalf of his boss. When they arrived in Germany, the completely puzzled Thomas was forced to cooperate by the counterintelligence agency and the Gestapo and sent to Paris with a fake passport. In London, Secret Service agents are already waiting for the supposed French double agent.

The following weapons were used in the film Operation Caviar:

Pistols

Luger P08

Vera (Eva Bartok) owns a Luger P08 which she gives to Thomas Lieven (O. W. Fischer).

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Vera offers Thomas the Luger.

The Luger in Thomas' hand. The grip is perfectly seen.

Dreyse M1907

A Dreyse Model 1907 is used by Chantal (Senta Berger) to threaten Thomas who manages to take it from her.

Dreyse Modell 1907 - 7.65mm Browning

Chantal confronts Thomas with her Dreyse.

Rear view of her pistol.

Thomas gives rise to shoot him.

After disarming Chantal, Thomas is now in control of the Dreyse.

Mauser Pocket Pistol

Siméon (Jean Richard) is very briefly seen with a Mauser Pocket Pistol during the encounter with a German column.

Mauser Taschenpistole Modell 1934 - 7.65x17mmSR; for comparison

Siméon holds the Mauser pistol to oppose the soldiers.

Submachine Guns

MP40

Some German soldiers are armed with MP40s.

Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm

A German Leutnant with his MP asking the group where they want to go.

An MP40 hanging next to Chantal.

Rifles

Frühwirth Model 1872

Most German soldiers can be seen wielding rare Austrian Gendarmerie-Repetiergewehr System Frühwirth M1872 Carbines instead of accurate Karabiner 98ks. These rifles have Mannlicher M1890 Carbine style barrels with the rear part of Kropatschek Rifles.

Frühwirth M1872 Gendarmerie Carbine - 11.15x36Rmm

The soldier on the left points his carbine at Thomas. Note the typical Steyr striker and turned bolt handle with the Kropatschek receiver.

A closer look of the barrel of the same carbine shows the sling slot.

Two soldiers guarding unimpressed Bastian (Peter Carsten) with the carbines.

Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine

A Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine is held by one German soldier.

Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine with folded bayonet - 6.5x52mm

O. W. Fischer facing the German soldiers on a promotional picture. Note the lack of the folding bayonet.

The soldier holding the Carcano can be seen in the background on the left.

Vetterli Model 1870/87/15

Another German is seen with what appears to be a Vetterli Model 1870/87/15 rifle.

Vetterli Model 1870/87/15 - 6.5x52mm

A blurred view on the left shows, nevertheless, the bolt action mechanism, trigger guard, and the upper front barrel band as the soldier walks by Feldwebel (Sergeant) Zumbusch (Werner Peters).

Unknown Rifles

Several German soldiers can also be seen with unknown rifles.

The soldier struggling with Bastian on the right with a rifle over his back.

A slightly different view.

The same rifle seen on the left and two soldiers on the right with short Mauser rifles.

Another short Mauser rifle carried by the soldier on the right.

A percussion lock (?) rifle on the right.

Other

MG34

An MG34 is mounted on a Volkswagen Type 166 Schwimmwagen car.

MG34 with 50 round belt drum - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Cannon