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Red Dawn (1984): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Rdg5.jpg|thumb|none|300px|RGD-5 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]] | [[Image:Rdg5.jpg|thumb|none|300px|RGD-5 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]] | ||
[[Image:RedDawnFakeRGD5Roofa.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Robert drops "RGD-5" mocked up grenades during one of the ambushes, off of the roof onto the Cuban & Soviet Soldiers.]] | [[Image:RedDawnFakeRGD5Roofa.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Robert drops "RGD-5" mocked up grenades during one of the ambushes, off of the roof onto the Cuban & Soviet Soldiers.]] | ||
[[Image:RedDawnFakeRGDGrenadeA.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Toni Mason ([[Jennifer Grey]]) has an RGD-5 grenade placed as a boobytrap | [[Image:RedDawnFakeRGDGrenadeA.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Toni Mason ([[Jennifer Grey]]) has an RGD-5 grenade placed as a boobytrap.]] | ||
==Fake RGD-33 Stick Grenade== | ==Fake RGD-33 Stick Grenade== | ||
Revision as of 11:09, 23 April 2012
Red Dawn is a 1984 action war film that dramatizes the possibility of a Soviet invasion of the continental United States. Directed by John Milius, the film stars Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, and Jennifer Grey as a group of mostly teenagers who become resistance fighters against the occupying force. The film is notable for the amount of effort put into accurately depicting modern Soviet armor and weaponry particularly during the time of the Cold War. A remake of the film is scheduled for release in the near future.
The following weapons were used in the film Red Dawn (1984):
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Handguns
Colt Single Action Army
A Colt Single Action Army revolver with ivory grips was used by Jed. The revolver used was a personal piece owned by director John Milius.
Walther PP Pistol
The Nicaraguan Captain (Judd Omen) holds a Walther PP Pistol as he hunts for Jed and Matt. It is meant to be a PM Makarov, but that is explained below.
Smith & Wesson Model 15
A Smith & Wesson Model 15 (denote by its tapered barrel) with Pachmayr grips is the 'survival pistol' belonging to USAF Colonel Andrew Tanner (Powers Boothe) but it is taken away from him by Erica. Interestingly enough, the Model 15 was the issued revolver to USAF Security Police from 1962-1985 so it is feasible for a USAF Colonel to wield one. Combat pilots were given a wide latitude of the personal sidearm they could carry, with many opting for small revolvers, like the Airweight, or traditional semiauto pistols like the M1911.
M1911A1
An M1911A1 pistol is first seen in the "cold dead hands" of an American who resisted the Soviet invasion. The pistol is pulled from the hand of the man and inspected by a Soviet Paratrooper who stuffs it behind his webbing belt. The M1911A1 seen in this scene is a commercial blued version. A parkerized M1911A1 is also used by Colonel Andrew Tanner during the final snow battle.
Later in the film, despite having his Smith & Wesson Model 15 revolver, Colonel Tanner ends up with a military M1911A1 pistol, seen during the snow battle. It is assumed that he picked it up somewhere along the way, like the previous Soviet Paratrooper, since none of the occupying forces would be carrying that pistol.
CZ 75
The leader of the Soviet Paratroopers, in the attack on Calumet High School, motions to his troops with an original CZ 75 handgun, and not one of the later "B" models.
Tokarev TT-33 Pistol
One of the officers does have an actual Tokarev TT-33 Pistol (several viewings of the clip verified it, even though the actor whips it back and forth). He stands next to another paratrooper firing an RPG - with those bright yellow and blue rockets.
Submachine Gun
Jatimatic Submachine Gun
The Jatimatic SMG was used by Colonel Strelnikov (William Smith) when he is hunting Matt and Jed at the end of the film. It was supposed to represent the Polish manufactured PM-63 machine pistol as none were available in the country at the time of filming due to the Cold War.
Shotguns
Winchester Model 1912
The Shotgun that Robert takes from his father's Gas Station/General Store is initially a Winchester Model 1912 with a field barrel (28"). Robert Morris (C. Thomas Howell) uses it in the first encounter with Soviet soldiers in the National park.
Remington 870 Wingmaster
In a continuity break, the Mossberg 500 previously seen morphs into a Remington 870 Wingmaster. The Remington 870 Wingmaster is first seen when Robert is sawing down the long barrel to make a short barreled shotgun. The cut down 870 is used pretty much exclusively by Robert for the rest of the film.
Rifles & Carbines
Maadi ARM
According to Long Mountain Outfitters (http://www.longmountain.com/movieguns/RedDawn), the AKM rifles used in the movie were actually Egyptian Maadi MISR (imported into the US as the ARM) semi-auto rifles, some of the first semi-automatic Kalashnikov-type rifles ever imported into the United States (besides the Clayco AKM copies). 53 such rifles were used in the movie, 32 of which were converted to full-auto by Class 3 manufacturer Pearl Manufacturing specially for the film. These guns were later used in numerous other movies. These weapons are not to be confused with the post-1989 imported firearms called "MISR" which were modified to comply with the federal import ban.
Fake AKS-74
Fake AKS-74s are used by Soviet paratroopers in the first attack on the school and Soviet Spetsnaz during the battle in the snow. They are actually Maadi ARMs that were very cleverly mocked up with bakelite plastic magazines, skeleton stocks, and custom-made muzzle brakes that resemble that of the AK-74.
FN FAL
Cuban and Nicaraguan soldiers can be seen carrying FN FAL rifles as their main weapons.
Ruger Mini 14 GB
A Ruger Mini-14 GB is briefly seen being handed out to freed prisoners at the re-education camp, and later seen obviously by an escaping 'political prisoner' during the night raid.
M16A1 Rifle
A few M16A1 rifles can be briefly seen being handed out to freed prisoners at the re-education camp, and later seen by another running 'political prisoner' during the night raid.
Marlin Model 336C
The Marlin Model 336C lever action rifle was picked up from the store just after the invasion. Arturo "Aardvark" Mondragon (Doug Toby) fires a single shot from the back of a pickup truck at Russian troops, after an American UH-1 helicopter attacks the Soviets on the ground using rockets. He also uses it in some of the ambushes later in the film.
Savage 110
Jed (Patrick Swayze) picks up a Savage 110 bolt action rifle from Mr. Morris' store at the beginning of the film. He uses it as a sniper rifle during some of the ambushes. The Savage is a likely candidate since the tapered barrel seen in the film more closely matches the stock barrels of the Savage 110 series, more than rifles such as the Remington 700. He also appears to have mounted a .22 rimfire scope on the rifle but the caliber of the rifle is unknown.
Remington Model 572 Fieldmaster
Seen in the gun rack above Jed's Savage 110 bolt action rifle is a Remington Model 572 Fieldmaster pump action rifle. The 572 is a pump action 22 that will shoot 22 shorts, 22 long, or 22 long rifle cartridges. Ammunition is supplied by a tubular magazine under the barrel which holds 15-20 rounds depending on the caliber used. This ability to use all three cartridges is a major difference with other pump action 22s which use only the long rifle cartridge. The Remington 572 is a popular plinker and small game rifle which would be ideal as a survival weapon although it did not see additional use in the movie.
Machine Guns
Valmet M78
The Valmet M78 LMG was standing in for the Soviet RPK since none were available in the country when this movie was filmed. The M78 LMG was used by Russian Paratroopers in the beginning of the movie and, and later by the Wolverines, most notably by Toni Mason (Jennifer Grey).
Fake DShK Heavy Machine Gun
At the time of filming there were no DShK heavy machine guns available for use in movies, so the armorers mocked up DShKs from M60D machine guns. Apparently the size difference between a 7.62mm gun and a .50 cal gun wasn't enough to distract people during the movie.
Fake Goryunov SGM Machine gun
Yet another Soviet-era machine gun that was mocked up from the venerable (and available) M60 machine gun is the Goryunov SGM machine gun.
Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun
Seen briefly but never used is a knocked out Browning M2HB heavy machine gun, mounted on a destroyed M42 "Duster" anti-aircraft vehicle.
Mini-Gun
GE M134 Minigun
An abandoned GE M134 Minigun, possibly from a crashed vehicle/chopper can be seen on the abandoned battlefield. It is noteworthy that there seem to be many 'abandoned' weapons, from .50 cal machine guns to .30 cal machine guns, however, it must be assumed that these are damaged and inoperable, or else the Soviets would never just leave them for anyone to pick up.
Man Portable Missile and Rocket/Grenade Launchers
Fake RPG-7
Fake RPG-7s are used by Soviet and Communist Bloc soldiers, and later Matt (Charlie Sheen). The weapon itself is a fabricated prop, utilizing a vintage 1950s era RPG-2 as a base. A flared rear blast cone and a second 'fake' pistol grip was added as well as a fake PGO-7 scope that was fabricated out of plastic (it's a bit too large and wrongly shaped for the real PGO-7 scope). The rocket warhead is a plastic and rubber fabrication and not an RPG-2 rocket head. The fuse tip itself is the cap from a Crest toothpaste tube!
On another note, the rocket of the fake RPG-7 (like many other films that use rocket launchers) is a foam rubber fake when firing around actors. Prior to the advent of CGI in films, they were fired with real Estes rocket motors and guided along wires to their targets. Below we see a frame of film where we can clearly see the wire that will guide the foam rubber rocket head to its intended target.
Fake SA-7 Grail
A mocked up SA-7 Grail (built from metal tubing and plastic) is used by a Cuban soldier at an attacking American UH-1D Helicopter. The mockup of the SA-7 is quite accurate. However, in the film a Cuban soldier, firing a heat seeking surface to air missile, cannot hit a slow moving UH-1 "Huey" (The post Vietnam "G" model with twin turbines). This is not likely unless the weapon was fired in completely the wrong direction.
Grenades
Fake RGD-5 Hand Grenades
In the film we see numerous fake Soviet RGD-5 hand grenades, however, the paint scheme is off and the scale is too large.
Fake RGD-33 Stick Grenade
Colonel Tanner uses a stick grenade to destroy one of the YAK-36 VTOL fighters parked near the re-education camp. Though it is cool, it seems strange that the Soviet Navy would have VTOL fighters parked so close to an internment camp, unless they were using the Americans as human shields against long range missile strikes or aerial bombardment. The stick grenade is a mockup, however it could be either a fake of the RGD-33 stick grenade or the RKG-3 anti-tank grenade.
Rocket Pods
Fake UB-32 Rocket Pods (on Fake Hind Gunship)
Fake 32-round UB-32 rocket pods for the Russian S-5 unguided air-to-ground rocket are seen on the mocked up Hind-A helicopter gunship, along with wing mounted hardpoints with mocked-up twin launch rails for fake AT-2 "Swatter" anti-tank missiles.
Gun Platforms
Fake Mil Mi-24 "Hind" Gunship
The "Mil Mi-24 Hinds" seen in the film are excellent mockups of Hind-As (painted with winter camo) built up from French Aerospatiale Pumas and were later used again in other movies such as Rambo: First Blood Part II and Rambo III. The version depicted was the earliest incarnation of the Hind, the Model-A with the blunt angular "greenhouse" side-by-side cockpit rather than the later twin in-line "double bubble" canopy. The Hind-A was also seen in the film Firefox, however those were 1/12th scale radio controlled flying models. For the film Red Dawn, three Pumas were modified (and all seen on film) and all had a fake Hind-A 'nose' sections built with darked tinted windows that slipped over the front end of the real Puma helicopter. (If you looked closely, you could see the real nose of the Puma 'underneath' the Hind nose section through the tinted windows. This, however, limited pilot vision and also restricted motion - quick turns were not possible lest the fake nose front end be ripped off the helicopter. Later incarnations of the same modified Puma helicopter removed the extended Hind-A nose sections, but kept the fake wings and rockets pods (as these were sturdy modifications and didn't adversely affect the aerodynamics of the helicopter.)
In several shots, we can see the actual nose assembly of the original PUMA helicopter underneath the tinted glass windows of the extended "faux" nose.
M42 "Duster" 40mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
An M42 "Duster" SPAAG that has been knocked out of action is prominent in the ghost battlefield sequence. Of course what is noticeably missing from the plethora of destroyed vehicles on the battlefield are main battle tanks like M1 Abrams or infantry fighting vehicles. The M42 "Dusters" were built on obsolete M41 Walker Bulldog light tank chassis that were outfitted with twin 40mm AA guns and were used by ground troops in Vietnam, before being retired from regular Army service in 1972. The M42 was then only found as a Corps Level asset in National Guard units until it was fully retired in 1988.
Fake Soviet ZSU-23 Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
A Fake Soviet ZSU-23 Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun was built on an American M8A1 Cargo Tractor chassis by Veluzet Armored Vehicles, out of Newhall, California. This ZSU-23 replica was also used in 1988's Rambo III as well as the 1991 John Milius directed film Flight of the Intruder.
Fake Soviet T-72 Main Battle Tank
The Fake T-72 tanks from the film were built on the chassis of a surplus M8A1 Cargo Tractor, which itself was a stretched version of the M41 Walker Bulldog with four return rollers and six roadwheels per side instead of three return rollers and five roadwheels. These mockups would later be used in 1988's Rambo III.
Trivia
Morris's Market
As many viewers remember, there was a large rack of sporting/hunting long guns in Mister Morris's Gas Station/General Store and Mister Morris hands out food, guns and ammunition to the boys and tells them to leave and "don't look back." However, none of the long guns in Mister Morris's gun rack can be identified due to the dark lighting in the shot.
Inaccurate Captioning on the DVD
During the planning of the attack on the re-education camp, Col. Tanner mystifies most of the Wolverines with his military jargon. Apparently the jargon is unknown to the people doing the captioning of the DVD as well. He refers to grazing fire at a defilade (using the verb as a noun to refer to an area which the Soviets have prepared in such a way as to protect the position from enfilading fire). Erica Mason (Lea Thompson) responds with "Devolay?". The Closed captions on the DVD incorrectly quotes Tanner as saying "duffle-A" which makes no sense.
