The Prisoner of Castle If
(Uznik zamka If)
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Original Russian Poster
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| Country
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 USSR
 France
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| Directed by
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Georgi Yungvald-Khilkevich
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| Release Date
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1988
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| Language
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Russian
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| Studio
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Odessa Film Studios
Intra Media
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The Prisoner of Castle If (Uznik zamka If) is a 1988 Soviet-French three-part screen adaptation of the famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, directed by Georgi Yungvald-Khilkevich and starring Viktor Avilov.
The following weapons were used in the film The Prisoner of Castle If (Uznik zamka If):
Handguns
Percussion Cap Pistol
In one scene Count de Monte-Cristo (Viktor Avilov) hands a Percussion Cap Pistol to his manservant Li (Vyacheslav Tsoy). Another percussion cap pistol, of a different model, is seen in hands of Morrel (Igor Bogodukh) when he faces bankruptcy and plans to commit suicide. Both pistols turn out to be converted from flintlock to percussion cap lock. Supposedly same props reused are seen in some other scenes.
For reference: Italian (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) Percussion cap pistol, converted from flintlock, circa mid-19th century - .69 caliber (17.7mm)
One of Luigi Vampa's bandits holds a pistol during the kidnapping of Albert de Morcerf.
Count de Monte-Cristo hands a percussion cap pistol to Li.
A better view of the lock.
One of Vampa's bandits holds a pistol during the kidnapping of Danglars.
During the preparation for the duel between Count de Monte-Cristo and Albert de Morcerf, Albert's second Beauchamp (
Nikolay Kochegarov) examines one of the pair of pistols. Another pistol is seen in the box in hands of Maximilien Morrel (
Peteris Gaudins).
Count de Morcerf's trusted person (uncredited) holds a pistol during the assassination attempt on Count de Monte-Cristo.
Close-ups of the pistol. Note the folding safety arc, common for French Chatellerault pistols, converted in 1830s-1840s from Napoleonic era flintlocks.
Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 Percussion Cap Pistol
What appears to be a Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 percussion cap pistol is seen in hands of Count Fernan de Morcerf (Mikhail Boyarskiy).
Chatellerault Model 1822 T Percussion Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal
A view of the pistol from the muzzle. The lock is percussion cap.
Unidentified pistols
More antique pistols are seen in various scenes, mostly in darkness. It's hard to say if these are flintlock or percussion cap pistols, or maybe visually modified sawed-off shotguns.
One of Luigi Vampa's bandits holds a pistol during the kidnapping of Albert de Morcerf. The shape of the grip resembles dueling pistols.
Another view of the same pistol. The lock is seen only marginally
Another bandit holds a double barreled pistol.
A pistol is seen in hands of Benedetto (
Igor Sklyar), disguised as a young woman.
Benedetto fires a double barreled pistol. The pistol produces only faint smoke from the muzzle.
The grip of Bertuccio's pistol is seen.
Benedetto obtains Bertuccio's pistol.
Unidentified pepperbox
Danglars (Aleksey Zharkov) holds a pepperbox revolver of unknown model (possibly a Lefaucheux Pepperbox) when he is kidnapped by Luigi Vampa's gang.
Danglars draws his pepperbox.
Luigi Vampa (
Evgeniy Platokhin) takes away the pepperbox from Danglars. This is a 6-barrel model.
The gun in hands of Vampa. Note the fluted cylinder and the large nut of the fixing screw, a feauture that can be seen on some models of
Lefaucheux Pepperbox.
Long Guns
Mosin Nagant Rifle (visually modified)
Muskets, seen in hands of French soldiers and gendarmes, turn out to be visually modified Mosin Nagant Rifles. The rifles are fitted with barrel bands, sling swivels and prop bayonets stylised after 19th century muskets. The magazines are removed from the rifles but bolt handles are mostly remain intact. Only several of these props are fitted with mockup locks that aren't seen clear enough to say if they represent flintlocks or percussion cap locks.
Mosin Nagant M1891/30 - 7.62x54mm R
For reference: St.Etienne Mle 1842 Percussion Cap Musket - .69
Gendarmes hold "muskets" during the arrest of Edmond Dantès. The rifle at the left has removed magazine, intact bolt handle and the rifle sling attached to the trigger guard, as it was common on 19th century muskets. The top barrel band and the bayonet are seen on another fake musket (at the foreground).
One of the "muskets" is fitted with a kind of a mockup lock that looks more like a percussion cap one.
Soldiers on march. Bolt handles are seen on some rifles.
One of the "muskets" is fitted with a mockup lock.
One of the long guns, seen in the hideout of Luigi Vampa's gang in Rome, is a same musket.
Two gendarmes carry mockup muskets in the scene at Morrel's house in Marseille. The receivers seem to be rounded so the base rifles are M91/30 rather than original M91.
Unidentified long guns
Various long guns are briefly seen in several scenes.
In the scene on the island of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantès (
Viktor Avilov) carries a single barreled shotgun or a hunting musket. The shape of the buttstock is common for 19th century hunting guns.
Several long guns are seen in the hideout of Luigi Vampa's gang in Rome.
Benedetto (
Igor Sklyar) cleans a long gun in the same scene. One more long gun leans against the wall at the right.
Another view of the same scene.
One of Vampa's bandits holds a long gun during the kidnapping of Danglars. Judging by the shape of the buttstock, this is most likely the same gun that Dantès carries on the island. The gun has an exposed lock but it's hard to say if this is a muzzleloading gun or a modern break action shotgun.
Another view of the same gun.
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