Lost Command

Lost Command is a 1966 American war film directed by Mark Robson and based on the book Les centurions by Jean Lartéguy. The plot concerns the French war in Algeria (although the film begins with the French defeat at Điện Biên Phủ in French Indochina). The film is often erroneously described as depicting French Foreign Legionnaires when they are actually French Colonial Paratroops (and referred to as such in the film).
In the film, the unit that is formed in Algeria that the film revolves around is the fictional 10ème Regiment de Parachutiste Coloniaux which, in the French military tradition, would be abbreviated 10e RPC. Of course, translated, it is the 10th Colonial Parachute Regiment. The unit depicted at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ is not named.
= Pistols =
== Astra Modelo 600 ==
Capitaine Phillipe Esclavier (Alain Delon) is seen using an Astra Modelo 600 pistol in numerous scenes in the film. While not a standard issue French pistol, the major filming location was in Spain, hence the appearance of a Spanish-made pistol in the film. This is also true of the dozens of Spanish Mauser rifles and Star submachine guns seen throughout the film. More than likely the film's production crew had easier access to Spanish made firearms than the correct French military-issue firearms.
600px|thumb|none|Capitaine Phillipe Esclavier (Alain Delon) with an Astra Modelo 600 during the night ambush on the village of Rahlem.
600px|thumb|none|Capitaine Esclavier (Alain Delon) with an Astra Modelo 600 pistol (laying on the rock) and a MAT-49 submachine gun during the terrorist attack in the village of Rahlem.
== M1911A1 ==
Capitaine Julien Boisfeuras (Maurice Ronet) is seen using an M1911A1 throughout the film. The pistol is also seen in the hands of a number of other French paratroopers as well as being used by Mahidi (George Segal). The use of the M1911A1 by the French is not inaccurate as thousands were provided to the French military by the United States after the end of the Second World War. The pistol was used by the French in both Indochina and Algeria to supplement French manufactured (and issued) pistols.
600px|thumb|none|Mahidi (George Segal, on the right) being handed a M1911A1 captured from the French paratroopers by one of the Algerians.
= Submachine Guns =
== MAT-49 ==
The French MAT-49 is utilized by the French paratroopers throughout the film. In some scenes, the Việt Minh, as well as the Algerian Front de libération nationale (FLN), can be seen using this submachine gun.
600px|thumb|none|A French paratrooper with a MAT-49 during the attack at Điện Biên Phủ. Note the OF 37 hand grenades laying to the right of the paratrooper. The paratrooper to the left is armed with a Spanish Mauser Modelo 98/43 rifle.
600px|thumb|none|Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre-Noel Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn) changes the magazine of his MAT-49. For a film made in 1966, there are numerous scenes with the French paratroops (and Algerians) changing their weapon's magazines.
== Star Z-45 ==
A number of Spanish Star Z-45 submachine guns (with folding stocks) are utilized. As with the Astra 600 pistol, the use of the Star Z-45 is probably attributed to them being easy to obtain by the production crew since filming was conducted in Spain.
[[Image:Lostcmd06.JPG|600px|thumb|none|A Việt Minh soldier carrying a Star Z-45 submachine gun. While out of place in French Indochina, it may be standing-in for the [[MP 40], which was used by the French colonial forces and frequently captured by guerillas.]]
600px|thumb|none|Weapons collected by the 10e RPC after the ambush on the way to Gafez. In the pile are numerous Star Z-45s, Spanish Mauser Modelo 98/43 rifles, as well as a Browning M1919A4 being inspected.
600px|thumb|none|The Algerian terrorist that attacks the paratroopers in Rahlem is seen here with a Star Z-45 submachine gun.
600px|thumb|none|A few scenes during the final assault on the Algerian positions in the Aures Mountains are filmed from behind a firing Star Z-45 submachine gun... this was somewhat revolutionary at the time to have a "gun camera" scene, way before The A-Team thought of it.
= Rifles =
== M1 Carbine ==
Korean War era (with bayonet lug) M1 Carbines are carried by French paratroopers in a few scenes as well as being used by Mahidi (George Segal). Like the M1911A1, the appearance of this firearm in the film is not inaccurate. Thousands were supplied to the French by the United States after the end of the Second World War and used by the French in Indochina and Algeria to supplement French-issued rifles. These carbines (along with the folding stock M1A1 variant) were, historically, ordered to be issued to the Colonial and Foreign Legion paratroopers and proved to be extremely popular with them.
600px|thumb|none|Paratroopers of the 10e RPC during the scene prior to the night ambush on the village of Rahlem. The paratrooper second from the left is holding an M1 Carbine. In a wide shot of this scene, a number of paratroopers can be seen carrying carbines.
600px|thumb|none|A wider shot of the paratroopers of the 10e RPC during the same scene as above. At least three M1 Carbines are visible.
600px|thumb|none|Mahidi (George Segal) seen with an M1 Carbine during the final assault in the Aures Mountains. In this scene, he is being viewed by the French through a pair of binoculars.
600px|thumb|none|The French paratrooper on the right is seen carrying a M1 Carbine.
== Mauser Modelo 1916 ==
The Spanish made Mauser Modelo 1916 is utilized by not only the French paratroopers (erroneously) but also the Việt Minh troops in the beginning of the film and by the FLN throughout the rest of the film. Like other Spanish firearms in the film, these were probably easy to procure by the production crew due to filming in Spain. They are a rather loose stand-in for French bolt-action rifles like the MAS-36.
600px|thumb|none|A Việt Minh soldier armed with a Mauser Modelo 1916 rifle. It should be noted that the helmets that the Việt Minh soldiers are wearing are in no way accurate to real life.
600px|thumb|none|Mahidi's (George Segal) second-in-command (right) seen with a Mauser Modelo 1916 during the final assault in the Aures Mountains.
600px|thumb|none|Algerians armed with Mauser Modelo 1916 during the final assault in the Aures Mountains.
== Mauser Modelo 98/43 ==
Another Spanish-made rifle, the Mauser Modelo 98/43, is also utilized by the French paratroopers (erroneously), Việt Minh troops at Điện Biên Phủ, and by the FLN throughout the rest of the film. 
600px|thumb|none|A Việt Minh soldier armed with a Mauser Modelo 98/43 during the march of the French paratroopers into captivity after their defeat at Điện Biên Phủ.
600px|thumb|none|Algerians firing Mauser Modelo 98/43 rifles during the final assault in the Aures Mountains.
= Machine Guns =
== Hotchkiss modèle 1914 ==
In a brief cut during the attack on Điện Biên Phủ, a French Hotchkiss modèle 1914 machine gun can be seen in a sandbagged emplacement.
600px|thumb|none|To the left, in the sandbagged emplacement, a Hotchkiss modèle 1914 machine gun is seen during the attack on Điện Biên Phủ.
== Browning M1919A4 ==
The American Browning M1919A4 is utilized by the French paratroops during the Điện Biên Phủ and Algeria scenes. The Algerian guerillas are also seen using the machine gun, one of which is captured, and is part of a sub-plot.
600px|thumb|none|French paratroopers of the 10e RPC firing a Browning M1919A4 during the training scenes at Camp Foch in Algeria.
600px|thumb|none|Algerians firing a Browning M1919A4 during the ambush of the 10e RPC motorized column on its way to Gafez.
600px|thumb|none|Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre-Noel Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn) seen carrying the Browning M1919A4 captured from the Algerians during the ambush on the way to Gafez.
600px|thumb|none|Algerians manning a Browning M1919A4 during the final assault in the Aures Mountains.
== Browning M1919A6 ==
A Browning M1919A6 is utilized by French paratroopers mounted on a jeep.
600px|thumb|none|A Browning M1919A6 seen mounted on one of the 10e RPC jeeps during the ambush on the way to Gafez.
= Other Weapons =
== OF 37 Hand Grenade ==
OF 37 hand grenades are used by French paratroopers during the battle at Điện Biên Phủ.
600px|thumb|none|Several OF 37 grenades are seen to the right of the paratrooper with MAT-49. The red color is typical for pre-WWII manufactured grenades while postwar OF 37s were painted dark green.
== M-65 Rocket Launcher ==
A Spanish upgrade of the Bazooka, the M-65 rocket launcher is used by the Algerians during the ambush of the 10e RPC motorized column on its way to Gafez.
600px|thumb|none|A M-65 rocket launcher being used by the Algerians to attack the 10e RPC.
== 81mm Valero Modelo 1933 Mortar ==
Mortars are seen being used by both the Algerians and French paratroopers during the final assault in the Aures Mountains. These are Spanish 81mm Valero M1933 Mortars.
600px|thumb|none|Mortars being used by the Algerians to attack the 10e RPC.
Category:Movie
Category:War