Red and White (Merah Putih)Red and White (Merah Putih) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video GamesRed and White (Merah Putih)
Red and White (Merah Putih) is a historical drama about the 1945-1949 Indonesian War of Independence against Dutch colonial rule. When the Japanese occupation forces retreat in 1945, independence is declared from the Dutch who understandably won’t let their former colonies slip away that easily.
The story starts in 1947 and follows 5 recruits (see infobox for naming) who join the newly formed Indonesian Army. After their training camp is attacked by the Dutch, they must try to survive behind enemy lines with the help of local villagers. In the process, they overcome their initial differences and become a fearsome resistance force.
The name of the movie refers to the two colors of the Indonesian national flag and the movie is the first part of a trilogy. A final note, even though the guns are pretty much correct for 1940's Indonesia, it would have been more correct to see further Japanese or originally Dutch guns rather than US and English arms.
The following weapons were used in the film Red and White (Merah Putih):
Several officers carry the M1911A1 as their side-arm throughout the movie, most notably Surono (Zumi Zola) as newly appointed commanding officer of his unit plus Dutch officers during raids on Indonesian villages.
Major Van Gaartner (Rudy Wowor) is seen pulling a Luger P08 when his convoy is ambushed. This is correct as the Luger P08 was indeed purchased for Dutch officers in Indonesia in the 1920’s and probably still in use in the late 1940’s.
Amir (Lukman Sardi) and Tomas (Donny Alamsyah), plus several recruits and a few Dutch soldiers, can be seen carrying the M1A1 Thompson. It is probably a non-firing version because for firing scenes, it is substituted for the M1928A1 Thompson.
The most common submachine gun among the Dutch is the M3 Grease Gun. It can be distinguished from the later M3A1 model by the external crank lever for cocking the bolt, clearly visible in all below screenshots.
In several scenes, Dutch soldiers can be seen carrying (but not firing) the Carl Gustav M/45. It can be identified by its typical silhouette and its folding stock plus massive wooden grip. Even though correct from a time perspective, this submachine gun has never been officially used by Dutch forces.
In one scene, a Dutch soldier chatting up Indonesian girls can briefly be seen carrying a Sten Mk II, distinguishable by its front barrel section and general tubular appearance.
Many Dutch soldiers, as well as Indonesian recruits, can be seen carrying the Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III "SMLE".
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III - .303 BritishError creating thumbnail: File missingA very solemn looking drill sergeant (uncredited actor) entrusts a recruit with a Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III for his first live fire practice. The magazine here appears to be from a No.4 Mk.1 model.Error creating thumbnail: File missingTomas holding his Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III as he and Surono’s sister are hiding in the jungle from Dutch troops. The magazine here appears to be from a No.4 Mk.1 model.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrom the weathered looks of this Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III, it would appear to be a genuine rifle with the original wooden parts replaced with low quality new ones. The magazine here is correct to an SMLE.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe business end of a Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III SMLE carried by a local resistance fighter during an ambush of a Dutch supplies convoy.
M1 Garand
Most Dutch and Indonesian characters carry the M1 Garand at one time or the other. For some reason, all examples seen on screen seem to have a chrome gas tube and front sight.
In the ambush scene, one Dutch soldier is seen carrying a post-war M1 Carbine with adjustable sight and a bayonet lug. The movie takes place in 1947 so this would be a correct model.
During non-firing sequences, most Indonesian recruits are carrying what appears to be a non-firing prop rifle visually based on the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I. It has the typical front sight and magazine, but there’s no bolt and the barrel extends too long beyond the front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I - .303 BritishError creating thumbnail: File missingAmir (left) and Marius (middle) are getting their first lessons in bayonet handling. Note that some bayonets appear to be just props without any grooves.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn Indonesian recruit checking out an abandoned village. Note the lack of a bolt on the rifle plus the longer front section of the barrel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn a flashback scene to the WWII occupation of Indonesia by Japan, Japanse soldiers can be (hilariously) seen carrying this unusual rifle as well. In reality, the Japanese would have been carrying either the Type 38 or Type 99 Arisaka rifle in World War II.
Machine Guns
Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun
In several scenes, the Japanese Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun can be seen on what appears to be an original mount. Interestingly, the original vertical grips have been replaced by crude horizontal grips. This machine gun was probably left behind by Japanese forces retreating from Indonesia a few years earlier. At one point, Amir incorrectly (and hilariously) describes the 6.5mm (closer to .26 caliber) as "Fifty Caliber". This is also unusual since the metric system is used in that part of the world, so they would actually refer to a .50 as a "12.7mm".
In one scene, a Dutch soldier can be seen carrying a Bren gun. Because it is seen only briefly, the exact version cannot be determined but it’s most probably a Mk2 model.
