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Operation Crossbow: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Crossbow_poster.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''Operation Crossbow '' (1965)]]
{{Infobox Movie|{{PAGENAME}}
|name =Operation Crossbow
|picture = Crossbow_poster.jpg
|caption = ''Theatrical poster''
|country = [[Image:UKD.jpg|25px]] United Kingdom
|director = Michael Anderson
|date= 1965
|language = English<BR>Spanish
|studio= Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
|distributor= Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
|character1=Lt. John Curtis/Erik van Ostamgen
|actor1=[[George Peppard]]
|character2=Nora Van Ostamgen
|actor2=[[Sophia Loren]]
|character3=General Boyd
|actor3=[[John Mills]]
|character4=Professor Lindemann
|actor4=[[Trevor Howard]]
|character5=Duncan Sandys
|actor5=[[Richard Johnson]]
|character6=Robert Henshaw
|actor6=[[Tom Courtenay]]
|character7=Bamford
|actor7=[[Anthony Quayle]]
|character8=Frieda
|actor8=[[Lilli Palmer]]
|character9=Phil Bradley
|actor9=[[Jeremy Kemp]]
|character10=Maj. Gen. Ziemann
|actor10=[[Paul Henreid]]
}}




'''''Operation Crossbow''''' (alternate title: '''''The Great Spy Mission''''') is a 1965 war/spy film with [[George Peppard]], [[Sophia Loren]], Trevor Howard and John Mills leading an all-star cast. Directed by Michael Anderson (''The Dam Busters'', ''Around the World in Eighty Days'',) it is a heavily fictionalized account of the real Operation Crossbow, which was the Anglo-American effort to neutralize German V-weapons during World War II.  
'''''Operation Crossbow''''' (alternate title: '''''The Great Spy Mission''''') is a 1965 war/spy film with [[George Peppard]], [[Sophia Loren]], Trevor Howard and [[John Mills]] leading an all-star cast. Directed by Michael Anderson (''The Dam Busters'', ''Around the World in Eighty Days'',) it is a heavily fictionalized account of the real Operation Crossbow, which was the Anglo-American effort to neutralize German V-weapons during World War II.  


Although top-billed, [[Sophia Loren]] actually has a small role. She was brought in to bring in viewers, and casting her was not difficult as she was married to the producer, Carlo Ponti. She did not succeed, however, as the film did poorly in its initial release. Blaming the title for perhaps suggesting that the film was about actual bows and crossbows, it was re-released under the more obvious title, ''The Great Spy Mission''.
Although top-billed, [[Sophia Loren]] actually had a small role. She was brought in to bring in viewers, and casting her was not difficult as she was married to the producer, Carlo Ponti. She did not succeed, however, as the film did poorly in its initial release. Blaming the title for perhaps suggesting that the film was about actual bows and crossbows, it was re-released under the more obvious title, ''The Great Spy Mission''.


'''The following weapons are used in ''Operation Crossbow'':'''
{{Film Title}}


__TOC__<BR Clear=All>
__TOC__<BR Clear=All>


==MP40==
=Pistols=
German troops are armed with [[MP40]] submachine guns. Lieutenant John Curtis/Erik van Ostamgen ([[George Peppard]]) makes extensive use of one in the ending.
[[Image:MP40Side.jpg|thumb|none|350px|MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_01.jpg|thumb|none|600px|This MP40 actually appears to be missing a piece.]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Despite being a fighter pilot and an engineer, Curtis does what so few do in WWII movies: firing the MP40 using the extended shoulder stock.]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_04.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_05.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
 
==Walther P38==
==Walther P38==
German officers are armed with [[Walther P38]]s. Bamford ([[Anthony Quayle]]) appropriates one from one of them.
German officers are armed with [[Walther P38]]s. Bamford ([[Anthony Quayle]]) appropriates one from one of them.
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[[Image:Crossbow_Jetfire_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_Jetfire_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]


=Submachine Guns=
==MP40==
German troops are armed with [[MP40]] submachine guns. Lieutenant John Curtis/Erik van Ostamgen ([[George Peppard]]) makes extensive use of one in the ending.
[[Image:MP40Side.jpg|thumb|none|400px|MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_01.jpg|thumb|none|600px|This MP40 actually appears to be missing a piece.]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Despite being a fighter pilot and an engineer, Curtis does what so few do in WWII movies: firing the MP40 using the extended shoulder stock.]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_04.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_MP40_05.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
==MP40 (mockup)==
A mockup MP40 is used by one of the German guards at the factory. It's possible it is a SMG modified to look like a MP40.
[[Image:OperationCrossbowMP40 (1).jpg|thumb|none|600px|The magazine holder looks loose and the bottom housing looks very different than a genuine MP40.]]
[[Image:OperationCrossbowMP40 (2).jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
=Rifles=
==Karabiner 98k==
==Karabiner 98k==
German troops are armed with [[Karabiner 98k]].  
German troops are armed with [[Karabiner 98k]].  
[[Image:Karabiner-98K.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
[[Image:Karabiner-98K.jpg|thumb|none|450px|Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
[[Image:Crossbow_K98K_01.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_K98K_01.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_K98K_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]
[[Image:Crossbow_K98K_02.jpg|thumb|none|600px|]]


=Other=
==Bofors 40mm==
==Bofors 40mm==
A [[Bofors 40mm]] is seen in the background in one scene. Almost all the AAA scenes in the film used existing wartime stock footage, so an actual gun (or mockup) was rare.
A [[Bofors 40mm]] is seen in the background in one scene. Almost all the AAA scenes in the film used existing wartime stock footage, so an actual gun (or mockup) was rare.

Latest revision as of 06:15, 5 November 2020


Operation Crossbow
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Theatrical poster
Country Error creating thumbnail: File missing United Kingdom
Directed by Michael Anderson
Release Date 1965
Language English
Spanish
Studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Main Cast
Character Actor
Lt. John Curtis/Erik van Ostamgen George Peppard
Nora Van Ostamgen Sophia Loren
General Boyd John Mills
Professor Lindemann Trevor Howard
Duncan Sandys Richard Johnson
Robert Henshaw Tom Courtenay
Bamford Anthony Quayle
Frieda Lilli Palmer
Phil Bradley Jeremy Kemp
Maj. Gen. Ziemann Paul Henreid



Operation Crossbow (alternate title: The Great Spy Mission) is a 1965 war/spy film with George Peppard, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard and John Mills leading an all-star cast. Directed by Michael Anderson (The Dam Busters, Around the World in Eighty Days,) it is a heavily fictionalized account of the real Operation Crossbow, which was the Anglo-American effort to neutralize German V-weapons during World War II.

Although top-billed, Sophia Loren actually had a small role. She was brought in to bring in viewers, and casting her was not difficult as she was married to the producer, Carlo Ponti. She did not succeed, however, as the film did poorly in its initial release. Blaming the title for perhaps suggesting that the film was about actual bows and crossbows, it was re-released under the more obvious title, The Great Spy Mission.


The following weapons were used in the film Operation Crossbow:


Pistols

Walther P38

German officers are armed with Walther P38s. Bamford (Anthony Quayle) appropriates one from one of them.

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Walther P38 WWII dated with black grips - 9x19mm
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Bamford with a P38.
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As good of a shot as they come.
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A P38 next to a dead officer.

Beretta Jetfire

Frieda (Lilli Palmer) uses a suppressed Beretta Jetfire in one scene.

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Beretta 950B Jetfire - .25 ACP‎
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Frieda reveals her Jetfire.
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Submachine Guns

MP40

German troops are armed with MP40 submachine guns. Lieutenant John Curtis/Erik van Ostamgen (George Peppard) makes extensive use of one in the ending.

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MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm
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This MP40 actually appears to be missing a piece.
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Despite being a fighter pilot and an engineer, Curtis does what so few do in WWII movies: firing the MP40 using the extended shoulder stock.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing

MP40 (mockup)

A mockup MP40 is used by one of the German guards at the factory. It's possible it is a SMG modified to look like a MP40.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The magazine holder looks loose and the bottom housing looks very different than a genuine MP40.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Rifles

Karabiner 98k

German troops are armed with Karabiner 98k.

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Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Other

Bofors 40mm

A Bofors 40mm is seen in the background in one scene. Almost all the AAA scenes in the film used existing wartime stock footage, so an actual gun (or mockup) was rare.

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Bofors 40mm L/60 AA gun in a wheeled trailer mounting - 40×311mmR
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The Bofors 40mm can be seen in the background.

Alternate poster

The Great Spy Mission (1965)