The Big Red One is a 1980 World War II film that follows a rifle squad of the US 1st Infantry Division during their tour in the European theater of the war. The squad consists of the "Four Horsemen": Griff (Mark Hamill), Zab (Robert Carradine), Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco), and Johnson (Kelly Ward), who are led by The Sergeant (Lee Marvin). They struggle to survive throughout the war, from their landing in Sicily, through the North African campaign, through the landings on Omaha Beach on D-Day, and onto the invasion of Germany and the discovery of the concentration camps. The film was directed by Samuel Fuller, who was known for his war films such as The Steel Helmet and Merrill's Marauders in addition to having served in the US 1st Infantry Division during the war. An extended version of the film was released on DVD in 2004 as The Big Red One: The Reconstruction.
The following weapons were used in the movie The Big Red One:
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries a 1903 Springfield Rifle fitted with a bayonet as he surveys the battlefield just prior to the war being over.
An M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by an American soldier on patrol with the Sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWorld War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WWII, shown with khaki sling and oiler and a period twin magazine pouch for buttstock - .30 CarbineError creating thumbnail: File missingAn M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by an American soldier on patrol with the Sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge.
Gew 98 Mauser Rifle
A Gew 98 Mauser rifle is seen being smashed by a mad horse that spooks the Private during the WWI prologue.
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries a M1911 as his sidearm, It is also used by a Belgian woman who produces the pistol from a pack to threaten a German infiltrator (this was seen in the Reconstruction).
The 1928A1 Thompson Submachine Gun is seen being carried mainly by Pvt. Switolsky (Doug Werner). While it lacks the Cutts Compensator, the Thompson is an M1928A1 identified by its square receiver shape and not the upside down T shape of the M1A1.
The Browning 1919A4 Machine Gun is seen firing from the modified M51 Sherman meant to stand in for a German Tiger. The Sergeant is seen firing the machine gun from the tank in the battle near the Christ on the Cross. In a restored scene, a Browning M1919A4 is also briefly seen held by a US soldier during the Battle of the Bulge.
In a restored scene, a Browning Automatic Rifle is very briefly seen in the lap of a relaxing American soldier that is filmed by a documentary cameraman (played by the film's director Samuel Fuller).
