Operation Corned Beef (L'opération Corned Beef)

Original French Poster

Country	France
Directed by	Jean-Marie Poiré
Release Date	1991
Language	French Spanish German
Studio	Alter Films Gaumont TF1
Distributor	Gaumont

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Capt. Philippe Boulier	Jean Reno
Jean-Jacques Granianski	Christian Clavier
Lt. Isabelle Fourreau	Isabelle Renauld
Marie-Laurence Granianski	Valérie Lemercier
Gen. Masse	Jacques François
Aspirant Monique Garcia	Mireille Rufel
Horst Burger	Marc de Jonge
Augusto Zargas	André Schmit

Operation Corned Beef (L'opération Corned Beef) is a 1991 French action comedy film directed by Jean-Marie Poiré. Capt. Boulier aka "Shark" (Jean Reno), a French Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure (DGSE) officer, conducts an operation against Zargas, an illegal arms dealer from South America who has connections with corrupt high-ranking French officials. The DGSE hides a covert listening device in the jewelry of Marie-Laurence Granianski, the secretary of German consul Burger, who is a contact to Zargas. When Marie-Laurence announces that she plans to vacation with her husband at the same time of a critical meeting between Burger and Zargas, the intelligence service tries to break these plans by provoking an adulterous affair between Marie-Laurence's husband Jean-Jacques Granianski and beautiful DGSE lieutenant Isabelle Fourreau. To make things even more complicated, Isabelle is Boulier's bride (and Boulier is overjealous!).

The following weapons were used in the film Operation Corned Beef (L'opération Corned Beef):

Revolvers

Charter Arms Off Duty

In the opening scene in Colombia, Capt. Philippe Boulier (Jean Reno) is armed with a snub nose revolver that appears to be a Charter Arms Off Duty or another revolver in the Charter Arms .38/.357 series.

Charter Arms Off Duty (older model) with Pachmayr Grips - .38 Special

Boulier draws his revolver.

He aims.

But the revolver malfunctions. The shape of the front sight looks similar to the one used by Charter Arms revolvers.

Smith & Wesson Model 19

Capt. Philippe Boulier (Jean Reno) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 19 with 3" barrel and Smith & Wesson ergonomic rosewood grips as his sidearm throughout most of the film.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 with 3" barrel and Pachmayr grips - .357 Magnum

A close=up view of Boulier's revolver.

Boulier holds his revolver.

Boulier surrenders his revolver to Gen. Masse. The grip is seen.

Boulier draws the revolver in the climactic scene. The logo of the frame is seen only partially, but it differs from S&W's logo.

Boulier aims.

But the revolver malfunctions, like in the opening scene.

Boulier holds the revolver at the shooting range in the final scene.

Manurhin MR-88

Lt. Isabelle Fourreau's (Isabelle Renauld) personal handgun is a stainless steel Manurhin MR-88 revolver.

Manurhin MR-88 Defence revolver with 4" barrel and stainless finish - .357 Magnum

Isabelle holds her revolver while at home.

Isabelle fires in the climactic scene.

Isabelle fires at the shooting range in the final scene.

Another view of the revolver in the same scene.

Smith & Wesson Model 27

Aspirant (NCO) Monique Garcia (Mireille Rufel) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 27 with 8" barrel, fitted with a sniper scope. The revolver is identified as .357 Model 27 rather than .44 Model 29 due to the large gap between the frame and the front of the cylinder. A similar revolver, except for the sniper scope, is used by one of Zargas' henchmen during the car chase.

Smith & Wesson Model 27 with Patridge sights - .357 Magnum

Monique Garcia fires from the car during the chase. The grip is seen.

Another view of the revolver.

The gray-haired Zargas' bodyguard fires a revolver at Boulier's car in the same scene.

Monique fires at Zargas' helicopter.

Monique fires in the climactic scene.

Colt Python

What appears to be a Colt Python is seen in hands of one of Zargas' bodyguards in the climactic scene.

Colt Python with 4" Barrel and factory wood grips - .357 Magnum

One of Zargas' bodyguards holds a revolver in the climactic scene, possibly a Python.

Various Revolvers

Various unidentified revolvers are briefly seen in several scenes.

One of Zargas' henchmen fires a snub-nose revolver during the opening scene in Bogota, Colombia. It is possibly a Smith & Wesson N-frame .357.

Another henchman fires a revolver in the same scene.

DGSI operatives hold revolvers during the attempt to arrest Lt. Isabelle Fourreau. The revolver at the left is possibly a Manurhin MR-73 with 3" barrel and duty sights.

Pistols

Smith & Wesson 59

In the opening scene, one of Zargas' henchmen uses a nickel plated Smith & Wesson 59 pistol to kill a bystander. It is a first gen pistol as the slide stop pin is in front of the double stack frame step. Possibly the same movie prop is seen in the final scene in the hands of a DGSE operative.

Smith & Wesson 59, nickel plated - 9x19mm

The henchman aims his pistol at a bystander.

A side view of the pistol.

A stainless steel pistol is seen in hands of a DGSE operative at the shooting range. It is possibly the same S&W 59.

Walther P5

What appears to be a Walther P5 is seen in hands of a counterintelligence service (DGSI) operative in one scene.

Walther P5 - 9x19mm

A DGSI operative tries to arrest Lt. Isabelle Fourreau during the conflict between two secret services.

M1911-style Pistol

M1911-style pistols are seen in hands of Zargas' henchmen in the opening scene in Bogota, Colombia.

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

A henchman runs out of a building with an M1911-style pistol in hand.

A henchman in the car holds an M1911-style pistol in the same scene.

Submachine Guns

Micro Uzi

When Zargas appears in Paris, his bodyguards are mostly armed with Micro Uzi SMGs.

IMI Micro Uzi with folding stock - 9x19mm

Bodyguards hold Micro Uzi SMGs.

Zargas' guards fire at Boulier's car (the rightmost henchman firing "gangsta style".

Very astonished guards miss Boulier's car in the sunflower field.

Mini Uzi

In the climactic, scene one of Zargas' bodyguards carries a Mini Uzi.

IMI Mini Uzi with stock folded - 9x19mm

The bodyguard readies his SMG.

M3 / M3A1 "Grease Gun"

What appears to be a M3 / M3A1 "Grease Gun", fitted with some muzzle device (possibly an M9 flash hider), is seen in hands of one of Zargas' henchmen in the opening scene.

M3 "Grease Gun" with M9 flash hider - .45 ACP

Intratec TEC-9

In the opening scene, several of Zargas' henchmen are armed with Intratec TEC-9s of both standard and Mini versions.

Intratec TEC-9 - 9x19mm

Intratec TEC-9 Mini - 9x19mm

A henchman at the right holds a TEC-9 Mini.

Zargas' bodyguard holds a TEC-9 Mini in the background.

A henchman fires a TEC-9 from the window.

A henchman holds a standard TEC-9.

MAT-49

Guards inside the Élysée Palace carry MAT-49 SMGs.

MAT-49 - 9x19mm

Shotguns

Mossberg 500

A pair of Mossberg 500 shotguns are seen in Boulier's apartments in Paris.

Mossberg 500AT - 12 gauge. Note the wood furniture.

A shotgun is seen on the wall.

A closer view.

Another shotgun is seen on the shelf.

Unidentified Shotgun

A pump-action shotgun with long barrel is briefly seen in Boulier's hideout in Colombia. It resembles a Winchester Model 1200 or maybe its smaller caliber cousin, the Model 120 but as it is seen only partially, it's hard to say for sure.