Heat is the 1995 crime drama directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino as a relentless LAPD detective who is determined to take down a high end robbery crew led by a master criminal (Robert De Niro). Notable for its detailed depiction of the techniques used by both law enforcement and criminal elements, the film was first made as the 1989 television movie L.A. Takedown. Heat also was reported to have been viewed repeatedly by the robbery duo involved in the infamous North Hollywood shootout (depicted in the film 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout).
Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino)'s sidearm during the movie is an ivory gripped Colt M1991A1 Series 80 Colt Officers ACP model that he carries on his waist in a cross draw holster. Hanna's choice of sidearm might also be a nod to his service with the Marine Corps.
Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) can be seen carrying a Heckler & Koch USP chambered in .45 ACP (noted by longer grip and barrel) in the early scenes of the film. Note the checkered back of the grip and the shape of the external thumb safety and slide release, all uncommon to a SIG P220. It is usually not seen clearly during the film, but the shape of the slide can easily be discerned during the shootout at the drive-in (when McCauley fires the gun through the window of his sedan at the shooter with the Steyr TMP). Neil then dumps his H&K USP45 for the SIG-Sauer P220, most likely to get rid of the evidence, since it was used during the drive-in theater shootout.
After dumping his H&K USP after the drive-in theater shootout, Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) replaces his USP with a SIG-Sauer P220 in .45 ACP as his sidearm for the rest of the movie. In the script it is also mentioned that he holds a .45 caliber pistol.
Waingro (Kevin Gage), the unstable newcomer to Neil McCauley's (Robert De Niro) crew, carries a blued Star Megastar during the armored car robbery. He uses this one to first pistol-whip and then execute the first guard by shooting him in the face at point-blank range. He also carries a nickel one when he answers the door at his hotel suite.
Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) is seen with a compact pistol in a holster next to him when McCauley walks in and sees him sleeping on the floor. He wakes up and then sticks the holstered gun in his pants. The closest gun it seems to resemble is a Smith & Wesson 6904 blued compact pistol.
The LAPD patrol officers responding to the bank robbery return fire on Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and his crew with their standard issue Beretta 92FSs. Sgt. Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) uses one while pursuing Cheritto after he runs out of ammunition for his Mossberg 500 shotgun.
One of the SWAT officers checking Shiherlis' car has an unknown M1911A1 pistol in his holster. Since Kimbers weren't issued yet to LAPD officers, it is doubtful it is a Kimber Custom II, the current sidearm of LAPD special weapons and tactical units.
Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) has a Ruger KP90 in a crossdraw holster on his tac vest during the armored car robbery. This is NOT the P90, as sometimes claimed, but the stainless KP90.
After McCauley executes Waingro, he leaves the room, and a detective working surveillance at the hotel draws a Glock 19 on him. McCauley backs the detective against the wall and then expertly subdues and disarms the man.
When Hanna and his men visit Alan Marciano (Hank Azaria) in Las Vegas to question him about his relationship with Charlene Shiherlis (Ashley Judd), Det. Casals (Wes Studi) is seen in the background holding a nickel Smith & Wesson Model 36 snub nose revolver.
During the armored car robbery, as soon as Waingro uses his Star Megastar to execute the first guard, McCauley guns down the second guard (Thomas Rosales Jr.) as he tries to grab a Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard" from his ankle holster.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3s are seen held by an LAPD SWAT officer in a hiding position during the stakeout scene at the precious metals repository. It is also used by a surveillance team watching for Shiherlis and is used by the SWAT team that is sent to the hotel in the climax.
The assassin sent to the drive-in theater (Max Daniels) to kill McCauley brings a Steyr TMP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSteyr TMP - 9x19mmError creating thumbnail: File missingThe drive-in theater shooter firing his Steyr TMP at McCauley's car just before Shiherlis shoots him in the back, allowing McCauley to shoot him from in front, killing him. Notice how he pulls the sling forward to tighten it and steady his aim. This is a well known technique for firing stockless guns. The expression on his face comes from McCauley having pinned his leg between his car and the pickup truck he came in.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe shooter fires his Steyr TMP at McCauley.
Shotguns
Benelli M3 Super 90
After the assassin is gunned down at the drive-in-theater, the truck driver starts to drive towards the exit, but just as he reaches the gate, Cheritto steps out from behind cover and opens fire with a Benelli M3 Super 90 12 gauge shotgun.
Detective Casals (Wes Studi) brings a Mossberg 590 to breach the door of Hugh Benny's (Henry Rollins) apartment. Sergeant Drucker (Mykelti Williamson) appears to carry the exact same Mossberg 590 in the firefight outside the bank heist. Hanna later takes one from an officer towards the end of the film as he chases down McCauley on the tarmac.
During the armored car robbery, McCauley carries a Colt M654 carbine, a 14.5" barreled predecessor to the M4, with M16A1-style lightweight barrel and sights. He uses his to execute the second guard (the one who tries to draw the Smith & Wesson Model 38 Bodyguard in his ankle holster), who gets hit in his right arm, his shoulder and in his chest. Based on configuration it may be a 654 upper on a GAU-5A receiver (or possibly even an SP1 receiver with a drop-in autosear to allow it fire fully-automatic).
During the armored car robbery, Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) uses a Colt M733 carbine as his weapon of choice. During the bank robbery, Shiherlis and McCauley both carry short barreled Colt M733 carbines. They are ultra-compact versions of the M16 rifle family with 11.5-inch barrels, being smaller and shorter than the M16A2 Rifle (20-inch) and M4 Carbine (14.5-inch).
The lighter encumbrance comes at a trade off of reduced range and accuracy, which is appropriate since the M733 can be fired from inside the vehicle, the robbers burdened by loads of cash, and because the firefight takes place at close to medium distances. The compactness also makes it easier to conceal the weapon, which comes in handy when entering the bank. The M733s have full automatic and semi-auto fire modes, while retaining the penetration of the 5.56mm round of its bigger brothers, which are all particularly deadly as they are capable of wounding officers and bystanders even through objects normally considered safe cover. The M733s handle similarly to submachine guns, however they are more accurate and significantly more powerful. However, due to the weapon's compact and short barrel, 5.56 NATO rounds fired from this weapon lose a significant amount of velocity found in longer barreled weapons. With slower velocities, rounds from from this weapon do not "fragment", a secondary wounding mechanism, but still provide more oomph than typical submachine gun rounds. This is a very professional choice of a primary weapon for that particular job, time and environment.
It hence comes as no surprise that during the shootout, Shiherlis uses the M733s to great effect, killing Bosko (Ted Levine), a member of Hanna's detectives, in a brief exchange of fire. After the getaway ride is disabled, Shiherlis sprays the police barricade with dozens of rounds, shooting up the LAPD police cars forming the blockade. Shiherlis's bursts also hit several other officers, but whether they survive or not is never mentioned.
Allegedly, footage of Shiherlis expertly reloading his rifle during this sequence has been shown to American Special Forces trainees, with the message from their instructor, "This is how I want you to reload." McCauley also uses an M733 to shoot a pursuing patrolman while carjacking a Ford Taurus Wagon to escape.
Lt. Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) pulls out an FN FNC-80 assault rifle during the shootout on Flower Street, and uses it to kill Cheritto when Cheritto - who is firing at Drucker and several other cops - grabs a little girl as a human shield. According to the on-set armorer, Hanna's rifle was a Select Fire FNC-80 assault rifle that was chopped down by the armorer to a Para length barrel, and an M16 style birdcage was attached. The FNC-80 was imported into the U.S. as a full automatic weapon and as a Semiautomatic Sporter rifle named the FNC 223 Sporter. Despite being a full auto weapon, Michael Mann instructed Al Pacino to fire only in semi-automatic mode, because Hanna and all of the other cops who were involved in the shootout would be concerned about the possibility of endangering bystanders.
During the armored car robbery, Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) uses a 20" barreled FN FAL 50.61 Paratrooper version with a side-folding stock. He uses his to execute the third guard with a double tap to the sternum and a third shot to the head. This is a military tactic known as the Mozambique Drill, and is a prominent feature in Michael Mann's movies (it appears twice in Heat - this incident, and then at the end, when McCauley executes Waingro in his hotel room).
Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) covers McCauley (Robert De Niro) at the drive-in theater with a Heckler & Koch HK91A2 fitted with a bipod, and manages to take out the Steyr TMP-wielding assassin with a shot to the back.
Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) uses an IMI Galil ARM Model 372 during the bank robbery and the shootout. While inside the bank, the stock is removed from the mounting bracket. However, it appears when he enters the car, an obvious a continuity error. He gets separated from the rest of the crew during the gun battle but managed to wound one of Hanna's men, Detective Schwartz (Jerry Trimble) by shooting him in the shoulder by a transit bus. Oddly enough, Mann refers to the weapon as a 7.62mm in his audio commentary.
Several M16A1 assault rifles feature prominently in the film, fitted with M16A2-style handguards and Rapidex type rear sight adjustment knobs. They are wielded by various L.A.P.D. officers, including Detective Casals (Wes Studi), Detective Bosko (Ted Levine) and Detective Schwartz (Jerry Trimble). Casals uses one to assist in disabling the Lincoln Town Car being used as a getaway vehicle, and also manages to shoot and wound Shiherlis during the shootout. According to the on set armorer, the director wanted the actors to fire in semi-automatic mode only. The reason given was that the police would be less interested in 'suppressing fire' and more interested in controlled shots given the proximity of so many innocent bystanders.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNorinco Type 56-1 - 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of Trejo's Norinco Type 56-1 as the call on the robbery goes out on the police scanner. The slanted AKM Style compensator is not standard on the military Type 56, however, manufacturers like Norinco and Poly Technologies added them on to their civilian rifles for export to the United States in the 1980s.Error creating thumbnail: File missingTrejo's Type 56-1 as seen while Trejo is deploying the spike strip.
Heckler & Koch SR9(T)
A police sniper of the surveillance team watches over McCauley with a Heckler & Koch SR9(T) sniper rifle. This same sniper is seen during the stakeout for Shiherlis with the rifle.
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