The Big Red One

The Big Red One is a 1980 World War II film that follows members of a rifle squad of the US 1st Infantry Division during their tour in the European theater of the war. The squad consists of four soldiers who come to be known as the "Four Horsemen": Griff (Mark Hamill), Zab (Robert Carradine), Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco), and Johnson (Kelly Ward), who are led by an NCO known only as the Sergeant (Lee Marvin). They struggle to survive throughout the war, including the North African campaign, the invasion of Sicily, Omaha Beach on D-Day, and onto the invasion of Germany and the discovery of the concentration camps. The film was directed by Samuel Fuller, who was known for his war films such as The Steel Helmet and Merrill's Marauders in addition to having served in the US 1st Infantry Division during the war. Fuller's daughter has stated in past interviews that the movie is in many ways an account of her father's war experiences. An extended version of the film was released on DVD in 2004 as The Big Red One: The Reconstruction.
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=Rifles=
==Springfield M1903==
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries a M1903 Springfield Rifle fitted with a bayonet as he surveys the battlefield just prior to the war being over.
==M1 Garand==
The M1 Garand is the chief weapon of the 1st Squad and is the weapon most frequently seen used by American forces in the film.
 
 
==M1 Carbine==
An M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by an American soldier on patrol with the Sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge. In a deleted scene, the Sergeant is seen arguing with paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne, who are armed with the M1 Carbine.
thumb|none|450px|World War II Era M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine
==Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I*==
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1* is the rifle seen carried by British troops who liberate a makeshift hospital in Tunis.
==Mauser Gewehr 1898==
A Gewehr 98 is seen being smashed by a mad horse that spooks the Private during the WWI prologue. This was supposed to be the Private's Springfield, as he states later that the animal smashed his rifle.
==Lebel Mle. 1886==
As the Big Red One hits the beach in North Africa, Vichy French soldiers are seen armed with the Lebel Model 1886 Rifle as their main weapon.
==Karabiner 98k==
The main rifle used by German forces in the film is the Karabiner 98ks.
==Kabyle Musket==
In a restored scene, Arab soldiers are seen armed with the Kabyle Musket when assisting the 1st Squad in taking out a German tank.
=Handguns=
==Colt M1911==
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries an M1911 as his sidearm. An M1911 is also used by a Belgian woman who produces the pistol from a pack to threaten a German infiltrator (this was seen in the Reconstruction).
==MAS Mle. 1892==
A Vichy French officer draws his Mle 1892 Revolver when his men refuse to fire on the Americans who have hit the beach.
=Submachine Guns=
==M1928A1 Thompson==
The M1928A1 Thompson is seen being carried mainly by Pvt. Switolsky (Doug Werner). While it lacks the Cutts Compensator, the Thompson is an M1928A1 identified by its square receiver shape and not the upside-down T shape of the M1A1. Most of Switolsky's role was cut from the theatrical version of the film, but was restored for the Reconstruction.
 
==Sten Mk. III==
The Sten is seen carried by British troops who liberate a makeshift hospital in Tunis.
==MP 40==
The MP 40 is seen carried by German soldiers, namely Sergeant Schroeder (Siegfried Rauch) throughout the film. During the shootout in the asylum, Rensonnet (Serge Marquand) declares "I am sane!" while firing an MP 40.
==MP 38==
German soldiers also carry some MP 38s.
==Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II==
Italian forces are seen with the Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II when the Big Red One invades Italy.
=Machine Guns=
==Hotchkiss Mle. 1914==
Vichy French soldiers are seen manning a 1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun before the American invasion.
==MG 34==
The MG 34 is used by both German and Italian forces in the film.
==Browning 1919A4==
The Browning M1919A4 is seen firing from the modified M51 Sherman mocked up to resemble a German Tiger. The Sergeant is seen firing the machine gun from the tank in the battle near the Christ on the Cross. The Browning M1919A4 is also briefly seen held by a US soldier during the Battle of the Bulge.
==Browning Automatic Rifle==
In a scene from "The Reconstruction"., a Browning Automatic Rifle is very briefly seen in the lap of a relaxing American soldier that is filmed by a documentary cameraman (played by the film's director Samuel Fuller).
=Other=
==M20B1 "Super Bazooka"==
In a scene from "The Reconstruction", an M20B1 "Super Bazooka" is fired by Pvt Kaiser (Perry Lang) in order to take out an enemy artillery bunker. This weapon was anachronistic for WWII.
==M9A1 Bazooka==
The M9A1 Bazooka is seen briefly in the hands of US soldiers, notably in scenes set during the Battle of the Bulge.
==Mk II Hand Grenade==
The Mk II Hand Grenade is used by several American soldiers.
==Model 24 Stielhandgranate==
The Model 24 Stielhandgranate is used by German soldiers.
Category:Movie
Category:War
Category:Samuel Fuller