Somewhere in France

Somewhere in France Film poster' Country United Kingdom Directed by Charles Frend Release Date 1942 Language English Studio Ealing Studios Distributor Ealing Studios, Main Cast Character Actor Fred Carrick Clifford Evans Anne Stafford Constance Cummings Tommy Hoskins Tommy Trinder Alastair 'Jock' MacFarlan Gordon Jackson

Somewhere in France AKA “’The Foreman went to France’” is a 1942 British film which follows the adventures of Fred Carrick (Clifford Evans) a munitions worker who travels to France during the German invasion of 1940 to retrieve vital industrial machinery before the Germans capture it. Fred is aided in his mission by Anne Stafford (Constance Cummings) and British soldiers Tommy Hoskins (comedian Tommy Trinder) and ‘Jock’ MacFarlan (Gordon Jackson, in his first film role). Together they must overcome official bureaucracy, fifth columnists and the German Army to reach safety. The film is based upon the true story of Welshman Melbourne Johns an aviation factory foreman.

The following weapons were used in the film Somewhere in France:

Handguns

Colt New Service

Several characters use Colt New Service revolvers.

Colt New Service - .45 Caliber

Fred with his Colt New Service.

Another view of Fred’s Colt New Service.

A fifth columnist aims his Colt New Service.

Webley Mk VI

Fifth columnists also use Webley Mk VI revolvers.

Webley Mk VI - .455 Webley

Tommy demonstrates his lightning reactions as he disarms a fith columnist with a Webley.

fifth columnist fires his Webley (this is a continuity error as seconds before he carried a Colt New Service).

Submachine Guns

M1921A Thompson

A M1921A Thompson is used by the fifth columnists, but is captured and used by both Tommy and Alastair. It is fitted with a 50-round drum magazine (The Weapon also carries a strange muzzle attachment, more on discussion page).

Colt M1921A Thompson - .45 ACP

Alastair using the Thompson.

Tommy with the Thompson.

Another view of Tommy with theThompson.

Rifles

Mauser Gewehr 1898

German soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

MAS-36

French soldiers carry MAS-36 rilfes.

MAS-36 7.5x54mm French

A good view of a French soldier firing his MAS-36 rifle.

The distinctive top of the MAS-36 is apparent in this picture.

SMLE No.1 Mk.III

SMLE No.1 Mk.IIIs are seen mounted on the truck, but are never used.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III*.

The two SMLE can be seen behind Fred.

Machine Guns

Bren Mk1

A Bren Mk1 is mounted on the British Army truck for air defence.

Bren Mk1 - .303 British

The Bren in action.

Another view of the Bren in action.

Detail of the rear of the Bren.

Trivia

Albion Lorry

The lorry that plays a central role in the film is an Albion BY3N.

The truck at the beginning of the adventure.

Bren gun carriers

Both the French and German tanks are mock-ups based on Bren gun carriers.

The frontal superstructure of the Bren gun carrier is evident in this picture.

Though indistinct it is evident from their shape and how they move that the ‘Panzers’ are Bren gun carriers.

Aircraft

Given when the film was made (1942), surprisingly accurate models of German aircraft are used.

A Messerschmitt Bf-109e.

A Junkers Ju87 Stuka.