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'''The following firearms were used in the film ''Oh! What a Lovely War'':''' | '''The following firearms were used in the film ''Oh! What a Lovely War'':''' | ||
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Revision as of 07:11, 9 June 2011
Oh! What a Lovely War is a 1969 musical which depicts events of the First World War (1914-1918) from the outset to the armistice. It is based on the 1963 stage production of the same name. Told through the eyes of mainly British soldiers, statesmen and civilians, the film presents a cynical and satirical view of the war using popular songs of the period. The film follows the generic Smith family both at the front and at home as the war escalates and begins to take its toll.
The following firearms were used in the film Oh! What a Lovely War:
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Webley Green Revolver
In the opening titles a Webley WG revolver, commonly known as the Webley Green, is pictured.
Webley Mk.VI
Multiple British officers can be seen carrying Webley Mk VI revolvers, the standard Btitish sidearm at the time. At various stages in the war, however, shortages forced Britain to obtain alternative models to suplement the Webley from companies such as Colt and Smith & Wesson.
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)
The Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) is seen in the hands of British soldiers throughout the film. The SMLE Mk. III was the standard issue rifle to British and Commonwealth forces during the Great War although older models such as the SMLE Mk. I and CLLE (Charger Loading Lee-Enfield) were still in service. From 1916 onwards, a number of expedients were made with the rifle to speed up the manifacturing process. These simplified models were designated the SMLE Mk. III* and lacked some features of the regular Mk. III such as adjustable rear sights and magazine cut-off plates which prevented the use of the magazine.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
In one scene German soldiers are resting in a forest. In the background they appear to have Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles although this is uncertain as thay are too far away or are partially obscured, making definite identification difficult.
M1917 Enfield
The M1917 Enfield was adopted for service by the US Army due to shortages of 1903 Springfield rifles. The M1917 is essentially a .30-06 variation of the .303 Pattern 1914 rifle produced in Britain. Given that this film was shot in Britain, it is more likely that the rifles shown are P'14 rifles intended to represent M1917s.
Various Smallbore Rifles
Young men try their luck shooting at targets made to resemble German soldiers on Brighton Pier using smallbore (most likely .22) rifles. Their 'prize' is an army uniform and they are sent off to war. Some of the pump action 22 rifles are Winchester Model 62As, which would be anachronistic (the 62A wasn't built until 1940). The 62A resembles the correct model Winchester Model 1906 and apparently was supposed to impersonate the older rifle.
Vickers Mk. I Machine Gun
After success with Maxim guns, the British began to produce their own machine guns by modifying Maxim's original design in 1912. These Vickers guns saw service both on land and mounted in aircraft as well as at sea. A Vickers appears in the opening title sequence of the film as well as in the distant background in other scenes.
QF 13-pounder 9 cwt
The Quick-Frring 13 pounder was used in an anti-aircraft role by the British during WWI and was usually found mounted on the flatbed of a truck. These guns were used to protect strategic targets such as airfields and supply columns.
Mills Bomb
Mills hand grenades can be seen in multiple scenes in the film. The Mills Bomb was adopted as the No. 5 grenade in 1915, later models included the No. 23 and No. 36. The Mills remained in service through the Second World War and into the 1970s.