The Vulture (Le Rapace)
Original Theatrical Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
"Le Rapace"
Lino Ventura
La Camito
Rosa Furman
Aurora
Aurora Clavel
Miguel Juarez alias Chico
Xavier Marc
Joachim Bosco
Enrique Lucero
Calvez
Augusto Benedico
Ruiz
Carlos Cardán
Lanza
Marco Antonio Arzate
The Vulture Le Rapace ) is a 1968 French-Italian-Mexican action movie directed by José Giovanni and based on the novel "The Vulture" (1964) by John Carrick. The plot is set in Mexico in 1938. A group of revolutionaries hire a seasoned adventurer (Lino Ventura ), known as "Le Rapace" ("The Vulture"), to kill the President of the Republic during his discreet visit to his mistress, who lives on the outskirts of the city. The hitman is joined by an idealistic young man Miguel (Xavier Marc) whom "Le Rapace" nicknames "Chico", the grandson of a former president. Miguel must fulfill the role of the official "revolutionary hero", while the real shooter is planned to be killed.
The following weapons were used in the film The Vulture (Le Rapace) :
Revolvers Smith & Wesson Military & Police Lanza (Marco Antonio Arzate), one of the conspirators, carries a Smith & Wesson Military & Police with pearl grips. Another conspirator, Capt. Ruiz (Carlos Cardán, credited as Carlos Lopez Figueroa), as well as numerous police and army officers, carry common Smith & Wesson revolvers. Joachim Bosco (Enrique Lucero) takes Ruiz' revolver in the climactic scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lanza raises his revolver on "Le Rapace". Error creating thumbnail: File missing The tough hitman beats Lanza but then returns him the gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two police officers carry revolvers in holsters, most likely also S&W M&P model. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The commander of the President's guards holds a revolver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the officer's revolver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bosco draws the revolver from killed Ruiz' holster. Submachine Guns Thompson M1A1 Two Thompson M1A1 submachine guns are hidden in the wardrobe in Aurora' house. Both are fitted with foregrips and drum magazines to make them look like M1921 . Calvez (Augusto Benedico) takes one of the Thompsons when he leaves the house. Another one is used by Chico (Xavier Marc). M1A1s with foregrips and drum magazines are often seen in 1950s-70s French movies.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Colt M1921A Thompson with foregrip and 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing Calvez takes a Thompson from the wardrobe. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chico takes the second Thompson. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chico holds the Thompson when the duo sneaks into the mansion of the President's mistress La Camito. Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Le Rapace" takes Chico's gun... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ...and covertly jammes the bolt to avoid unneccessary activity of the young man. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chico fires from the car. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of the foregrip. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chico holds the Thompson during the final confrontation. Rifles M1 Carbine "Le Rapace" (Lino Ventura ) uses an M1 Carbine , anachronistic for 1938, for the assassination and in the following shootouts.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Modern Manufactured version of the M1 Carbine, with standard stock - .30 Carbine Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Le Rapace" holds his carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the barrel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The duo sneaks into La Camito's mansion. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The hitman fires at the President. Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Le Rapace" holds his carbine during the shootout on the bridge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same scene. M1903 Springfield Mexican soldiers and policemen, and also some guerillas are armed with M1903 Springfield rifles of several modifications. The correct weapon for Mexican military in 1938 would be the M1936 Mexican Mauser as well a variety of earlier Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06 Springfield Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1903A1 Springfield - .30-06 Springfield Error creating thumbnail: File missing Guerillas secretly transport the rifles in sacks of grain. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rifles in the gun rack in the police pecinct. Pistol-grip stocks indicate M1903A1 or A3 models. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier at the right holds an M1903A1 or A3 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier in shootout with guerillas. Due to the groove on the stock, this rifle must be an original M1903. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A police officer with an original M1903 rifle. Winchester Model 1873 Carbine Many guerillas are armed with Winchester Model 1873 carbines. There are both saddle ring versions and carbines with sling swivels.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester Model 1873 carbine - 1st generation rifle - 44-40 Winchester Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds a Winchester Model 1873 carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another guerilla fighter with a Winchester Model 1873 carbine. This is not a saddle ring version, as the sling swivel is seen below the magazine tube. The barrel is slightly longer than the magazine tube. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter at the right holds a Winchester Model 1873 carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ruiz (Carlos Cardán) (at the left) holds a Winchester Model 1873 carbine. Calvez (Augusto Benedico) (at the right) is also armed with a Winchester though his gun is out of the frame. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds a Winchester Model 1873 carbine. This is also the gun with sling swivels. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ruiz' carbine of the ground. Note the saddle ring. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bosco (Enrique Lucero) picks up Ruiz' carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Winchester Model 1873 carbine is seen on the ground next to a killed guerilla fighter. The saddle ring barely can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A village kid picks up this carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gravely wounded Bosco reaches the carbine in the final scene. Winchester Model 1873 Rifle Winchester Model 1873 rifles with heavy octagon barrels are also seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The 1873 "Short Rifle" model with octagon barrel Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter fires a Winchester Model 1873 rifle. Note the octagon barrel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bosco (Enrique Lucero) fires a Winchester Model 1873 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bosco's rifle has the sling swivel mounted on the handguard. Remington Rolling Block Carbine Several guerillas are armed with Remington Rolling Block carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Remington Model 1867 Rolling Block Carbine - .50-45 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds a Rolling Block carbine. Machine Guns Hotchkiss M1914 A Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun is mounted on the railway flatcar that transports the coffin of the President to the capital.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Hotchkiss M1914 with tripod - 8x50mmR Lebel / 7.92x57mm Mauser / 11mm Gras Error creating thumbnail: File missing The machine gun is seen very blurry due to fast motion but it's still identifiable. 
