The Steel Helmet

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. 
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=Rifles=
==M1 Garand ==
Throughout the film, American GIs carry an M1 Garand.
thumb|500px|none|Short Round (William Chun) finds an M1 Garand.
thumb|500px|none|Short Round rousts Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans).
thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Zack is seldom seen without his M1 Garand and cigar stub.
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thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Zack and Lt. Driscoll (Steve Brodie) disagree about tactics.
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thumb|500px|none|A North Korean sniper with an M1 Garand.
thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Zack returns fire against a North Korean sniper.
thumb|500px|none|Lt. Driscoll's final resting place.
==M1 Carbine==
Several GIs are armed with M1 Carbines.
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==1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle==
Short Round collects 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle from dead snipers and carries them throughout the film. 
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thumb|500px|none|A North Korean sniper with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle.
thumb|500px|none|North Korean infantry charge with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle 
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=Handguns=
==M1911A1 Pistol==
Throughout the film, GIs carry an M1911A1 pistol.
thumb|500px|none|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.
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thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo) opens fire on a sniper.
thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans) joins Sgt. Tanaka shooting at the other sniper.
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thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans) with a M1928A1 Thompson. Note the bolt actuator on top of the receiver.
thumb|500px|none|Note the simplified rear sight.
thumb|500px|none|Pvt. Baldy returns fire.
==PPSh-41==
Throughout the film, North Korean infantrymen carry a PPSh-41 “Burp Gun.”
thumb|500px|none|The squad examines a captured PPSh.
thumb|500px|none|A North Korean infantryman charges with a "Burp Gun."
thumb|500px|none|The PPSh against the column next to the BAR.
=Machine Guns=
==Browning Automatic Rifle==
The GIs use Browning Automatic Rifles.
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==Browning M2HB==
Lt. Driscoll's patrol transports a Browning M2 machine gun to their observation post.
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==Browning M1917==
Throughout the film, North Korean infantry fire a Browning M1917 machine gun.
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=Other=
==Mk 2 hand grenade==
Throughout the film, American GIs carry an Mk 2 hand grenade.
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==Model 17 Stielhandgranate==
A North Korean major attacks the squad with a Model 17 Stielhandgranate, but forgets to pull the pin.
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thumb|500px|none|Grenade away!
thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo) and Pvt. Baldy (Richard Monahan) clown around with the potato masher.
thumb|500px|none|Note the clip.
==M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket) ==
Throughout the film, Sgt. “Buddha Head” Tanaka (Richard Loo) wields a M20 "Super Bazooka"
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thumb|500px|none|Sgt. Tanaka gets the kill.
Category:Movie
Category:Drama
Category:Thriller
Category:War
Category:B&W
Category:Samuel Fuller