Sahara (1943)

Sahara Theatrical Poster Country United States Directed by Zoltan Korda Release Date 1943 Language English French German Italian Studio Warner Bros. Distributor Warner Bros. Main Cast Character Actor Master Sgt. Joe Gunn Humphrey Bogart Cpl. Waco Hoyt Bruce Bennett Sgt. Major Tambul Rex Ingram SPC4 Jimmy Doyle Dan Duryea Giuseppe J. Carrol Naish Pvt. Fred Clarkson Lloyd Bridges Capt. Jason Halliday Richard Aherne Cpl. Jean "Frenchie" Leroux Louis Mercier

Sahara is a 1943 World War II film that focuses on the crew of US Army M3 Lee tank, commanded by U.S. Army Master Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) that becomes separated from its unit during a general retreat. In the course of their journey, the crew picks up a motley collection of stragglers, among them a British Army Medical Corps. Captain, who is a doctor, four assorted British Commonwealth Soldiers, and a Free French Corporal. Later, they pick up a British Sudanese Rifles Sergeant Major and his Italian prisoner. The Sgt. Major volunteers to lead them to a well at Hassan Barani. The first well is dry but they find a second well that is slowly dripping water. As they collect the water from the well a German light mechanized unit arrives, a standoff and battle of wills begins. The 1943 film is based on an incident seen in the 1936 Soviet film The Thirteen, which ironically was itself a remake of the 1934 movie The Lost Patrol. Making the things even more confusing, Sahara itself would inspire a 1995 remake starring James Belushi.

The following weapons were used in the film Sahara:

Pistols

Colt 1911

Master Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) uses a Colt 1911 Pistol as his sidearm.

Colt 1911 Pistol - .45 ACP

M/SGT Gunn holding his M1911.

Mauser Model 1910

Captain von Schletow (Kurt Kreuger) carries a 1910 Mauser Pocket Pistol, which he surrenders to Master Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart).

1910 Mauser Pocket Pistol - 6.35mm

M/SGT Gunn with CPT von Schletow's Mauser 1910.

Submachine Guns

Colt 1921 Thompson

Master Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart), Waco Hoyt (Bruce Bennett), and Sergeant Major Tambul (Rex Ingram) use Colt 1921 Thompson Sub Machine Guns.

Colt 1921 Thompson - .45 ACP

M/SGT Gunn firing a M1921 Thompson submachine gun

Hoyt holding his M1921.

SGM MAJ Tambul firing an M1921 Thompson.

Rifles

Springfield M1903

Jean 'Frenchie' Leroux (Louis Mercier) uses a 1903 Springfield Rifle. Curiously, German soldiers can be seen with one as well.

Springfield M1903 - .30-06

"Frenchie" firing an M1903.

German soldiers firing M1903 Springfield Rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

German soldiers extensively use Mauser Gew 98 Rifles.

Early Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers with Mauser Gewehr 98s.

Gewehr 98 Sniper

A German sniper uses a Mauser Gew 98 Sniper Rifle.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 7.92x57mm Mauser

The German sniper with his scoped Gewehr 98.

Mauser Karabiner 98AZ

A Bedouin scout carries a Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine.

Mauser Karabiner 98AZ - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Bedouin scout carrying a Mauser 98AZ Artillery Carbine.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III*

Commonwealth troops can be seen with No.1 MkIII* Enfield Rifles.

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

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Machine Guns

Browning 1919A4

Browning M1919A4s are used extensively by American and Commonwealth troops.

Browning 1919A4, fitted with bolt latch - .30-06

An M1919A4 mounted in the commander's turret

Jimmy Doyle (Dan Duryea) sits behind dual Browning M1919A4s.

Commonwealth troops manning an M1919A4.

Maxim MG 08

A German soldier fires a Maxim MG08 Machine Gun from a half-track.

Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm

The German soldier firing the MG08.

Vickers Mk. I

A Vickers Machine Gun mocked up to look like a Maxim MG08 - mostly with an MG08 muzzle device - can be seen in a fortification.

Vickers Mark I - .303 British

Note the front sight, indicative of a Vickers rather than an MG08, above.

Other

M2 Mortar

German soldiers employ a M2 60mm Mortar.

M2 Mortar - 60mm

Germans using a US M2 mortar.