Go Tell the Spartans
Theatrical Movie Poster
Go Tell the Spartans is a 1978 American Vietnam War film directed by Ted Post (Magnum Force ) and stars Burt Lancaster , Craig Wasson , and Marc Singer . Set during the United States' early involvement in the conflict, the film features Lancaster as Asa Barker, a grizzled US Army Major in charge of a small group of US Army advisers and local militia who has to juggle unreasonable army orders with local politics. Given only a limited release in 1978, it was overshadowed by two other Vietnam War films released in the same year, The Deer Hunter and Coming Home .
The following weapons were used in the film Go Tell the Spartans :
Handguns
M1911A1
MAJ Barker (Burt Lancaster ) and CPT Olivetti (Marc Singer ) carry M1911A1s , but CPT Olivetti is the only one who draws his.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing CPT Olivetti defends his position with his M1911A1. Note the Military Assistance Advisory Group - Viet Nam patch on his shoulder.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Olivetti reloads his pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Olivetti draws his pistol when Cowboy won't back off.
Colt Trooper Mk III
Cowboy (Evan C. Kim ) is armed with a Colt Trooper Mk III that he keeps in a shoulder holster. Since this film is set in 1964, this is an anachronism, since the Mk III series wasn't produced until 1969.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Trooper Mk III with 4" barrel - .357 Magnum
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cowboy with his Colt Trooper Mk III.
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
2LT Raymond Hamilton (Joe Unger ) and some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with M1928A1 Thompson submachine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 2LT Hamilton with his slung Thompson.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A South Vietnamese soldier with his Thompson.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A stolen Thompson found on the body of a dead woman.
M3 Grease Gun
MAJ Barker (Burt Lancaster ) is armed with an M3 Grease Gun in the field.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M3 "Grease Gun" .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MAJ Barker's Grease Gun behind him.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Barker opens up with his M3.
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Shotguns
Winchester Model 1897
Some of the militia members are armed with Winchester Model 1897 field guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1897 Field shotgun - 12 Gauge
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two militia members with their shotguns.
Double Barreled Shotgun
One of the militia members is armed with a Double Barreled Shotgun .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 Gauge
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The militia member on the right with his shotgun.
Unknown Pump Action shotgun
A militia member is armed with an unknown pump action shotgun. It's not clear enough to determine the type.
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Rifles/Carbines
M1 Carbine
CPL Courcey (Craig Wasson ), 1SG Oleonowski (Jonathan Goldsmith ), CPT Olivetti (Marc Singer ), Cowboy (Evan C. Kim ), and various other advisors and their South Vietnamese allies are armed with M1 Carbines .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Post-war M1 Carbine with 30 round magazine and metal barrel shroud - .30 Carbine
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1SG Oleonowski and Cowboy with their carbines. 2LT Hamilton is seen with his Thompson. (Note: 1SG Oleonowski is credited and referred to as SGT Oleonowski, but when he first appears in the film he wears the stripes of a First Sergeant.)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A shot of Cowboy's carbine. The magazines are taped "jungle-style."
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cowboy and CPL Courcey with their carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Courcey with his carbine.
M1 Garand
Some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with M1 Garands .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A South Vietnamese soldier with his M1 Garand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A South Vietnamese soldier scouts a position.
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Gewehr 98
The Old Man (James Hong ) is first armed with a Gewehr 98 . He presumably loses it when he's wounded while with Courcey's ambush patrol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
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Gewehr 1871/84
The Old Man is later armed with a Gewehr 1871/84 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 - 11.15x60mmR
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A shot of the muzzle of the Gewehr 1871/84 as Courcey fires.
Mosin Nagant 91/30
In a continuity error, the Old Man is later seen with a Mosin Nagant 91/30 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R
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M1903 Springfield
One of the militia members is armed with an M1903 Springfield rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06
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Other
Browning Automatic Rifle
Some of the South Vietnamese troops are armed with Browning Automatic Rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Early Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06
Error creating thumbnail: File missing BAR gunners are called forward.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BAR gunner as the South Vietnamese troops fall back.
Browning M1919A4
Browning M1919A4 machine guns are dropped in to help defend Muc Wa.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1919A4 - .30-06 Springfield
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M1919A4 on a freshly dropped pallet.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M1919A4 opens up during the first attack.
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Mk 2 Hand Grenade
The American advisors and their allies are armed with Mk 2 Hand Grenades .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Courcey, a demolitions expert, shortens fuses on Mk 2 grenades for use as booby traps.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A cache of stolen grenades found on a dead woman.
M29 Mortar
The defenders at Muc Wa are armed with M29 Mortars.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A South Vietnamese mortar position.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Olivetti directs the fight from a mortar position.