The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975)

The Count of Monte-Cristo is a 1975 British-Italian made for TV movie, a screen adaptation of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, directed by David Greene and starring Richard Chamberlain, Trevor Howard, Donald Pleasence, Tony Curtis, and Kate Nelligan.
This page is for the 1975 British film starring Richard Chamberlain. For the 1954 French film starring Jean Marais, see here. For the 1961 French-Italian film starring Louis Jourdan, see here. For the 1979 French mini-series starring Jacques Weber, see here. For the 1998 French miniseries starring Gerard Depardieu, see here. For the 2002 English-language film starring James Caviezel, see here.
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= Pistols =
== Flintlock Pistol ==
When the prosecutor de Villefort (Louis Jourdan) conflicts his father Noirtier (Anthony Dawson), he holds a Flintlock Pistol of unclear model. It looks similar to An XIII cavalry pistol but has significally shorter barrel that barely protrudes from the stock. Possibly the barrel and the ramrod of this pistol were shortened for conversion into a pocket pistol (similar variants existed).
== Kentucky Percussion Cap Pistol ==
When Danglars (Donald Pleasence) is ruined, he draws a Kentucky Percussion Cap Pistol from a drawer. The bright yellow wood and the shape of the sights allow to identify this pistol as a modern replica, probably a Pedersoli production, judging by the exact shape of the "bird's head" grip and the muzzle cap (the generally similar replica by Traditions Firearms varies in both details).
= Shotguns =
== Beretta Model 412 (visually modified as Flintlock Pistol) ==
The flintlock dueling pistols, seen in hands of Count of Monte-Cristo (Richard Chamberlain) and Albert Mondego (Dominic Guard), turn out to be sawed-off, visually modified Single Barreled Shotguns. They are fitted with non-functional flintlocks. A closeup allows to see the real trigger and the trigger guard on the shotgun together with the fake trigger and its guard. Judging by the cylindrical hinge prominently protruding under the receiver and the opening lever located forward of the trigger guard, the base gun is a folding shotgun, very likely a Beretta Model 412.
== Beretta Model 412 (visually modified as Flintlock Cavalry Carbine) ==
When Edmond Dantes (Richard Chamberlain) descends into the cave on the island of Monte-Cristo, his long percussion cap musket (see below) switches to a flintlock carbine, resembling the French Charleville Mle 1777. When Dantes fires at the lock of the treasure chest, the flintlock remains still, and there is no flash on it. As the opening lever located forward of the trigger guard is seen, the carbine is supposed to be another visually Beretta Model 412 shotgun. Probably the reason of replacing a percussion cap musket with a fake flintlock gun was the need to make a gunshot on screen, for which the shotgun is more convenient to use during the set.
= Muskets =
== Chatellerault Mle 1822 T Percussion Cap Musket ==
When Edmond Dantes (Richard Chamberlain) embarks on the island of Monte-Cristo, he holds a long barreled military style percussion cap musket. When he explores the cave, the musket switches to a flintlock carbine (that turns out to be a visually modified Beretta 412 shotgun, see above), and after Dantes returns to the shore, his gun is again the long musket. Judging by the shape of the side plate, this is a Chatellerault Mle 1822 T (converted from flintlock to percussion cap lock) rather than purposely build percussion cap St.Etienne Mle 1842. This scene is set in 1829 when the percussion cap lock was already invented but still less common than the flintlock.
== Charleville Flintlock Musket ==
During the arrest of Edmond Dantes, the convoying soldiers carry Charleville flintlock muskets.
Category:Movie
Category:Adventure Movie
Category:Drama
Category:Romance
Category:Alexandre Dumas
Category:British Produced/Filmed
Category:Italian Produced/Filmed