Cuba
Theartical Release Poster
Cuba is a 1979 movie directed by Richard Lester and starring Sean Connery as a British mercenary Major Robert Dapes, an expert in counter-guerrilla warfare, who is hired by Cuban government to organise successful operations against Castro's guerrillas. In Habana Dapes meets his love of old days, Alexandra Lopez de Pulido (Brooke Adams) who is now married a wealthy playboy.
Note: the movie was filmed in Spain, which affected the choice of screen guns.
The following weapons were used in the film Cuba :
Handguns
M1911A1
M1911A1 pistols are widely used by numerous characters, including Maj. Dapes (Sean Connery ), Capt. Ramirez (Hector Elizondo ), Gen. Bello (Martin Balsam ), and Julio Mederos (Danny De La Paz ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pre-War Colt M1911A1 Pistol - Commercial Model known as the "Colt Government Model" - .45 ACP. This has a deep Colt factory blued finish, common for commercial variants before and after the war.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gen. Bello on shooting range.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Dapes examines Gen. Bello's pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The grip is seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Capt. Ramirez draws his Colt during the encounter on the sugarcane plantation.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ramirez puts the pistol back in holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Julio holds a 1911.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla unit leader raises his pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Dapes captures the M10 tank destroyer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same scene.
Astra 400
Some government troops officers and warrant officers, including a sergeant (Ram John Holder ) who leads the patrol unit, carry Astra 400 pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Astra 400 - 9x23mm Largo
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of the pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The sergeant fires.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colonel Rosell Leyva (Earl Cameron) at the left carries an Astra 400 in holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same sergeant surrenders his pistol to a guerilla fighter in the scene on the gas station.
Beretta M1934
One of the rebel workers on Pulido tobacco factory is seen with a Beretta M1934 . The pistol is also seen in hands of midget Jesus (David Rappaport).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 1934 - .380 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The worker draws his pistol.
Smith & Wesson New Model No.3
After Julio Mederos' (Danny De La Paz ) M1911 jams, he takes a Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 from a fellow girl guerilla fighter. The revolver is possibly a Spanish manufactured version.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson New Model No.3
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla girl holds an open revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Julio takes Alexandra as hostage.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Julio fires.
Submachine Guns
Erma EMP
Erma EMP SMGs are used by both government troops and guerillas. They are possibly Spanish manufactured Coruña M41/44 in 9x23mm Largo caliber. In one scene Maj. Dapes (Sean Connery ) briefly holds an EMP, taken from a female guerilla fighter.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Erma EMP submachine gun - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with Erma guards two arrested young men.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier fires at escaping prisoner.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A female guerilla fighter holds a Erma SMG. She also carries a Mills Bomb on her belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A worker of tobacco factory holds a Erma.
In one scene a guerrilla fighter fires a submachine gun that resembles the experimental Vollmer-Erma VMP 1930, but most likely appears to be an EMP with the barrel shroud removed.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Vollmer-Erma VMP 1930 - 9x19mm Par
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the muzzle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla figher fires.
Suomi KP/-31
A Suomi KP/-31 with stick magazine is used by numerous guerilla fighters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Suomi KP/-31 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A leader of a guerilla unit holds a Suomi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The same character fires his Suomi during the massacre in restaurant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A female guerilla fighter with a Suomi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the muzzle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Guerilla fighter with Suomi during the battle on the gas station.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Guerilla fighters with Suomi SMGs and Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds a Suomi in the final scene in airport.
Sten Mk II
Sten Mk II SMGs of British and Canadian versions are used by guerillas.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sten Mk II - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sten Mk II (Canadian) - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Workers of tobacco factory smuggle Stens. Note T-shape buttstocks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of Stens is seen on guerilla base.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Sten is seen at the right.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter in center holds a Sten.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The buttstock of Canadian version is seen at the right.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds a Canadian Sten in the final scene in airport.
United Defense M42
United Defense M42 SMGs are also used by guerillas.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing UD M42 submachine gun - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of M42s are seen among other weapons, one at the left on the floor, another one at the far right, also on the floor.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter at the left holds an UD M42.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing UD M42 is seen on a promotion still.
Unknown Thompson-style submachine guns
M1928A1-like version
Guerilla fighters and government troops use submachine guns that resemble Thompson M1928A1s . See talk page for the discussion of these guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP. This specimen has the sling swivel relocated to the top of the stock, a modification often made to Thompsons in British service.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A fake Thompson M1928A1 at the left, an unknown SMG at the right.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A fake Thompson is seen in center, next to a Mauser rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A government soldier fires a fake Thompson during the attack on the train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another guerilla holds a fake Thompson in the final scene in airport.
M1921/M1928-like version
Guerilla fighters also carry unknown SMGs that have Thompson-style foregrips, pistol grips and rear sight guards but differs in having large space between the trigger guard and magazine well. Such SMGs are seen in some other Spanish filmed movies, like From Hell to Victory . Their general view allows to guess that they are visually modified Labora Fontbernat M1938 SMGs. See talk page for further discussion of these guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: M1928 "Tommy Gun" or "Chicago typewriter" with 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Labora Fontbernat M1938 - 9x19mm Par or 9x23mm Largo
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Thompson at the left, an unknown SMG at the right.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another one of these mysterious SMGs is seen at the left.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An unknown SMG is seen at the left.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An unknown SMG is seen at the background.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter holds the mysterious SMG in the final scene in airport.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the barrel of the same gun. Note that the cooling fins are different from a Thompson, and the barrel itself seems shorter.
Star Si35
What appears to be a Star Si35 is briefly seen on guerilla base.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Star Si35 SMG - 9x23mm Largo
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Madsen M50
A Madsen M50 is seen in documentary footage when victorious Fidel Castro enters Habana.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Madsen M50 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Bergmann MP35/I
A Bergmann MP35/I is seen in the same footage.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bergmann MP35/I
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rifles
M43 Spanish Mauser
Government troops and guerillas use M43 Spanish Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Spanish Mauser M43 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of soldiers patrol streets, carrying Mauser rifles on slings.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter carries a Mauser rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soldiers carry Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of typical outlook of Mauser M43.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soldiers with Mauser rifles on railroad flatcar.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier in action.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A guerilla fighter in action.
M1 Carbine
Some guerilla fighters are seen with M1 Carbines .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - .30 Carbine
Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of the celebrating guerillas has an M1 Carbine.
CETME Rifle
What appear to be a CETME Rifle of unclear model is seen on a documentary footage that shows a Cadillac Gage Commando armored car.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: CETME Model B - 7.62x51mm NATO
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of CETME protruds from the firing port.
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A4
Browning M1919A4 machine guns are mounted on jeeps and M10 tank destroyers of government troops. Larry Gutman (Jack Weston ) fires an M1919A4, dismounted from M10.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06 Springfield
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jeep-mounted M1919 is seen at the right.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An M1919 is mounted on Cadillac Gage Commando armored car.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A crewmember of M10 tank destroyer fires M1919 without support.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The pivot-mounted M1919 is seen next to Dapes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two M1919s are mounted on M10: a pivot-mounted machine gun is seen at the foreground while another one is mounted coaxial with main gun. Standard secondary armament of M10 GMC consists only of a single M1919 or M2HB on pivot mounting; no coaxial machine gun was installed.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The muzzle of coaxial M1919 can be seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another viw of pivot-mounted M1919.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Larry Gutman fires at a plane that he takes for an enemy bomber.
Browning wz. 1928
A Browning wz. 1928 is used by a soldier in the opening scene. This Polish light machine gun appeared in Spain during the civil war. The screen gun appears to be an early model with removed flash hider.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Polish Browning wz. 1928 - 7,92 x 57 mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier fires at escaping prisoner.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The buttstock can be seen.
Other Weapons
Mills Bomb
A female guerilla fighter carries a Mills Bomb .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing No. 36M Mk.I "Mills Bomb" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The woman operates a radio. She has a Mills Bomb on her belt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the grenade.
Wheellock Musket
A pair of XVII century-style Wheellock Muskets are used as decoration in Gen. Bello's apartments. They are most likely non-firing replicas.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Trivia
M10 Tank Destroyer
An M10 Tank Destroyer appears during the battle on gas station. Maj. Dapes captures it from government troops and mans 75mm gun while Larry Gutman performs the duties of driver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gun Motor Carriage M10 moves on dirty road.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Dapes loads the gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The M10 in action.
Fake "Sherman Firefly Tank"
A pair of M4 Shermans participate in the battle on gas station. They appear to be fibreglass replicas, built on Landrover chasis (originally for A Bridge Too Far ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the fake barrel, mounted around a slim tube that appears to be a sort of pyrotechnical device.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of fake Shermans on the road. Note the wheels inside the tracks.
Cadillac Gage Commando
A Cadillac Gage Commando armored car is seen in documentary footage. It bears Spanish red-yellow-red military insignia and has nothing common with Cuba though in the movie it is presented as belonging to Gen. Batista troops.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Mountain Gun
Two cannons are mounted on a railroad flatcar. They appear to be Skoda 75mm mountain guns of WW1 pattern.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing