| Breakthrough
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|
Movie Poster
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| Country
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 United States
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| Directed by
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Lewis Seiler
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| Release Date
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November 17, 1950
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| Language
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English
French
German
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| Studio
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Warner Bros.
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| Distributor
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Warner Bros. Pictures
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|
|
Breakthrough is a 1950 American movie directed by Lewis Seiler that focuses on a platoon of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. It follows the events from the commanding officer Capt. Tom Hale, the newly Lt. Joe Mallory, and the battle battleharded Sgt. Pete Bell from pre-D-Day invasion training to the Battle of Saint-Lô.
The following weapons were used in the film Breakthrough:
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
Sgt. Pete Bell (Frank Lovejoy), Pvt. Jimbo Hollis (Matt Willis) and some U.S. soldiers are armed with M1928A1 Thompsons.
M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP.
Sgt. Pete Bell tosses away his Thompsons to use Mallory's M1 Carbine.
The Thompson of Pvt. Jimbo Hollis on the right.
Jimbo fires his SMG at a German soldier who tries to kill Sgt. Bell.
A U.S. soldier gives a signal to move forward. Note the extended magazine.
MP40
Some German soldiers and a female French collaborator (Janet Barrett) can be seen using MP40s.
Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm
A German soldier engages Yanks from his trench. Note the inaccurate representation of WWII German uniforms: All
Landsers wear WWI-era
Stahlhelm M16s (this model saw very limited use during WWII) with the eagle insignia, which was already in 1943 removed for camouflage purposes. They have should be worn an M35 (at least), M40 or M42.
The same soldier emerges to shoot Sgt. Bell. The uniform top is a mix from the 1920s
Reichswehr with the
Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) of the Third Reich.
The MP40's muzzle of the sniper.
Capt. Hale sees the sniper through a floorboard slot.
Two German soldiers crawling with their MP40s during a counterattack.
Rifles
M1 Carbine
M1 Carbines with and without late WWII bayonet lugs, are also used by U.S. soldiers including Lt. Joe Mallory (John Agar) Cpl. Danny Dominick (William Campbell), Capt. Tom Hale (David Brian), 2nd Lt. Johnson (uncredited)
World War II Era M1 Carbine
Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine.
Lt. Mallory attaches a launcher with a red flare on his M1 Carbine before the training. The bayonet lug is visible.
Sgt. Bell takes over Mallory's role and fires the red flare to the cease-fire.
A general view of Mallory's carbine with the launcher handed over by Bell.
Capt. Tom Hale with his slung carbine on board the cargo ship.
Close-up of the muzzle with the front sight.
A view of the rear parts.
Lt. Mallory gives orders while wielding his M1 Carbine.
The M1 Carbine of Lt. Johnson doesn't have a bayonet lug.
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand is carried by Pvt. Sammy Hansen (Dick Wesson), Sgt. Pete Bell, Pvt. Edward P. Rojeck (Paul Picerni), Pvt. 'Four-Eff' Nelson (Richard Monahan), Sgt. Roy Henderson (Edward Norris), throughout the film. At the end, Sgt. Pete Bell is briefly seen carrying a Garand over his back.
M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle - .30-06
Soldiers around Lt. Mallory firing their M1 Garand during the training.
Pvt. Nelson and Pvt. Hollis talking about what to do with a then captured
Luger. Nelson's Garand is seen in the foreground.
U.S. soldiers with their Garands on the beaches of Normandy.
Sgt. Henderson orders Pvt. Frank Finley and Cpl. Danny Dominick to follow him.
Two GIs empty their Garands at the sniper's position.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
Instead of the short Karabiner 98k, the longer predecessors, the Gewehr 1898 is the main battle rife of German troops. A French civilian is also be seen with a Gew. 98 when he reached the sniper's position.
Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Many German soldiers in a trench defend the Normandy shore from the Allied landing.
Landsers waiting for the Americans to come closer. It is also strange, that all Germans have their (WWI-era!) backpacks on during fighting.
The French villager is about to let out his anger at the collaborator's corpse with his Gewehr.
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A4
The Browning M1919A4 is used by some American soldiers.
Browning 1919A4 Machine Gun - .30-06
The Browning is fired during the training.
An MG team suppressing the German trench at the beach.
A close-up of a Browning M1919A4 at an American position.
MG34
German soldiers use MG34s equipped with Gurtrommel 34 belt drums.
Maschinengewehr 34 with 50 round
Gurtrommel 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A German soldier fires his MG34.
MG42
An unused MG42 is seen leaning against a wall in the hiding place of the French collaborator.
Maschinengewehr 42 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
The unloaded MG43 in the background.
Browning M1917A1
A Browning M1917A1 is very briefly seen fired by one U.S. soldier.
Browning M1917A1 machine gun with tripod and ammo box - .30-06
Hand Grenades
Mk II Hand Grenade
Many Mk II Hand Grenades are seen hanging on uniforms. These grenades are variously used by U.S. soldiers; notably Cpl. Danny Dominick, who disabled a German tank with one of them.
Two grenades on Sgt. Bell's uniform while listing to Eisenhower's D-Day speech.
Later, in the trenches, he shows the Germans not to do anything stupid, not like their just killed officer who tries to keep up the resistance.
Cpl. Danny Dominick drops the grenade into the open hatch after knocking out the tank commander. A widespread method in movies.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
The Model 24 Stielhandgranate is the standard grenade for German forces.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
Several stick grenades lying next to the trench.
The German on the left primes his stick grenade.
Other
Bangalore Torpedo
Pvt. Frank Finley (Greg McClure) and Cpl. Danny Dominick can be seen with a Bangalore Torpedo during the training.
Cpl. Dominick with the Bangalore Torpedo.
Pvt. Finley readies the Torpedo.
M9A1 "Bazooka"
A M9A1 "Bazooka" is used by Pvt. Frank Finley and Cpl. Danny Dominick
M9A1 "Bazooka" - 2.36 inch
Bofors 40mm
A twin-mounted Bofors AA gun is seen on the U.S.cargo ship. Two-wheeled Bofors 40mm AA-guns are seen at the end of the movie.
Bofors 40mm L/60 twin mounting - 40x311mmR
Bofors 40mm L/60 AA gun in a wheeled trailer mounting - 40x311mmR
AT Gun
German soldiers use an unknown AT gun.
M4 Sherman
M26 Pershing
The Pershing tanks is mocked up to resemble a German one.
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