Burnt Money (Spanish: Plata quemada) is a 2000 Argentine action thriller directed by Marcelo Piñeyro and written by Piñeyro and Marcelo Figueras. Starring Leonardo Sbaraglia, Eduardo Noriega, Pablo Echarri, Leticia Brédice and Ricardo Bartis, it is based on Ricardo Piglia's 1997 Planeta prize-winning novel of the same name.
The novel was inspired by the true story of a notorious 1965 bank robbery in Buenos Aires, which resulted in the deaths of three Buenos Aires police officers. The robbers hid in a safehouse in Montevideo, Uruguay, which was soon raided by Montevideo Police. The 16-hour spectacular shootout (known as “The Battle of Liberaij,” named after the building where it took place), involved the robbers futilely trying to fight off 350 police officers, and ended with the deaths of all the robbers (one escaped, but died from his wounds afterwards) and two police officer casualties, with thousands of shots fired.
The following weapons were used in the film Burnt Money:
Ángel (Eduardo Noriega) uses a Ballester-Molina as his personal handgun of choice, easily noticeable by its distinctive finish and slide cocking serrations, which noticeably differ from an M1911A1’s. Montevideo Police also appear to wield Ballester-Molina pistols, although in the 1960s they would have more likely carried US-made M1911A1s or S&W Model 10s as their standard-issue sidearm. The Ballester-Molina was the official service pistol of the Uruguayan Armed Forces and Security Forces until the 1960s, when it was phased out by the Colt M1911A1 through a trade agreement with the US.
“El Nene” (“The Boy”) (Leonardo Sbaraglia) uses a Taurus PT92C as his personal weapon of choice. Uruguayan Montevideo Police officers also use the weapon.
Although very difficult to make out in the darkness of the scene, several Montevideo Metropolitan Guard police officers appear to be armed with Winchester Model 1912 Riot Guns, due to the overall shape of the gun, the barrel, and the tube magazine.
Montevideo Metropolitan Guard police officers are equipped with Winchester Model 1200 Defender shotguns during the raid. Although the darkness of the scene makes it difficult to notice particular details, they can be identified by their receiver, tube magazine and barrel.
The most prominent submachine gun in the film by far, the Argentine-made 9mm Halcón Modelo 1949 (produced by Fábrica de Armas Halcón) is used by several characters in the film, as well as by the Montevideo Metropolitan Guard (this being perhaps inaccurate, as there is no record of Montevideo Police or Uruguay in general ever using it officially). The Narrator (voice of Claudio Rissi) correctly identifies it as a military-grade submachine gun in the narration.
The Halcón Modelo 1949 was used by the entire Argentine Armed Forces branches, as well as by the National Gendarmerie, Federal Police and the Federal Penitentiary Service.
During the final assault on the safehouse, Montevideo Metropolitan Guard police officers use DGFM FMK-3s. This is highly inaccurate, as the film takes place in 1965, and the FMK-3 was developed in 1974, and adopted by Uruguayan Armed Forces since 1980.
On January 13, 1942, Uruguay signed an Arms Agreement with the United States. Through this Agreement, between 1944 and 1947, Uruguay received different weapons, among which were the first models of the M3 and M3A1 Submachine Gun.
Between 1952 and 1976 more hardware was received, which remained in use until the 1990s.
Since the film was produced mainly by Argentina, it is possible that some (if not all) of these M3A1s are actually PAM1 and PAM2 Argentine-licensed M3A1 stand-ins.
Cuervo (Pablo Echarri) uses an Ingram MAC-10 during the Montevideo Police assault on the safehouse. He guns down several police officers before being finally killed. The Twins then get ahold of the MAC-10 and load it, but don't get to use it.
During the final scene, when the Montevideo Metropolitan Guard surrounds and storms the hideout, “El Nene” and Ángel use an IMI Uzi against the police. It is used with the buttstock extended.
During the Montevideo Metropolitan Guard's assault on the safehouse, the Twins and Cuervo lay some weapons down on a table. Among them is an M1 Carbine, although they do not use it. The M1 Carbine can be identified as a post-WWII model by its bayonet lug.
Some Montevideo Metropolitan Guard officers use Argentine M1909/26 Cavalry Carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingArgentine Mauser M1909/26 Cavalry Carbine - 7.65 x 53mm MauserError creating thumbnail: File missingThe Montevideo Metropolitan Guard officer prepares to aim his Argentine Mauser M1909/26 Calvary Carbine. The one on the left pumps his Winchester 1200 Defender shotgun.
The Argentine version of the FN FAL, known as the FMAP FAL ("Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles" FAL) or FM FAL Standard, made under license by Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares (DGFM), is used exclusively by Uruguayan Montevideo Metropolitan Guard police officers in the film.
