The Taste of Violence (Le goût de la violence) is a 1961 French-Italian Western drama movie written and directed by Robert Hossein who also appears in the leading role, co-starred by Giovanna Ralli and Mario Adorf. The plot is set in an unnamed Central American country in early 20th century where the guerrilla wages war against the dictator. When a half a hundred of the arrested guerrillas are sentenced to death, the guerrilla leader sends his men to attack the train where the dictator's daughter Maria (Ralli) travels and capture her in order to use as hostage. But each of the three guerrillas who guard the young woman on the way to the revolutionary forces' base has his personal goal: for Perez (Hossein) it's the victory of the revolution, Chamaco (Adorf) plans to get the ransom for Maria and become rich, and young Chico (Hans H. Neubert) is charmed with Maria.
The movie was filmed in Yugoslavia that radically affected the choice of the screen guns.
The following weapons were used in the film The Taste of Violence (Le goût de la violence):
Revolvers
Nagant M1895
Perez (Robert Hossein) carries a Nagant M1895 revolver, a gun uncommon for Latin America but widely available in Yugoslavia.
Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.
When Perez' group encounters a government cavalry unit, Perez draws his Nagant and threatens to kill Maria if the soldiers will not ride away.
Another view of the same scene.
Perez holds the revolver at Maria's head while they cross a lake.
A Nagant is seen in hand of a dead government soldier on the battlefield.
Smith & Wesson Military & Police
Chamaco (Mario Adorf) and Chico (Hans H. Neubert) carry Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolvers (or maybe Victory Model as such revolvers were supplied to Yugoslavian resistance forces during WWII).
Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special
The grip of Chamaco's holstered revolver is seen.
The grip of Chico's holstered revolver is seen.
Chico, beaten down by Perez, draws his revolver.
Another view of the same scene.
Chamaco draws his revolver during the final confrontation with Perez.
Rifles
Winchester Model 1894
Perez (Robert Hossein), Chamaco (Mario Adorf) and Chico (Hans H. Neubert) carry Winchester Model 1894 carbines. Maria Laragana (Giovanna Ralli) holds Chamaco's Winchester in one scene. Two of these Winchesters are equipped with sling swivels on the left side of the buttstock and barrel band. Such configuration was used on WWI French contract carbines that were issued to artillery personnel and some auxilliary troops. Possibly some of these guns were supplied to Serbian troops that were re-armed by France, which may be the explanation of the appearance of such rifles in Yugoslav productions.
It's worth noting that all three men carry ammunition with spitzer bullets in their bandoliers that doesn't fit for Winchester 1894.
Winchester Model 1894 - .30-30
Chico (at the left) and Chamaco (at the right) hold their Winchesters when escorting Maria.
Chico holds his Winchester at the right. The side-mounted sling swivel is seen.
Chico and Chamaco rest with their rifles at hand. Chamaco's Winchester has swivels placed below the stock, and a simple cord is used as a rifle sling.
Chamaco readies his carbine to drive away the peasants who follow the group with not the best intentions.
Perez stops Chamaco from shooting.
A good view of Chico's Winchester.
The lever of Chico's carbine is seen at the right.
Perez aims his Winchester at Chico.
Maria covertly takes Chamaco's carbine from the saddle holster and now holds both men at gunpoint.
Mauser Karabiner 98k
Both government troops and guerrillas are mostly armed with Mauser rifles, many of which are Karabiner 98k.
Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Several Mauser short rifles in hands of guerrillas are supposed to be Karabiner 98k, judging by the open top handguard and side mounted sling swivels.
A firing squad of guerrillas execute government soldiers. Most of the rifles are Karabiner 98k, with turned down bolt handles.
Two cavalrymen to the right of the
Commandante (
Relja Basic) carry Karabiner 98k rifles. The 98k at the background is a late version with hooded front sight.
A cavalryman at the right carries a Kar 98k. The turned down bolt handle is seen.
A cavalryman at the left carries a Kar 98k with hooded front sight.
vz. 24 Czech Mauser
vz. 24 Czech Mauser rifles are also used by guerrillas.
Czech vz. 24 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Several Mauser short rifles in hands of guerrillas are supposed to be vz. 24, judging by the full-length top handguard and bottom mounted sling swivels.
Two guerrilla fighters, standing next to the machine gun, hold what appears to be vz. 24 Czech Mauser rifles, judging by the long front part of the handguard, the grasping grooves on the stock and bottom mounted sling swivels.
Several of the guerrillas hold what appear to be vz. 24 Mauser rifles.
Mauser Gewehr 1898M
Some Mauser Gewehr 1898M rifles are also seen.
Mauser Gewehr 1898M - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A guerrilla fighter holds a full-length infantry Mauser rifle with straight bolt handle, flat rear sight and bottom mounted sling swivels. These features allow to identify the rifle as a G98M.
Several of the guerrillas hold what appear to be Mauser G98M rifles.
Mauser carbine
A guerrilla fighter carries a carbine that resembles a Serbian Mauser M1908 but differs in some details.
For comparison: Serbian Mauser M1908 Carbine - 7x57mm
A guerrilla fighter at the machine gun carries a carbine that resembles a Serbian Mauser M1908 (the barrel length, the handguard extending till the muzzle, and the turned down bolt handle) but it has bottom mounted sling swivels while the M1908 carbine has side mounted swivels.
Mannlicher M95M
Many soldiers on the train in the opening scene are armed with Mannlicher M1895 rifles. Judging by the barrel length, these are Yugoslavian M95M rifles, coverted from Austro-Hungarian M95 by shortening of the barrel and rechambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber.
Steyr Mannlicher M95M - 7.92x57mm Mauser. Yugoslavian conversion of Austro-Hungarian M1895.
Two soldiers on both sides of the machine gun hold Mannlicher M95M rifles. The barrels are shorter than on original Austro-Hungarian M95s (76.5cm) and match M95M model (60cm barrel).
Soldiers on another flatcar are also armed with M95M rifles. Two soldiers on both sides of the machine gun hold M95M rifles. One more barrel with typical stacking rod can be seen near the right shoulder of the Maxim gunner, and a bolt handle can be seen in background center.
The stacking rod and the protruding magazine of a Mannlicher rifle at the left can be seen.
Victorious guerrillas raise their rifles in air. Mostly they are armed with Mausers, but a Mannlicher rifle is seen in center.
In the final scene a Mannlicher rifle is seen next to a dead guerrilla fighter on the battlefield.
Berthier Mle 1907-15
Some guerrillas carry Berthier Mle 1907-15 rifles.
Berthier Model 1907-15 - 8x50mmR
A guerilla fighter at the right carries a Berthier rifle on sling.
A guerrilla fighter behind Maria holds a Berthier Mle 07-15 rifle.
The same man with the Berthier rifle is seen at the right.
Victorious guerrillas raise their rifles in air. A Berthier rifle is seen at the left.
Lebel Mle 1886
A Lebel Mle 1886 rifle is seen on the battlefield in the final scene.
Lebel Model 1886 - 8x50mmR
A Lebel rifle is seen below the dead body of a guerrilla fighter at the right.
Machine Guns
Maxim MG08
Two MG08 machine guns on Schwarzlose 07/12 tripods are installed on the flatcars of the military train in the opening scene. The "mating" of MG08 with Schwarzlose tripod was quite common in Yugoslavian military after WWI.
Maxim MG08 on
Schlittenlafette 08 mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser
An MG08 is installed on the flatcar in the head of the train.
Another MG08 is installed on the flatcar at the rear of the train. The ammunition box bears markings that are not very clear but it seems to be that there is a marking "7.5" in center (or it is poorly seen "7.9"?).
A view on the flatcar with the machine gun from above.
When the train is captured, a guerrilla fighter operates the machine gun.
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