The Steel Helmet (1951)

The Steel Helmet is the 1951 war film that was the first US feature film to portray the Korean War onscreen (the war had only begun a year earlier). This was also the breakout film for writer/director Samuel Fuller, who went on to direct such notable war films as Merrill's Marauders and The Big Red One. The Steel Helmet also marked the feature film acting debut of venerable character actor Gene Evans, who would proceed to have a role in Fuller's next Korean War film Fixed Bayonets! (also released in 1951). The production was also the first (but not the last) to use the Santa Monica Mountains as a stand-in for Korea. The film is a meditation on race, bigotry, tolerance, and morality in wartime.

The following weapons were used in the film The Steel Helmet:

Rifles

M1 Garand

Throughout the film, American GIs carry an M1 Garand.

M1 Garand - .30-06

Short Round (William Chun) finds an M1 Garand.

Short Round rousts Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans).

Sgt. Zack is seldom seen without his M1 Garand and cigar stub.

Sgt. Zack and Lt. Driscoll (Steve Brodie) disagree about tactics.

A North Korean sniper with an M1 Garand.

Sgt. Zack returns fire against a North Korean sniper.

Lt. Driscoll's final resting place.

M1 Carbine

Several GIs are armed with M1 Carbines.

M1 Carbine

1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

Short Round collects 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle from dead snipers and carries them throughout the film.

1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

A North Korean sniper with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle.

North Korean infantry charge with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

Handguns

M1911A1 Pistol

Throughout the film, GIs carry an M1911A1 pistol.

World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

An American GI holsters his M1911A1 pistol.

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

Several American soldiers carry M1928A1 Thompson submachine guns. Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo) and Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans) each borrow one in one scene to locate and eliminate a pair of North Korean snipers.