The Thin Red Line is a 1998 World War II film directed by Terrence Malick and the second movie adaptation of the James Jones novel (the first being a 1964 film of the same name ). The film is a fictional account of US forces that fight to take a Japanese position during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. Among the characters in the film: Cpt. Staros (Elias Koteas ), an intelligent, sensitive Army lieutenant who refuses to send his men to their certain death on a futile frontal assault on the Japanese occupied position, which puts him at odds with the ruthless, ambitious Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte ), the cynical and shrewd 1st. Sgt Welsh (Sean Penn ), Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin ) who is heavily devoted to his wife, and Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ), a deserter who hates the Army, but loves the men of Charlie Company enough to rejoin them during the battle. Despite the film's seven Academy Award nominations, this film is often overlooked because it was released in the same year as Saving Private Ryan
The following weapons were used in the film The Thin Red Line :
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Thin Red Line (1998)
M1 Garand The M1 Garand is the primary rifle of Charlie Company in the film and is used by Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ), Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin ), Pvt. Coombs (Matt Doran ) and PFC Doll (Dash Mihok ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand - .30-06. Error creating thumbnail: File missing PFC Doll (Dash Mihok ) fires his M1 Garand at Japanese soldiers on the hill top. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ) and another soldier fire their M1 Garands. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin ) with his M1 Garand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok ) fires his M1 Garand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ) fires his M1 Garand during the assault on Hill 262. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin ) with his M1 Garand during the assault on Hill 262. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin ) fires his M1 Garand, fitted with a bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Coombs (Matt Doran ) with an M1 Garand. M1 Carbine M1 Carbine rifles are used by the sergeants and officers in the film such as Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson ), Sgt. McCron (John Savage ), Cpt. Gaff (John Cusack ), Cpt. Staros (Elias Koteas ), and 2nd Lt. Whyte (Jared Leto ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Capt. Staros (Elias Koteas ) has an M1 Carbine slung over his back, which has an anachronistic bayonet lug found on M1 Carbines from the Korean war and on. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2nd Lt. Whyte (Jared Leto ) with an M1 Carbine. Note how the officer second to the right has a mark on his helmet, which indicates he peeled off the insignia - common practice to avoid being targeted by snipers. No other officer in the film wears insignia. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Capt. Staros (Elias Koteas ) with his M1 Carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. McCron (John Savage ) contemplates the loss of his entire squad with his M1 Carbine rested on his shoulder. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpt. Gaff (John Cusack ) with his M1 Carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpt. Gaff (John Cusack ) fires his M1 Carbine at Japanese soldiers. M1928A1 Thompson M1928A1 Thompsons are carried by Pvt. Dale (Arie Verveen ), 1st Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn ), Sgt. Storm (John C. Reilly ) among other US soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Storm (John C. Reilly ) with an M1928A1 Thompson. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1st Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn ) searches the tall grass with his M1928A1 Thompson at the ready. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Dale (Arie Verveen ) with an M1928A1 Thompson. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Dale (Arie Verveen ) firing his Thompson. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1st Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn ) fires his Thompson during the assault on Hill 262. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1st Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn ) wades through the river carrying his Thompson. Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) keeps a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 slung over his back, which he carries along with his Winchester 1897 . Pvt. Sico (Robert Roy Hofmo ) also carries one before he fakes sickness to avoid firing.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 - .30-06. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) with a Browning Automatic Rifle slung over his back as Cpl. Fife (Adrien Brody ) looks up. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) with his BAR, now with his Winchester slung on his back. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier to the right lugs a BAR over his shoulders. Winchester 1897 Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) is seen using a Winchester 1897 shotgun, along with a BAR , although he is seen firing the Winchester rather then the BAR.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1897 Trench - 12 Gauge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) with his Winchester 1897 shotgun in the high grass. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) orders Japanese soldiers out of a bunker with his Winchester 1897 shotgun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) holds his Winchester 1897 shotgun on Japanese prisoners. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Queen (David Harrod ) fires his Winchester 1897 shotgun at a Japanese soldier in a tree. M1911A1 PFC Doll (Dash Mihok ) steals an M1911A1 hanging from a bunk in the ship carrying Charlie Company to the island. He notably uses it when he charges a Japanese machine gun emplacement and fires it at them. Basically every other US soldier also has an M1911A1 as their sidearm, although only few soldiers such as Sgt. Gaff (John Cusack ) are seen using them.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1911A1 - .45 ACP. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M1911A1 and holster hanging off a bunk before being stolen by Doll (Dash Mihok ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing PFC Doll (Dash Mihok ) fires the M1911A1 at a Japanese machine gun emplacement. PFC Doll (Dash Mihok ) fires his M1911A1 ain the air. M1A1 Flamethrower A US soldier is seen holding an M1A1 Flamethrower after Hill 262 is captured.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1A1 Flamethrower. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A US soldier in the background to the left is seen holding an M1A1 Flamethrower. MK II Hand Grenade Several US soldiers are seen using MK II Hand Grenades in the film. At one point we see Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson ) straightening the folds on the pin of his grenade, which proves to be a fatal mistake on his behalf when the pin pulls too easily while still attached to his belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MK II hand grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A MK II grenade hanging on Capt. Staros' (Elias Koteas ) jacket. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A MK II grenade hanging on Pvt. Sico's (Robert Roy Hofmo ) as he fakes sickness to avoid fighting. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson ) tries to pull a MK II grenade off his belt but grabs it by the pin. By straightening the pin's folds which hold it place better, the pin pulled out all too easy. Note how the spoon is flying off. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson ) realizes how screwed he is. Oerlikon 20mm Cannon On the ship under the command of Brig. Gen. Quintard (John Travolta ) is a pair of Oerlikon 20mm Cannon mounted on a Mk 20 Mod 2 gun mount.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Oerlikon Cannon - 20mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of Oerlikon 20mm cannons. Bofors Twin Mount On the ship under the command of Brig. Gen. Quintard (John Travolta ) is a Bofors Twin Mount or "Pom-Pom" gun, 40mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Twin Mounted Bofors Gun circled in red. Arisaka Type 38 Japanese soldiers are seen mainly using Arisaka Type 38 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 38 - 6.5x50mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers with Arisaka Type 38 rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier with an Arisaka Type 38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier with an Arisaka Type 38. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires his Ariskaka Type 38. Arisaka Type 99 Some Japanese soldiers are seen using Arisaka Type 99 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 99 - 7.7x58mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An unused Arisaka Type 99 lays at the top of a trench at Hill 262. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier firing an Arisaka Type 99. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires his Arisaka Type 99 at Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ) as he flees. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier holds his Arisaka Type 99 on Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel ). Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun Japanese soldiers are seen using Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Guns in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Nambu Type 92 machine gun looking out of a machine gun emplacement on Hill 262. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier prepares to fire a Nambu Type 92 at the Americans. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Japanese soldier firing his Nambu Type 92 before being overrun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers carry a Nambu Type 92 through the forest. Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun Japanese soldiers are also seen using Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Guns in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires a Nambu Type 99 through a smoke-screen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires a Nambu Type 99 from the machine gun emplacement. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier goes Rambo and fires a Nambu Type 99 from the machine gun emplacement. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier tries to defend Hill 262 from the American assault. Nambu Type 14 The issued sidearm of the Japanese Imperial Army is the Nambu Type 14 Pistol . One soldier is seen using it to commit suicide when refusing capture after Hill 262 is taken. Later in the film we see Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok ) showing off a Nambu pistol to fellow soldiers in a personnel transport truck, likely taken off a dead Japanese soldier on the Hill.
Nambu Type 14 - 8mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier shoots himself in the chest with his Nambu Type 14 pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok ) shows off a captured Nambu Type 14 pistol and his chums are celebrating, all except a glum looking Sgt. Becker (Don Harvey ) on the far right. Japanese Type 98 AA/AT A 20mm Japanese Type 98 AA/AT gun is seen in the Japanese camp during the assault on Hill 262.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese Type 98 AA/AT gun is seen on Hill 262 - 20mm. 
