The Guns of Navarone

The Guns of Navarone Cinema Poster Country UK Directed by J. Lee Thompson Release Date 1961 Language English, Greek, German Studio Columbia Pictures Corporation Distributor Columbia Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Mallory Gregory Peck Andrea Anthony Quinn Miller David Niven Brown Stanley Baker Franklin Anthony Quayle Pappadimos James Darren Maria Irene Papas Jensen James Robertson Justice Barnsby Richard Harris Anna Gia Scala

The Guns of Navarone is a 1961 World War II action film directed by J. Lee Thompson and based on the bestselling novel written by Alistair MacLean (Where Eagles Dare, When Eight Bells Toll, Bear Island). The film stars Gregory Peck and David Niven as British commandos who lead a mission to destroy a pair of deadly German batteries before they can devastate an Allied naval convoy. Force 10 from Navarone, a feature film sequel based on Maclean's novel and starring Harrison Ford and Robert Shaw was released in 1978.

The following weapons were used in the film The Guns of Navarone:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Handguns

1934 Mauser Pocket Pistol

German officers Muesel (Walter Gotell) and Sessler (George Mikell) use M1934 Mausers as their sidearms. After overpowering them, Mallory (Gregory Peck) and Miller (David Niven) appropriate their Mausers.

Mauser 1934 - .32 ACP (7.65x17mm)

Muesel with his Mauser M1934. Note that the slide is stuck in the back position meaning the gun wont fire unless he racks the slide first.

The team surrounded. The Mauser pistol is pointed at Mallory.

Mallory with Muesel's stolen Mauser M1934.

Supressed Mauser M1934 Pistol

Pappadimos' (James Darren) sidearm is a M1934 Mauser which he always uses with a silencer attached. In the end gunbattle, he gives the pistol to his sister, Maria (Irene Papas) so she can be armed in the end gunbattle but it is confiscated by Mallory after Maria shoots Anna. As is especially noticeable when Mallory shoots the guard who asks for coffee, it does not cycle or eject when fired.

Maria uses her brother's suppressed Mauser M1934 to execute the traitor, Anna.

Mallory uses the Mauser M1934 with a silencer to kill some German guards.

Same scene as above.

Luger P08 Artillery

When the group is captured, SS-Hauptsturmführer Sessler (George Mikell), incorrectly named "Hauptmann" (A Wehrmacht rank, not a SS rank), by Muesel, uses a Luger P08 to torture Franklin by hitting his injured leg with it.

Luger P08 Artillery Model - 9x19mm

Sessler with the Luger in hand.

Sessler prepares to strike Franklin's hurt leg with the Luger.

Enfield No.2

The commandos bring Enfield No.2 revolvers as their sidearms. Roy Franklin (Anthony Quayle) uses one to try and commit suicide, (in order not to be a burden for the team so they can complete the mission), but is stopped at the last second by Miller (David Niven). In the beginning of the film, when Mallory recruits Andrea (Anthony Quinn), he pulls out an Enfield from his shoulder holster but then puts it back when he recognizes Mallory.

Enfield No.2 Mk.1* - .38 S&W

Franklin pulls his Enfield in his suicide attempt.

Mallory, holding Franklin's revolver, chides him while holding the Enfield.

Andrea conceals the Enfield behind a newspaper.

Andrea holsters the Enfield. Note the lack of a hammer as found on regular revolvers.

Astra 400

Spyro draws what appears to be a Astra 400 seconds before he and the group is captured by the Germans but is hindered by Miller at the last second.

Astra 400 - 9 x 23mm Bergmann / Largo

Submachine Guns

Sten Mk I

Corporal Miller (David Niven) and others are seen with and using a Sten Mk I in several scenes.

Sten Mk I Submachine gun - 9x19mm

Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle) firing his Sten at german soldiers.

Captain Mallory (Gregory Peck) with his Sten Mk I. Note the bolt safety notch which is fitted at the bottom on Mk I, as opposed at the top on Mk II.

Andreas (Anthony Quinn) with his own Sten. Note the weapon is unloaded.

Corporal Miller with his Sten Mk I (David Niven) Note the excellent trigger discipline. Niven had actual combat experience during World War II, serving with (among other units) the British Commandos. He ended the war as a lieutenant-colonel. He received the American Legion of Merit from Eisenhower himself at the war's end.

Action shot of Andreas firing the Sten Mk1.

Sten (mockup)

Several of the commandos are seen firing what first appears to be a Sten Mk II submachine gun (modified with a shortened barrel). In reality it is actually a mockup Sten that only shoots flames. Andrea Stavros (Anthony Quinn) uses this "Sten" to kill several German soldiers in the final firefights. Spyros Pappadimos (James Darren) also uses this flame-shooting Sten and kills several Germans and then confronts their officer who also has a mockup Sten gun. (How the officer got one is unknown). The mockup Sten gun is fitted with a small flame device to represent the guns flash (in slow motion you can see that the actors aren't actually pressing the guns trigger in time with the shots). The gun is also poorly constructed: The stock is mounted in such a way the thumb does not go all the way around it due to the presence of two (gas)hoses connected to the rear of the gun itself.

Sten Mk II Submachine gun - 9x19mm. Due to the mockup Sten's portruding pipe it is easy to mistake the prop-Sten for a Mk2.

Andreas and Spyro preparing an ambush. Both carry the mockup Sten.

"The family sent the boy (Spyro) to America 10 years ago to get an education, I'm afraid he got the wrong kind." The smile on Spyro's face reflects this opinion.

After the ambush is done Andreas is suddenly seen with a genuine Sten Mk.1.

Andreas after firing a few rounds on a German patrol with his mockup Sten. Note the two hoses connected to the weapon just left of Andrea's thumb and in between the two struts that make up the stock.

Pappadimos fires at the Germans using his prop Sten gun.

The German officer (Bob Simmons) returns fire with his own prop Sten. Note there is no bolt nor even a line for the bolt.

The officer is hit.

Andreas firing his own fake Sten gun.

Sten Mk IIS

Spyro's sister Maria Papadimos (Irene Papas) carries a SOE supplied Sten Mk IIS with an integral silencer, these weapons were dropped to Resistance units all over Europe during World War II.

Sten Mk IIS - 9x19mm

Character Maria with her silenced Sten. She is never seen firing it.

MP40

The common weapon of the German Army in the film is the MP40, which is unrealistic. The MP40 was mostly issued to NCO's and other specialist troops; It was not standard issue for line troops. It is more likely they would have used Mauser rifles.

MP40 - 9x19mm

Andrea (Anthony Quinn) firing an MP40.

A German brandishes an MP40. Note that the weapon's bolt is in closed position, meaning it won't fire until the soldiers racks the bolt to open position.

Mallory's team held at gunpoint by two Germans with MP40s.

A German soldier holds his MP40 on Andrea.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 98

Some Germans use Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles, but the MP40 is far more common in the film.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 (probable)

Anna (Gia Scala) is seen carrying a rifle on her back early in the movie. She never fires it nor reveal any obvious details of the type of rifle except for one scene and even then it is difficult to properly identify the rifle. In that scene the rifle reveals two trademarks of the Gewehr 1898.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Anna and Mallory (Gregory Peck)

In a very brief scene, Annas rifle is tossed around and reveals two critical items: The straight bolt handle and a large rear sight. Both of which are trademark of the older Gewehr 1898.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III

In a brief scene a German soldier is seen with a Lee-Enfield rifle. The movie was shot in Greece with many Greek extras as German soldiers and they were presumably armed with weapons from the Greek Army stores. Both German and British weapons would have been available in Greece in the early 1960's due to their involvement in World War 2 and Britain's later involvement in the Greek Civil War.

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

A brief scene with the soldier on the far right carrying a Lee-Enfield Mk.III. The distinct snubnose and external magazine is visible.

Unknown sniper rifle - Possibly a Karabiner 98k Sporter

Andreas (Anthony Quinn) carries an unknown bolt-action rifle and kills four Germans with it when they climb the hill. After that, he never fires it again but is seen holding it several times. It is possibly the rifle is a Karabiner 98k Sporter.

Andrea takes aim with his rifle. In a detail lifted straight from the book, he has tied a cloth around the barrel to prevent the glint from giving away his position.

Machine Guns

A German vehicle is seen carrying a Browning 1919 at one point in the movie.

Browning M1919A4 - .30-06 Springfield

A Browning MG is seen attached to the vehicle on the bottom left of the pic.

Bren Gun

On the fishing boat, Pappadimos keeps a Bren gun hidden under a sail he is mending when the German patrol boat arrives. When the Germans discover who they are, Pappadimos opens fire, tearing a hole in the sail and guns down several sailors. The Bren gun is never seen after that, presumed lost when the fishing boat is smashed on the rocks.

Bren Mk1 - .303 British

Private Spyro Papadimos (James Darren) firing his Bren LMG.

Oerlikon 20mm Cannon

The German patrol boat is armed with an Oerlikon 20mm Cannon.

Oerlikon Cannon - 20mm

A view of the 20mm the instant the commando-team opens fire from the fishingboat. Note the impact-smoke on the left side of the 20mm bulletscreen

Rear view of the weapon as the gunner is killed.