El Alamein - The Line of Fire

El Alamein - The Line of Fire El Alamein - La linea del fuoco Film poster Country Italy Directed by Enzo Monteleone Release Date November 8, 2002 Language Italian Studio Cattleya Medusa Film Ministero per i Beni e le Attivita Culturali Distributor Medusa Distribuzione Main Cast Character Actor Pvt. Serra Paolo Briguglia Sgt. Rizzo Pierfrancesco Favino Lt. Fiore Emilio Solfrizzi Tarozzi Piero Maggio Capt. De Vita Thomas Trabacchi Spagna Luciano Scarpa

El Alamein - The Line of Fire is a 2002 Italian World War II film directed by Enzo Monteleone. The story takes place during The Second Battle of El Alamein (Autumn 1942). At El Alamein, 104,000 Germans and Italians led by Rommel fight against 195,000 Allied soldiers in the decisive battle for Africa. A young volunteer Serra arrives at the 17ª Divisione fanteria "Pavia" (17th Infantry Division) which is stationed on the southern flank. Together with his superiors, Tenente Fiore and Sergente Rizzo, he experiences his own personal hell: merciless heat, thirst, illness, no supplies, and constant artillery fire from the British. Soon becomes aware that the British troops prepare an offensive.

The following weapons were used in the film El Alamein - The Line of Fire:

Pistols

Beretta M1934

Beretta M1934 is the sidearm of all Italian officers and NCOs. Sgt. Rizzo (Pierfrancesco Favino) and Lt. Fiore (Emilio Solfrizzi) are notably seen with these pistols.

Uniformological Note: NCOs use the leather holster in the same grey/green (grigioverde) color as the rest of the combat gear, while officers use natural brown leather holsters and belts.

Beretta Modello 1934 - .380 ACP

Lt. Fiore (Emilio Solfrizzi) aims his Beretta M1934 at Mussolini's horse.

Another angle of the same scene.

Sgt. Rizzo (Pierfrancesco Favino) with his M34.

Submachine Guns

Beretta Model 38

Some Italian officers and soldiers use hybrid Beretta Model 38 during the battle; they have the stock and barrel of the Model 38A, but the receiver of the later Model 38/44. These guns were assembled at the Beretta factory after World War II using leftover components from various different models.

Beretta Model 38A - 9x19mm

Two soldiers fire their hybrid Beretta SMGs at British soldiers. Another soldier fires a Karabiner 98k.

An Italian officer holds the Beretta submachine gun.

MP 40

Some German soldiers can be seen armed with the MP 40s.

Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm Parabellum

Two MP 40s are seen in the hands of German soldiers on the left.

M1928A1 Thompson

During the night battle, some British soldiers can be seen with the M1928A1 Thompsons.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

A running British soldier carries the M1928A1 Thompson.

Sten Mk. II

The Sten Mk II is also carried by British soldiers.

Sten Mark II - 9x19mm

A soldier charges with his Sten.

Rifles

Carcano M1891

At first, Serra can be seen armed with the Carcano M91 Long Rifle. Later he can be seen armed with the Carcano M91/38 Short Rifle.

Fucile Modello 1891 - 6.5x52mm Carcano

Serra carries the Carcano M91 over his back.

A sleeping soldier touches the Carcano M91. The shorter rifle is an M91/38 cavalry carbine.

Carcano M91/38

The Carcano M91/38 Short Rifle is the most common model of Carcano rifle used in this movie.

Fucile di Fanteria Modelo 91/38 - 6.5x52mm Carcano

Italian soldiers fire their Carcano M91/38 rifles at a British sniper

Serra (Paolo Briguglia) holds his Carcano M91/38 rifle.

Sgt. Rizzo reloads his M91/38 rifle.

A closer view of an M91/38 rifle with bolt open.

Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine

Italian PAI (Polizia Africa Italiana; African Italian Police) officers carry Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbines.

Moschetto Modello 1891/38 Cavalleria - 6.5x52mm Carcano

PAI officers (or maybe Carabinieri) hold the Carcano M91/38 cavalry carbines.

An Italian guard armed with the cavalry carbine.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III*

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*s are the mainstay weapon of British soldiers. Some rifles have attached P07 sword bayonets.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mark III* - .303 British

An SMLE lies on the ground next to a dead British soldier.

Karabiner 98k

German soldiers can be seen armed with this weapon. Some Italians also use Karabiner 98k rifles.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Sgt. Rizzo fires the Karabiner 98k at a British sniper which is a continuity error because a few seconds ago he fired a Carcano M91/38 rifle.

Machine Guns

Breda Modello 30

Some Italian soldiers are seen with the Breda Modello 30.

Breda Modello 30 - 6.5x52mm Carcano

The Breda Modello 30 on a parapet of the trench.

Rizzo holds Breda Modello 30.

Italian soldier fires the Breda Modello 30 at British soldiers.

MG 42

An MG 42 is briefly seen mounted on a German BMW R 75 motorcycle.

MG 42 with sling and bipod collapsed - 7.92mm Mauser

The MG 42 is seen on the left mounted on the sidecar a motorcycle. Note the vertical charging handle; a feature which was developed at some point in 1943 after the second Battle of El Alamein.

Other

8 cm Granatwerfer 34

German 8 cm Granatwerfer 34s are used by Italian soldiers.

8 cm Granatwerfer 34 (8 cm GrW 34) - 81.4 mm

Tarozzi (Piero Maggio) s about to drop an 81.4 mm shell into the tube.

A close up the base plate of the mortar.

Another close up the the traversing gear.

Gun Platformes

AMX Mk F3

An anachronstic destroyed AMX Mk F3 chassis can be seen on a battlefield. The French AMX Mk F3 self-propelled gun was introduced only in 1960s.

M48 Patton

British Army used M48 medium tanks during the night battle which is also an anachronism.

M5 Half-track

Instead of the Sd.Kfz. 251, German soldiers are seen with an American M5 half-track.

A German column drives past marching Italian soldiers in the desert. Note the Balkenkreuz markings to make it less incorrect.

M113 APC

British Army used out-of-time M113 armored personnel carriers in this movie.

Some M113s have gun turrets.