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Hell Is for Heroes

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Work In Progress

This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:Hell Is for Heroes for current discussions. Content is subject to change.

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Hell is for Heroes (1962)

Hell Is for Heroes is a 1962 World War II film directed by Don Siegel and stars Steve McQueen as a disillusioned US soldier who is part of a company that finds itself short-handed while they are engaged by advancing German forces. The film's cast included James Coburn, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker and Bob Newhart in his feature film debut. The film was co-written by Robert Pirosh, who also wrote the 1949 WWII film Battleground and would later go on to create the WWII television series Combat!


The following weapons were used in the film Hell Is for Heroes:



Submachine Guns

M3 "Grease Gun"

Pvt. John Reese (Steve McQueen) uses the M3 "Grease Gun" throughout the film. He tapes three of his magazines together "jungle style" for faster reloading. Interestingly, Reese only has M1 Garand ammunition pouches, and not any box magazine pouches.

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M3 "Grease Gun"
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Pvt. John Reese (Steve McQueen) assembles his M3 "Grease Gun" during a conversation with Homer. Interestingly, Reese only has on his belt M1 Garand ammunition pouches, and not any box magazine pouches.
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Reese turns his M3 towards a clumsy soldier. Note the three mags taped together "jungle style".
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Reese prepares his M3 for the final assault on the pillbox.
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Reese firing at the pillbox.

Note: As is common in firing blank ammunition, many weapons used in the film experienced malfunctions. The M3 submachine gun Steve McQueen uses in the film appears to have to be cleared constantly of jams by the actor, notably in the final battle.

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Pvt. John Reese (Steve McQueen) in the center is seen trying to clear the jammed M3.
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McQueen has to clear another jam just a few seconds later.

MP40

The MP40 is used by opposing Germans forces.

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MP40
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German soldier with holding a MP40.
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Another shot of the soldier's MP40.

Rifles

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand by various characters including Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin), T/Sgt. Pike (Fess Parker), Sgt. Larkin (Harry Guardino), Homer Janeczek (Nick Adams) and Pvt. Driscoll (Bob Newhart).

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M1 Garand
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The M1 Garand is seen in the hands of (from left to right) Sgt. Larkin (Harry Guardino), Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin) and Pvt. Driscoll (Bob Newhart).
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Pvt. Driscoll (Bob Newhart) holds the M1 Garand after experiencing an accidental discharge with it.
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Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin) and Homer Janeczek (Nick Adams) firing their M1 Garands to cover Pvt. Reese and the others.
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Sgt. Larkin (Harry Guardino) armed with the M1 Garand with bayonet affixed.
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Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) armed with the M1 Garand.
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Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin) armed with the M1 Garand during the final battle.
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T/Sgt. Pike (Fess Parker) armed with the M1 Garand during the final battle.
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Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin) reloads his M1 Garand during the final battle.
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Homer Janeczek (Nick Adams) picks up an M1 Garand towards the end of the movie.

M1 Carbine

The M1 Carbine is seen carried by the mortar crews. The M1 carbines are fitted with the anachronistic bayonet lug.

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Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine. Most of the World War II variations of the M1 Carbine were sent back to the Military Arsenals and retrofitted with the Bayonet Lug and adjustable rear sight. This is the version seen after late 1945 and all the way until the 1960s. This version is seen most often in World War II movies, despite being anachronistic for most World War II battles
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Mortar crew with M1 carbines slung. The M1 carbines are fitted with the anachronistic bayonet lug.
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Another shot of the M1 carbines carried by the mortar crew.

Browning Automatic Rifle

The Browning Automatic Rifle is seen in the hands of both Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) and Pvt. Kolinski (Mike Kellin) throughout the film.

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Browning Automatic Rifle "B.A.R."
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The Browning Automatic Rifle is seen carried by Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn).
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Pvt. Kolinski (Mike Kellin) escorts a prisoner with his B.A.R.
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Pvt. Kolinski (Mike Kellin) holding the B.A.R.

Machine Guns

Karabiner 98k

The Karabiner 98k is used by opposing German forces. After killing a charging German, Reese picks up the dead soldier's Karabiner 98k rifle and disables it by removing the bolt.

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MP40
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An advancing German soldier carrying a Karabiner 98k.
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Reese picks up the dead German's rifle.
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The rifle is disabled as the bolt is seen in Reese's right hand.
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German soldier on the left fires the Karabiner 98k.

Machine Guns

Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12

The Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12 is seen during the final assault. This is actual stock footage of German soldiers using the machine gun.

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Stock Footage showing the Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 in action.
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Again more stock footage of the Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 machine gun.

Browning 1919

The Browning M1919A4 is seen being carried by a soldier in the beginning of the movie, and later on during the final attack.

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Browning 1919 machine gun
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Soldier carrying the Browning 1919 on his shoulder.
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Machine gun teams lay down fire with their Browning 1919's during the final assault.
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Browning 1919 stirring up some dust.

Browning M2

The Browning M2 is seen mounted on a tank during the final assault. The footage of the tank is actually stock footage.

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Browning M2 machine gun
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Stock footage showing the Browning M2 mounted on a tank.

Other

M2 Mortar

The M2 Mortar is used by the U.S. troops in the film.

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Soldiers firing the M2 mortar.
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M2 mortar in action.

M-2 Flamethrower

The M2 Flamethrower is used notably by Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) and Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin). When the flamethrower is seen being used, the igniter appears to be the one used with an M1A1 Flamethrower (no pistol grips), yet the fuel tanks are that of a M-2 flamethrower. Although a pair of typical M-2 Flamethrowers are seen, they are not actually used in the movie.

M-2 Flamethrower
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Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) uses the M2 flamethrower to flush out some Germans. The igniter seen here is more typical of an M1A1 Flamethrower, but the tanks are from an M2.
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Homer helps Corby retrieve the M2 flamethrower.
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Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin) uses the flamethrower. Note the igniter appears to be one from an M1A1 Flamethrower than a typical M2.
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Two soldiers equipped with M2 flamethrowers make their way forward in the final assault. The igniters seen here are the ones typically used with the M2.

Mk 2 hand grenade

Mk 2 hand grenades are used by Reese and various soldiers.

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Mk 2 Hand Grenade
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T/Sgt. Pike with 2 Mk 2 Hand Grenades on his belt.
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Reese with a Mk 2 Hand Grenade.
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close up of the prop Mk 2 grenade.

S Mines

During an attempted attack on the enemy bunker, Reese leads a the group of soldier through a mine field loaded with S-mines.

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S Mine prongs sticking out of the ground.

Special

The film was produced on a low budget that quickly got out of control. Only two actors played German soldiers, meaning that they are killed multiple times during the film. Hell is for Heroes utilizes the use of stock war footage shot during WWII. As with some other war movies of the era, filmmakers inserted clips of actual war footage saving time and money. Most of the stock footage is of artillery being fired, but also includes the some of machine gun fire. Below are some screenshots of the stock footage of artillery.

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