| Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord! |
| If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
King Kong (2005): Difference between revisions
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
During and just after the climax of the film, several U.S. Army soldiers gathered around the Empire State Building can be seen holding [[M1903 Springfield]] bolt-action rifles. | During and just after the climax of the film, several U.S. Army soldiers gathered around the Empire State Building can be seen holding [[M1903 Springfield]] bolt-action rifles. | ||
Actually most of the rifles shown are the similar Model 1917 Enfield bolt-action rifle. This was a First World War improvisation by the US Army to address shortages of the Springfield and lack of manufacturing capacity for that rifle. The M1917 was a modification of the British Enfield Pattern | Actually most of the rifles shown are the similar Model 1917 Enfield bolt-action rifle. This was a First World War improvisation by the US Army to address shortages of the Springfield and lack of manufacturing capacity for that rifle. The M1917 was a modification of the British Enfield Pattern 1914 rifle (itself a copy of the German Mauser Gew 98) for the US .30-06 cartridge. As the P-14 was being manufactured by Winchester and Remington (in the British .303 cartridge) it was far easier to alter production than re-tool to make the Springfield. | ||
In fact far more Enfields were manufactured by the end of the war (~2.65 million, in addition to 1.15 million for the United Kingdom) than Springfields. | In fact far more Enfields were manufactured by the end of the war (~2.65 million, in addition to 1.15 million for the United Kingdom) than Springfields. | ||
Revision as of 04:10, 12 October 2008
The following weapons appear in the movie King Kong:
M1928 Thompson
The M1928 Thompson appears numerous times throughout the film used by various members of the crew of the S.S. Venture during the mission to rescue Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts). The Thompsons seen in the film have the classic 'gangster' configuration; vertical foregrips, Cutts compensators, charging handle on the top, and high-capacity 50rd. drum magazines.
It would be a task to correctly identify if the Thompsons used in the film are models of 1921AC (compensated), 1928 "overstamp" from 1921 Colt, or 1928A1's with vertical grip added for the film to give them the earlier look. However, it is logical to assume that these are actually
WW-II 1928a1's with make-overs in order to give the appearance of the earlier pre-war Colt guns.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
Another weapon used by the crew of the Venture is the German-made Mauser Gewehr 1898 bolt-action rifle. Though firing a more powerful round (7.92x57mm Mauser), they tend to be less effective in the film overall than the rapid-fire Thompsons, possibly due to the Gew 98's straight bolt handle (which slows down reload time compared to the rate of fire of a bolt-action rifle that has a turned-down bolt handle) and five-round magazine.
M1911A1
The second mate of the Venture, Ben Hayes (Evan Parke) carries an M1911A1 pistol during the mission to rescue Ann. He's most notably seen chambering it just before being killed by Kong.
Luger LP08 "Artillery"
The skipper of the S.S. Venture, Captain Englehorn (Thomas Kretschmann) is seen using a long-barelled Artillery model Luger LP08 pistol, shooting a Skull Island native with it just as the native is about to kill Carl Denham (Jack Black).
M1903 Springfield
During and just after the climax of the film, several U.S. Army soldiers gathered around the Empire State Building can be seen holding M1903 Springfield bolt-action rifles.
Actually most of the rifles shown are the similar Model 1917 Enfield bolt-action rifle. This was a First World War improvisation by the US Army to address shortages of the Springfield and lack of manufacturing capacity for that rifle. The M1917 was a modification of the British Enfield Pattern 1914 rifle (itself a copy of the German Mauser Gew 98) for the US .30-06 cartridge. As the P-14 was being manufactured by Winchester and Remington (in the British .303 cartridge) it was far easier to alter production than re-tool to make the Springfield. In fact far more Enfields were manufactured by the end of the war (~2.65 million, in addition to 1.15 million for the United Kingdom) than Springfields.
While less popular with troops than the M1903 the Enfield was a more accurate rifle.
Browning Automatic Rifle
In the extended edition of the film, a soldier armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle in the back of a military truck is telling his fellow comrades what they will do to Kong before the giant ape runs into the vehicle, and smashes it into a wall.
Lewis Gun
During the climax of the movie, the biplanes that attack Kong on the Empire State Building are fitted with Lewis guns for the observer/tail gunner. The version used on the biplanes are air-cooled and lack the thick, water-filled sleeve around the barrel.
Unknown Harpoon
When Kong is attacking the crew of the Venture during their attempt to capture him, Captain Englehorn shoots Kong in the leg with a harpoon gun of unknown make and model.
Browning M1919
In the scene where Kong is pursued from Central Park to the Empire State Building, U.S. Army soldiers are seen firing on the giant ape with a Browning M1919 machine gun mounted in the back of a car.
The model shown, the M1919A4, is somewhat anachronistic for 1933 however.
Anti-aircraft Cannon
While Kong is being pursued through New York City, U.S Army soldiers fire at him with cannons mounted on several military trucks.
This cannon is in fact a British Enfield 13-pdr 9-cwt Mk I, 3" This was a First World War adaption of obsolete 13 pounder cannon as air defense weapons, hence the high angle mounting shown on the truck. The weapon is of three inch (76mm) calibre; the "9-cwt" indicating the barrel/breech assembly weighs nine hundredweight and differentiates this model weapon from other "thirteen pounders".
It may have been selected as the weapon is still (2008) in use and ammunition produced for it; the British Royal Horse Artillery use the cannon, on a conventional carriage mount, for ceremonial purposes such as firing salutes and participating in military "tattoos". However this is mere speculation.
It goes without saying that this weapon was never, in reality, used either by the US Army or by any National Guard unit.
