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Black Rain
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Black Rain is a 1989 thriller directed by Ridley Scott and starring Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia as NYPD detectives who find themselves working with the police in Osaka, Japan to recapture the Yakuza boss they were transporting back and mistakenly let go. Making the film was not only grueling, but difficult as there were many clashes in the methods of Western film productions and Japanese film productions operated. Apparently the 'rules & regulations'-oriented Japanese system aggravated cinematographer Howard Atherton so much that he left and the remaining camera work was completed by Jan de Bont (who shot Die Hard and would later direct Speed). It is noteworthy that lead actor Yusaku Matsuda who played the main villain Sato, was dying of cancer, but refused to reveal the advanced stage of his disease to director Ridley Scott for fear that he would be replaced. He finished the movie, telling others that sacrificing his chances at "living a few more months" was a worthy trade off for the chance to "live forever" in a motion picture. He passed away seven months after the movie's American premiere. The cast also included Kate Capshaw and legendary Japanese actor Ken Takakura.
The following weapons were used in the film Black Rain:
Error creating thumbnail: File missing WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Handguns
Colt Python Snub Nose
NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a blued snub-nosed Colt Python as his main service weapon. However, once Conklin and Charlie arrive in Japan, the Osaka Police Chief stressed that they hand in their guns since they are "civilians" there, so grudgingly turns his Python in and is never seen again throughout the remainder of the movie.
Colt Detective Special
NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a Colt Detective Special as his backup handgun. Shortly after they arrive in Osaka there is a scene where Conklin and his partner Charlie Vincent are in the Japanese police headquarters. Both the Colt Python snub and the Colt Detective Special are visible on Conklin's belt. Conklin carries the two revolvers next to each other in what is known as a "New York Reload". This scene takes place before the two NYPD detectives are forced to turn over their handguns to the Osaka police.
Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose
NYPD Detective Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose Revolver (with Pachmayr Presentation Grips) during the first half of the movie. Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) is then given the revolver from Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura), and uses it in the steel factory shootout.
Smith & Wesson Model 36
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is carried by several members of the Osaka Police during the raid on the Yakuza hideout, standing in for the Nambu Model 60. (The Nambu is the official sidearm of Japanese police, but access to the Nambu is tightly controlled, so film-makers often substitute the broadly-similar Model 36.)
Colt Diamondback
It appears that one of the uniformed N.Y.P.D. officers assisting Conklin (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) when they arrest Sato in the meat packing plant is carrying a Colt Diamondback. Technically this is incorrect. A uniformed N.Y.P.D. officer in the late 1980's would not have carried that model and instead would have more than likely been carrying a Ruger Security Six, Smith & Wesson Model 64 or the Smith & Wesson Model 10. However Conklin is shown carrying a Colt Python and Charlie has a S&W Model 66. Neither model would have been carried by a N.Y.P.D. detective in the 1980's so consider it poetic license.
Heckler & Koch P9S
One of Sato's men, Yoshimoto, (Jun Kunimura) carries a Heckler & Koch P9S during the foundry gunfight. One is also seen on the table in Sato's hideout when the Osaka police raid it.
Heckler & Koch P7
the Heckler & Koch P7 is used by Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) during the steel factory shootout.
Desert Eagle Mark I
Sugai's driver (Professor Toru Tanaka) is seen firing the Desert Eagle Mark I in the teahouse shootout.
Submachine Guns
Heckler & Koch HK94A3
Numerous gangsters of both Sato and Sugai use the Heckler & Koch HK94A3 in the final shootout - the HK94s are 'chopped and converted' to resemble Heckler & Koch MP5A3s. Assistant Inspector Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) takes one from one of Sato's men as he joins up with Conklin.
Micro-Uzi
Sato's men carry the Micro Uzi as they enter the Italian Gangster's restaurant where Nick and Charlie are also dining. Sato's men disguised as farmers draw their hidden Micro-Uzi's in the ambush at the teahouse.
Uzi
A full-size Uzi is used by one of the Yakuza during the teahouse shootout at the end of the film.
MAC-10
One of Sato's disguised assassins (Al Leong) uses a suppressed MAC-10 during the final shootout.
Shotguns
Savage Model 69RXL
In order to take out Sato, Conklin (Michael Douglas) is given a Savage Model 69RXL shotgun by Sugai's men. The weapon features an extended magazine tube and sawed-off stock. Conklin uses it to kill two Yakuza in the house. He was apparently only given three shells for it, as the hammer falls on an empty chamber when he tries to fire a fourth, at which point Conklin discards it.
Remington 870 Folding Stock
In a continuity error, Conklin's shotgun mysteriously transforms into a Remington 870 Folding Stock. This was because the main unit couldn't film the final battle in Japan as the filmmaker's visas had run out, so the main unit shifted to California to film the final battle.
Rifles
Steyr SSG 69
Members of the Osaka SWAT Team carry Steyr SSG 69 bolt-action sniper rifles when they raid Sato's suspected hideout.
Norinco Type 56-1
A Yakuza fires the Norinco Type 56-1 in the teahouse shootout.
Miscellaneous
Trivia
Though the majority of the scenes taking place in Japan were actually filmed in Japan, the final shootout at the winery took places in Napa, California for two reasons. (a) The production's work Visa had run out but more importantly (b) Japan's strict gun control forces many filmmakers to use 'flash paper' style non guns. Since Ridley Scott wanted real automatic weapons firing blanks, they had to film the gun battle in the U.S. What also tips off the viewer that this shootout was filmed in the states was the presence of so many well known Chinese American Stuntmen, like Al Leong of Die Hard and Big Trouble in Little China fame, who would not be in Japan (since there are many Japanese Stuntmen who would be available).