| Paratrooper (The Red Beret)
|
|
US Theatrical Release Poster
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| Country
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 UK
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| Directed by
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Terence Young
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| Release Date
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1953
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| Studio
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Warwick Films
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| Distributor
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Columbia Pictures
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|
|
Paratrooper (original UK title The Red Beret) is a 1953 British war movie directed by Terence Young.
The following weapons are seen in the movie Paratrooper:
Handguns
Colt Police Positive
A Colt Police Positive revolver is seen in hands of a British paratrooper during the fighting in North Africa.
Colt Police Positive with 4" Barrel - .38 Sp
A paratrooper finds a German land mine.
Submachine Guns
Sten
Sten submachine guns are used by most British paratroopers. Several modifications of Sten can be seen in the movie.
Sten Mk I*
Major John Snow (
Leo Genn) holds a Sten Mk. I.
A paratrooper at the right is armed with a Sten Mk. I.
Major Snow and another officer with Sten Mk. I.
Major Snow fires Sten Mk. I.
A paratrooper with Sten Mk. I throws a grenade.
German soldiers fire
MP40, Sten Mk I and
Sten Mk II. The soldiers holds Stens turned to the side, maybe to imitate MP40s.
Sten Mk II
Sten Mk II is the most widely used model of Sten. They are also seen in hands of German soldiers which can be explained by the shortage of MP40s.
Major John Snow (
Leo Genn) holds a Sten Mk. II.
Like in
The Guns of Navarone, the Stens are fitted with gaslight devices to represent the muzzle flashes.
Major Snow with Sten Mk.II.
Regimental Sergeant Major with Sten Mk. II.
Steve MacKendrick (
Alan Ladd) with Sten Mk. II.
German soldiers fire
MP40,
Sten Mk I* and Sten Mk II. The soldiers holds Stens turned to the side, maybe to imitate MP40s.
Sten Mk V
Sten Mk Vs are also used by paratroopers although less frequently than Mk Is and Mk IIs.
A paratrooper with Sten Mk. V. The gun lacks the foregrip, like in
Where Eagles Dare.
The barrel of Mk. V is seen at the foreground.
M1921 Thompson
During the action in North Africa several paratroopers carry Thompson Submachine Guns.
Colt M1921A Thompson with 20-round magazine - .45 ACP
A paratrooper in the middle holds a Thompson. It has a front grip and lacks Cutts compensators so it is most likely an
M1921.
M1928A1 Thompson
During the action in North Africa several paratroopers carry Thompson Submachine Guns.
M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP. This specimen has the sling swivel relocated to the top of the stock, a modification often made to Thompsons in British service.
A paratrooper at the left carries a Thompson that mostly resemble an
M1928A1.
MP40
Many German soldiers carry MP40 SMGs.
MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm
A German soldier fires his MP40.
Another German soldier with MP40.
German soldiers fire MP40,
Sten Mk I* and
Sten Mk II. The soldiers holds Stens turned to the side, maybe to imitate MP40s.
German soldiers with MP40. One of them has a holster at his belt but no part of his sidearm is seen.
Rifles
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield
Many paratroopers are armed with SMLE rifles. Both No.1 Mk.III and No.4 Mk.I can be seen. German soldiers also carry SMLE rifles. This is not completly incorrect: a lot of British firearms were captured at Dunkirk and used by Wehrmacht to arm the units on Atlantic Wall.
Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British
Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I - .303 British
Evans holds the rifle in the same scene.
Steve MacKendrick (
Alan Ladd]) holds the rifle in the same scene.
German soldiers with No.4 Mk.I rifles. These rifle were designated as Gewehr 283(e) in Wehrmacht.
Another view at the same scene.
A paratrooper with No.1 Mk.III rifle.
A barrel of No.4 Mk.I is seen.
Paratroopers takes their No.4 Mk.I rifles after the landing.
Paratroopers fire their
Brens and SMLE No.4 Mk.I at the advancing German infantry.
A close view at the barrel of No.4 Mk.I.
Karabiner 98k
German soldiers are seen with Karabiner 98k rifles.
Karabiner 98k "Kriegsmodell" - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A paratrooper with captured German Mauser rifle.
German soldiers with Mauser rifles are under the fire of British
Brens.
Regimental Sergeant Major (
Harry Andrews) uses the buttstock of a captured Mauser rifle in melee.
A German sentry with a Mauser rifle.
A German soldier runs with a Mauser rifle in hand.
A German soldier fires his rifle. Next to him another soldier produces motions of throwing a hand grenade though the grenade itself doesn't appear.
Machine Guns
Bren
British paratroopers use Bren machine guns during the action in North Africa.
A paratrooper carries a Bern during the evacuation after the raid on the German radar station in France.
Paratroopers fire their Brens and
SMLE No.4 Mk.I rifles at the advancing German infantry.
Another view at the Brens.
Besa
A Besa machine gun is seen mounted on a Daimler Armoured Car.
British Besa tank machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A Daimler Armoured Car at the background is armed with a 40-mm Ordnance QF 2 pounder gun and a Besa machine gun. Smoke grenade launchers are seen on the board of the turret.
Vickers
A Vickers machine gun is briefly seen during the action in North Africa.
Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket - .303 British
A Vickers machine gun is pulled out of the container.
MG34
An MG34 is briefly seen in one scene.
MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser
An MG34 is seen at the background.
40-mm Bofors
Bofors 40mm AA automatic guns are mounted on the Royal Navy cruiser.
Bofors 40mm L/60 twin mounting - 40x311mmR
Other Weapons
No.1 Mk. V Flare Pistol
A No.1 Mk. V Flare Pistol is used by Major Snow (Leo Genn) during the raid on the German radar station in France.
Regimental Sergeant Major (
Harry Andrews) hands the flare pistol to Major Snow.
The shape of the grip can be seen.
Major Snow fires flare pistol.
Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar
British Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar stands for German Granatwerfer 34 Mortar. It can be identified due to the unique shape of the No6 base plate.
Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar Mk II - 3.20 in
A soldier carries a base plate. Its shape allows to identify the mortar.
German soldiers fire the mortar during the night battle.
Loading of the mortar during the battle on the French coast.
The mortar in the battle in North Africa. At the background a British paratrooper throws a grenade at German mortar crew.
A close view at the muzzle.
Hand Grenades
In several scenes paratroopers throw hand grenades but the grenades themselves are not seen, only explosions.
A blurry view at a grenade in hand of a paratrooper.
Panzerschreck
In the final scene paratroopers use a Panzerschreck. They find this weapon in German stores but call it a bazooka.
RPzB 43 "Panzershreck" - 88mm
Steve MacKendrick (
Alan Ladd]) holds the Panzerschreck.
A paratrooper carries rockets for Panzerschreck.
Loading the Panzerschreck.
Another view at the weapon.
Smoke Land Mines
Smoke land mines are used to imitate German mine field during the action in North Africa.
Trivia
Armoured Cars
A British Humber appears as a German armoured car.
The Humber is armed with a 37-mm gun M6 and a
Besa machine gun (which is absent on this particular vehicle).
The barrel of the 37-mm gun M6, covered with camouflage wrapping, is seen behind the German officer (Guido Lorraine).
A Daimler Armoured Car at the background is armed with a 40-mm Ordnance QF 2 pounder gun and a Besa machine gun. Smoke grenade launchers are seen on the board of the turret.
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