The Thin Red Line (1964)

The Thin Red Line Movie Poster Country United States Directed by Andrew Marton Release Date May 2, 1964 Language English Japanese Studio A.C.E. Films Security Pictures Distributor Allied Artists Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Pvt. Don Doll Keir Dullea 1st Sgt. Edward Welsh Jack Warden Lt Col. Gordon Tall James Philbrook Cpl. Geoffrey Fife Bob Kanter Capt. Stone Ray Daley Lt. Band Kieron Moore

The Thin Red Line is a 1964 WWII film which was the first feature film adaptation of the James Jones novel of the same name. The film focuses on the men of Charlie Company during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific. Many characters and situations from this film were also included in director Terrence Malick's 1998 adaptation of the novel. The film was shot in Spain, which explains why not a single Japanese weapon was featured despite taking place in the Pacific Theater. The film's title derives a quote from Jones's book which reads, "they discover the thin red line that divides the sane from the mad... and the living from the dead..."

The following weapons were used in the film The Thin Red Line:

Handguns

M1911A1

Pvt. Doll (Keir Dullea) is seen with a stolen M1911A1 at the film's beginning. Capt. Stone (Ray Daley) is also seen with the handgun.

Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Pvt. Doll (Keir Dullea) is seen with a stolen M1911A1 at the film's beginning.

Capt. Stone (Ray Daley) is also seen with the handgun.

Rifles

M1 Garand

M1 Garand is the primary battle rifle used by the men of Charlie Company in the film including Pvt. Doll (Keir Dullea) and 1st Sgt. Welsh (Jack Warden).

M1 Garand - .30-06 Springfield

1st Sgt. Welsh (Jack Warden) holds an M1 Garand.

M1 Garand is used by the men of Charlie Company in the film including Pvt. Doll (Keir Dullea) on the left.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Japanese soldiers are seen using German Gewehr 98s as stand-ins for Arisaka Type 38 rifles. The film was produced in Spain, so it is likely that Japanese weapons were scarce, but German ones were not.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

For comparision: Arisaka Type 38 - 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka

Note the Lange-Visier rear sight, upper barrel band, and SG 98/05 "butcher's blade" bayonet, which are all hallmarks of the Gew 98.

Submachine Guns

MP 40

The MP40 is seen used by both American and Japanese forces in the film. The MP 40 was primarily seen used by German forces in the European theater of the war and likely was utilized in this film due to its resemblance to the American M3 "Grease Gun". In reality, the Japanese didn't use much of any submachine guns, let alone German MP40 ones.

MP 40 - 9x19mm Parabellum

The MP 40 is held by Sgt. Welsh (Jack Warden). The MP 40 was not a primary weapon used by either US forces or the Japanese during the War in the Pacific.

The MP 40 is held by Pvt. Doll. The weapon was likely used due to its availability and that it bears a small resemblance to the American M3 "Grease Gun".

Machine Guns

M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle

The M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle is also used by American forces during the battle.

M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06 Springfield

Browning M1919A4

The Browning M1919A4 is used by both American and Japanese forces.

Browning M1919A4 - .30-06 Springfield

Madsen

Japanese soldiers are also seen using a Madsen machine gun. A certain number of Madsens ended up in the hands of the Japanese army, but the use of this machine gun was likely due to its resemblance to the Japanese Nambu Type 96/99.

Portuguese Madsen machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Japanese soldiers are also seen using a Madsen machine gun which is substituting for the Japanese Type 99 in the film.

Explosives

Mk 2 Hand Grenade

Several US soldiers including Welsh and Doll are seen using Mk 2 hand grenades when the Japanese stage a surprise attack on the American position.

Mk 2 hand grenade

Kieron Moore with grenade