Bennie the Howl (Benya Krik)

Bennie the Howl (Benya Krik; the American release title incorrectly translates "Krik" as a nickname while this is a Jewish surname) is a 1926 Soviet B&W silent film directed by Vladimir Vilner. The plot is adapted from both Isaak Babel's short stories The Odessa Tales and the real life of Mikhail Vinnitsky aka Mishka Yaponchik, the prototype of the titular character. Benya Krik, nicknamed "The King", is a crime boss of Jewish descent in the city of Odessa. His gang organises protection racket, and when one of the Odessa richmen refuses to pay, Benya robs his bank. During the Russian Civil War, Benya under the influence of Bolshevik Sobkov teams with Reds, reforming his gang into a Red Army regiment. But instead of fighting against the enemies of the revolution, the "regiment" continues robberies and revellings, and at last Benya finds his bitter end.
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= Revolvers =
== Nagant M1895 ==
Nagant M1895 revolvers are seen in hands of Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky), Froim Grach (Osip Merlatti) and Lyovka Byk (Teodor Brainin) during the bank robbery in 1917. The head of the Militsiya of the Provisional Government Tsysin (Leonid Chembarskiy) and several of his subordinates also carry Nagants. In the scenes, set during the Russian Civil War, Nagants are used by Red Commissar Sobkov (Sergei Minin) and his aide Kochetkov (Ivan Sizov).
== Unidentified revolver ==
During the robbery Saveliy Butsis (Aleksandr Sashin) and Lyovka Byk (Teodor Brainin) hold revolvers of unclear model. Possibly this is a single gun that is seen in hands of different characters due to continuity errors. The revolver bears resemblance with Webley RIC family but seems to lack the swing-out ejector rod.
== Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model ==
In the scene, set in 1914, Russian Imperial police personnel carry Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model revolvers. The revolvers are seen only in holsters. Small parts of the grips and the lanyards prove that the holsters aren't empty.
= Pistols =
== Colt M1911 ==
Abdullah the Persian (Georgi Astafyev) and Kol'ka Pakovskiy (Nikolai Nademsky) carry Colt M1911 pistols during the bank robbery. Tsysin (Leonid Chembarskiy) holds an M1911 together with a Nagant M1895. Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky) carries an M1911 in the final scene.
== Steyr M1912 ==
Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky) carries a Steyr M1912 in addition to a Nagant M1895 revolver in one scene, set during the Civil War. Later Kol'ka Pakovskiy (Nikolai Nademsky) is seen with a Steyr 1912.
== Roth-Steyr M1907 ==
During the bank robbery, Froim Grach's (Osip Merlatti) Nagant switches to a Roth-Steyr M1907 pistol and then back to the revolver.
== Mauser C96 ==
Tsysin's aide carries a Mauser C96 when the Militsiya goes to the place of the robbery.
= Rifles =
== Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry ==
Nearly all Red Army men, including the personnel of Benya Krik's "regiment", are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles.
== Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon ==
Several Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon rifles are also seen in hands of the Red Army men in the final scene.
== Mosin Nagant "Obrez" ==
Mosin Nagant "obrez" sawed-off rifles are seen in hands of several of Benya Krik's men.
== Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbine ==
Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbines are briefly seen in several scenes.
= Machine Guns =
== Maxim M1910 ==
Several Maxim M1910 machine guns are used by Benya Krik's "regiment". Several Maxims are mounted on Tsysin's armored car.
= Other Weapons =
== F1 Hand Grenade ==
Some of Benya Krik's men carry F1 hand grenades.
thumb|none|150px|F1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade with Mle1916 Billant fuse.
== RG-14 Hand Grenade ==
Some of Benya Krik's men carry RG-14 hand grenades.
= Trivia =
== Armored Car ==
An armored car, armed with Maxim M1910 machine guns in the turret and in the sides of the hull, is used by Tsysin's Militsiya unit. This is a full-scale mockup without a direct prototype, made specially for filming. Same vehicle is also seen in Arsenal (1929).
= See Also =
* The Art of Living in Odessa (Iskusstvo zhit v Odesse) - a 1989 adaptation of Isaak Babel's stories, starring Sergey Koltakov as Benya Krik.
* The Drayman and the King (Bindyuzhnik i korol) - a 1990 adaptation of Isaak Babel's stories, starring Maksim Leonidov as Benya Krik and Armen Dzhigarkhanyan as Mendel Krik.
* The Dusk (Zakat) - a 1990 adaptation of Isaak Babel's stories, starring Viktor Gvozditsky as Benya Krik and Ramaz Chkhikvadze as Mendel Krik.
Category:Movie
Category:B&W
Category:Crime
Category:Drama
Category:War
Category:Soviet Produced