The Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka)

The Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka) Original Theatrical Poster Country USSR Directed by Aleksey Batalov Iosif Shapiro Release Date 1966 Language Russian Studio Lenfilm Main Cast Character Actor Suok Lina Braknyte Tutti Pyotr Artemyev Tibul Aleksey Batalov Dr. Gaspar Arneri Valentin Nikulin Auntie Ganymede Rina Zelyonaya Prospero Roman Filippov First Fat Man Sergey Kulagin Second Fat Man Evgeniy Morgunov Third Fat Man Boris Khristoforov Gen. Karaska Pavel Luspekaev

The Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka) is a Soviet 1966 children's adventure film directed by Aleksey Batalov and Iosif Shapiro and based on the eponymous novel (1924) by Yuriy Olesha. The story is set in a fictional state, similar to mid-19th century Europe. The state is ruled by a trio of ruthless dictators - Three Fat Men. Twelve years old girl Suok, a circus dancer, participates in the struggle against the Three Fat Men.

The following weapons were used in the film The Three Fat Men (Tri tolstyaka):

Pistols

Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822

The leaders of the rebellion circus gymnast Tibul (Aleksey Batalov) and armorer Prospero (Roman Filippov), and government officers and soldiers, notably Gen. Karaska (Pavel Luspekaev) and Capt. Bonaventura (Boris Ardov), use French Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 Percussion Pistols (or very similar Model 1842). At least two slightly different props can be seen, reused in many scenes.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Chatellerault Model 1822 T Percussion Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

Chatellerault pistols are seen on Tibul's bundle of handguns.

Gen. Karaska holds a pistol in the scene in palace.

Capt. Bonaventura holds a pistol during the hunt for Tibul.

Bonaventura aims at Tibul who goes on a rope over a city square.

A General (Sergei Karnovich-Valua) holds two pistols during the panic in the palace of Three Fat Men. One of his pistols is slightly longer than another one.

A good view of Tibul's pistol.

A closeup of officer's pistol.

Dr. Gaspar Arneri (Valentin Nikulin) looks absently at the pistol, brought to him by his housekeeper Auntie Ganymede (Rina Zelyonaya).

Prospero amidst victorious rioters.

Percussion Dueling Pistol

Tibul (Aleksey Batalov) also uses a Percussion Dueling Pistol.

Percussion Cap Ardesa 1871 Dueling Pistol - .45 inch

Tibul holds a percussion dueling pistol during his escape.

Quadruple Tap-Action Flintlock Pistol

In one scene Gen. Karaska (Pavel Luspekaev) uses a Quadruple Tap-Action Flintlock Pistol, convereted to percussion. Same prop is carried by a courtier (Vladimir Kazarinov) of Three Fat Men. The pistol appears to be the same movie prop that was used is other Lenfilm productions, like Solomennaya shlyapka and in Ostrov sokrovishch.

Four Barrel Tap Action Flintlock Pistol, made circa the late 1700s to early 1800s - .40 caliber

A courtier carries a pocket pistol shoved into the vest.

Plainclothes Gen. Karaska holds a quadruple pocket pistol.

He aims at Suok on the rooftop...

...but he drops the pistol after Tibul's well-aimed shot.

Howdah Pistol

A kind of Howdah Pistol is used by Tibul (Aleksey Batalov) and one of his comraders-in-arms. Such features of this gun as the ramrod below the barrels and the carved handle allow to identify it as an original double barreled pistol, not a sawed-off shotgun that is often used as a screen substitution.

Alexander Henry Howdah - .577 pistol.

Soon after the opening of the movie, Tibul prepares to join the rioters and take a bundle of pistols. Double barreled Howhah pistol is seen at the left, a Webley flare pistol is in center, and a common percussion pistol at the right.

Howdah and Webley flare pistol at the left.

Howdah and Webley flare pistol at the left.

Tibul, disguised as a soldier, holds a double barreled pistol.

A rioter throws double barreled pistol to Tibul in another scene.

Tibul catches the pistol. The ramrod under the barrels can be seen.

A view of the muzzles.

Tibul fires at soldiers.

Percussion Cap Pistol

Some other Percussion Cap Pistols are seen throughout the movie.

A pistol is several times seen in hands of Tibul and also carried by several of his comrades. Possibly it is the same prop, used in Staraya, staraya skazka and some other Lenfilm productions.

Soon after the opening of the movie, Tibul prepares to join the rioters and take a bundle of pistols. Double barreled Howhah pistol is seen at the left, a Webley flare pistol is in center, and a common percussion pistol at the right.

Due to a continuity error, Tibul's (Aleksey Batalov) percussion dueling pistol (see above) switches to a different percussion pistol.

Tibul's comrade holds a pistol that appears to be the same prop that was hold by Tibul in earlier scene.

Another Tibul's comrade with same looking pistol.

The muzzle can be seen (at the right).

Tibul, disguised as a soldier, appears from the secret passage in the palace kitchen.

Same pistol is used by Tibul to fire at Gen. Karaska.

Another percussion cap pistol with longer barrel is seen in the scene in Three Fat Men's palace.

Another percussion cap pistol with longer barrel is hold by a manservant in oriental dress (at the right) in Three Fat Men's palace.

The Fat Man (Evgeniy Morgunov) grabs the pistol from the manservant during the panic.

Suok (Lina Braknyte) holds a percussion cap pistol in the scene in palace kitchen. This pistol seems to be the same gun, hold by manservent and Fat Man.

Several pistols are seen in Dr. Gaspar Arneri's house.

A percussion cap pistol in oriental style is seen on the wall in Dr. Arneri's house (the one on top). The large pistol in center appears to be a so-called "knee pistol" (see below), and a pistol on the bottom is flintlock (see below).

Percussion Pocket Pistol

Percussion Pocket Pistols are seen in Dr. Gaspar Arneri's apartments.

Percussion pocket pistol with octagonal steel barrel

Two percussion pocket pistols are seen on the wall (at the right).

Another view of two smaller pistols on the wall.

Flintlock Pistol

At least one Flintlock Pistol is seen in Dr. Gaspar Arneri's apartments.

Five pistols are seen on the wall. The one at the bottom is a flintlock

Tibul takes the flintlock pistol from the wall.

Tibul holds the flintlock pistol when he faces Gaspar Arneri.

The flintlock pistol is again seen on the wall (at the bottom).

Blunderbuss Pistol

A kind of blunderbuss pistol is seen on Tibul's bandle of handguns. It is hard to say if this gun is a mockup or is based on some real gun. This prop can be seen in several Lenfilm productions, such as Snezhnaya koroleva.

For comparison: Mid 17th century blunderbuss pistol

A kind of tromblon pistol is seen on Tibul's bandle of handguns (at the left).

Another view of troblon pistol (between two percussion cap pistols).

"Knee Flintlock Pistol"

A pistol with short buttstock is seen in Dr. Arneri's collection. Such guns, not large enough for even shortest of carbines, are sometimes referred as "Knee Pistols". It's seen unclear, but the the jaws with a screw allow to identiry it as a flintlock (the flint in the jaws is apsent). They were especially popular in Ottoman Empire, on Balkans and in North Africa. The gun seems to be the same prop, used in Snezhnaya koroleva.

Flintlock Knee Pistol, 17th century, Tunisia - 45mm (1.77 inch)

The pistol with small buttstock is on the wall (in center). Note the lack of the flint in the jaws).

Webley & Scott No. 1 Mk. III* Signal Pistol

A Webley & Scott No. 1 Mk. III* Signal Pistol is seen in several scenes. This gun is also used in several Lenfilm productions, standing for large caliber muzzleloading pistol of 19th century.

Webley & Scott No. 1 Mk. III* Signal Pistol - 1 inch - brass frame and barrel

Soon after the opening of the movie, Tibul prepares to join the rioters and take a bundle of pistols. Double barreled Howhah pistol is seen at the left, a Webley flare pistol is in center, and a common percussion pistol at the right.

Howdah and Webley flare pistol at the left.

Howdah and Webley flare pistol at the left.

A rioter at the left fires a Webley flare pistol in air, to distract attention of Capt. Bonaventura and his soldiers from disguised Tibul.

A rioter, disguised as a soldier, appears from the secret passage, holding a Webley flare pistol.

Muskets

Infantry Musket M1845

Soldiers and rioters are armed with muskets. Those that are seen clear enough for identification appear to be Russian percussion cap Infantry Musket M1845.

Russian percussion cap musket M1845 - .70

Soldiers with muskets. The guns are fitted with spike bayonets.

A soldier on watch holds a musket with spike bayonet.

The barrel is seen.

Rioters with muskets.

Soldiers with muskets.

A closer view of a musket.

A soldier with a musket. This is a shorter gun, possibly a Dragoon musket.

A close view of a barrel of a musket.

Other Weapons

Field Cannons

Government troops and rebels use Napoleonic era style cannons. They appear to be replicas rather than original weapons, but look authentic enough.

French Gribeauval 12-Pounder Cannon. An example of Napoleonic era style field cannons.

Rioters fire a cannon.

Soldiers place a cannon in palace room.

Cannons on palace walls.

When "firing", cannons are motionless.