Red and White
(Merah Putih)
|
|
|
| Country
|
 Indonesia
|
| Directed by
|
Yadi Sugandi
|
| Release Date
|
2009
|
| Language
|
Indonesian
|
| Studio
|
Margate House Films
|
|
|
Red and White (Merah Putih) is a historical drama about the 1945-1949 Indonesian War of Independence against Dutch colonial rule. When the Japanese occupation forces retreat in 1945, independence is declared from the Dutch who understandably won’t let their former colonies slip away that easily.
The story starts in 1947 and follows 5 recruits (see infobox for naming) who join the newly formed Indonesian Army. After their training camp is attacked by the Dutch, they must try to survive behind enemy lines with the help of local villagers. In the process, they overcome their initial differences and become a fearsome resistance force.
The name of the movie refers to the two colors of the Indonesian national flag and the movie is the first part of a trilogy. A final note, even though the guns are pretty much correct for 1940s Indonesia, it would have been more correct to see further Japanese or originally Dutch guns rather than US and English arms.
The following weapons were used in the film Red and White (Merah Putih):
Pistols
M1911A1
Several officers carry the M1911A1 as their side-arm throughout the movie, most notably Surono (Zumi Zola) as newly appointed commanding officer of his unit plus Dutch officers during raids on Indonesian villages.
World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
A Dutch officer (uncredited actor) points his
M1911A1 at a village elder demanding the whereabouts of local resistance.
Surono searching the jungle with his
M1911A1 to find his sister who disappeared following the Dutch raid on the army training school.
Sergeant Schaeffer (
David John Watton) chases locals through their village with his
M1911A1 in search of resistance fighters.
In a dramatic poise, a local irregular (uncredited actor) confronts a Dutch soldier with his
M1911A1 during the final ambush scene.
Luger
Major Van Gaartner (Rudy Wowor) is seen pulling a Luger when his convoy is ambushed. This is correct as the Luger, specifically the M.11 variant, was indeed adopted by the Dutch East Indies colonial army in the 1910s and probably still in use in the late 1940s.
Luger P08 with black grips - 9x19mm
Submachine Guns
M1A1 Thompson
Amir (Lukman Sardi) and Tomas (Donny Alamsyah), plus several recruits and a few Dutch soldiers, can be seen carrying the M1A1 Thompson. It is probably a non-firing version because for firing scenes, it is substituted for the M1928A1 Thompson.
M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP
Two Dutch soldiers making their way through the Indonesian jungle with
M1A1 Thompson’s at the ready.
During a raid on a Dutch weapons arsenal, Tomas fills up his backpack with grenades and ammunition and finally picks up a
M1A1 Thompson.
With his
M1A1 Thompson in hand, Amir scouts the surroundings of a location where an ambush on Dutch troops is planned.
M1928A1 Thompson
The M1928A1 Thompson is used in several scenes, mostly as a substitute for the M1A1 Thompson in firing scenes.
M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP
During the ambush of the Dutch convoy, Amir can be seen using his
M1928A1 Thompson to deadly effect.
M3 Grease Gun
The most common submachine gun among the Dutch is the M3 Grease Gun. It can be distinguished from the later M3A1 model by the external crank lever for cocking the bolt, clearly visible in all below screenshots.
Carl Gustav M/45
In several scenes, Dutch soldiers can be seen carrying (but not firing) the Carl Gustav M/45. It can be identified by its typical silhouette and its folding stock plus massive wooden grip. Even though correct from a time perspective, this submachine gun has never been officially used by Dutch forces.
Carl Gustav M/45 Submachine Gun - 9x19mm
Sten Mk II
In one scene, a Dutch soldier chatting up Indonesian girls can briefly be seen carrying a Sten Mk II, distinguishable by its front barrel section and general tubular appearance.
Rifles
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III
Many Dutch soldiers, as well as Indonesian recruits, can be seen carrying the Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III "SMLE".
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III - .303 British
A very solemn looking drill sergeant (uncredited actor) entrusts a recruit with a Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III for his first live fire practice. The magazine here appears to be from a No.4 Mk.1 model.
Tomas holding his Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III as he and Surono’s sister are hiding in the jungle from Dutch troops. The magazine here appears to be from a No.4 Mk.1 model.
From the weathered looks of this Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III, it would appear to be a genuine rifle with the original wooden parts replaced with low quality new ones. The magazine here is correct to an SMLE.
The business end of a Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III SMLE carried by a local resistance fighter during an ambush of a Dutch supplies convoy.
M1 Garand
Most Dutch and Indonesian characters carry the M1 Garand at one time or the other. For some reason, all examples seen on screen seem to have a chrome gas tube and front sight.
M1 Garand semiautomatic rifle - .30-06
A left-handed and unranked Dutch soldier with an
M1 Garand checks the remains of a rebel camp in a river bed.
Tomas teaching local youngsters the basics of aiming a
M1 Garand as an ambush on Dutch troops is prepared.
An irregular firing his
M1 Garand at Dutch troops. Note the good view of the chromed gas tube and front sight.
M1 Carbine
In the ambush scene, one Dutch soldier is seen carrying a post-war M1 Carbine with adjustable sight and a bayonet lug. The movie takes place in 1947 so this would be a correct model.
Korean War Era M1 Carbine with adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine
A good close-up of the typical
M1 Carbine barrel as Dutch troops disembark from their truck to confront their attackers.
A Dutch soldier reloading his
M1 Carbine, note the good view of the bayonet lug and the adjustable sight.
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I prop rifle
During non-firing sequences, most Indonesian recruits are carrying what appears to be a non-firing prop rifle visually based on the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I. It has the typical front sight and magazine, but there’s no bolt and the barrel extends too long beyond the front sight.
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I - .303 British
Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I with spike bayonet - .303 British
Amir (left) and Marius (middle) are getting their first lessons in bayonet handling. Note that some bayonets appear to be just props without any grooves.
An Indonesian recruit checking out an abandoned village. Note the lack of a bolt on the rifle plus the longer front section of the barrel.
In a flashback scene to the WWII occupation of Indonesia by Japan, Japanse soldiers can be (hilariously) seen carrying this unusual rifle as well. In reality, the Japanese would have been carrying either the Type 38 or Type 99
Arisaka rifle in World War II.
Machine Guns
Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun
In several scenes, the Japanese Type 3 heavy machine gun can be seen on what appears to be an original mount. Interestingly, the original vertical grips have been replaced by crude horizontal grips. This machine gun was probably left behind by Japanese forces retreating from Indonesia a few years earlier. At one point, Amir incorrectly (and hilariously) describes the 6.5mm (closer to .26 caliber) as "Fifty Caliber". This is also unusual since the metric system is used in that part of the world, so they would actually refer to a .50 as a "12.7mm".
Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun - 6.5x50mm SR
Tomas fighting with a Dutch soldier who manned a look-out post with a Type 3.
When Tomas and a fellow recruit raid a Dutch weapons arsenal, he still manages to carry the Type 3 on his shoulder. Quite impressive, seeing as how a real Type 3 machine gun weighs over 120 pounds, hence the name "heavy".
Marius (
Darius Sinathryah) firing at a Dutch convoy with a Type 3. Note the stripper clip which is probably for decoration purpose as the rounds are not very well arranged probably causing a malfunction after the very first shot. In reality, a Type 3 feeds from 30-round brass feed strip trays, not standard stripper clips.
Marius is hit in the shoulder while operating the HMG. There’s a detailed view of the mount plus the crude non-standard handle bars. Note the M1 in the background.
Browning M1919A4
In the final gun battle, a Dutch jeep is equipped with a Browning M1919A4 on a simple pedestal mount.
Browning M1919A4 on a pedestal mount - .30-06 Springfield
Dutch troopers getting ready to return fire during the ambush with a
Browning M1919A4.
The same jeep after it is overtaken by local irregulars. As evidenced by the length of the ammunition belt on the
Browning M1919A4, same as previous picture, they did not seem to have fired a shot.
Bren gun
In one scene, a Dutch soldier can be seen carrying a Bren gun. Because it is seen only briefly, the exact version cannot be determined but it’s most probably a Mk2 model.
The Dutch soldier on the right carries a
Bren Gun as his unit arrives at a small jungle village.
The same soldier on the left with his
Bren Gun as his commanding officer is demanding information about resistance fighters from the village elder.
Others
M1A1 Bazooka
A Dutch soldier is using an M1A1 Bazooka in the final battle.
A Dutch soldier with an M1A1 Bazooka from behind the scene footage.
See Also
Join our Discord!
