The Snow Queen (Snezhnaya koroleva)
Original Theatrical Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Gerda
Elena Proklova
Kai
Vyacheslav Tsyupa
Storyteller
Valeri Nikitenko
Snow Queen
Natalya Klimova
Grandma
Evgeniya Melnikova
Councillor
Nikolay Boyarskiy
King
Evgeniy Leonov
Robber Woman
Olga Vikland
Little Robber Girl
Era Ziganshina
The Snow Queen Snezhnaya koroleva ) is a Soviet 1967 (filmed 1966) screen adaptation of the play by Evgeniy Shvarts, in turn based on most famous Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.
The following weapons were used in the film The Snow Queen (Snezhnaya koroleva) :
Pistols Blunderbuss Pistol In several scenes Storyteller (Valeri Nikitenko) carries a blunderbuss pistol . This gun seems to be a mockup rather than a genuine gun, but it is fitted with a percussion cap lock from a real pistol (some elements of the lock allow to guess that it is a converted flintlock). Same prop is also seen among the guns of Robber Woman (Olga Vikland). This gun looks very similar to the blunderbuss pistol, seen in Tri tolstyaka
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Mid 17th century blunderbuss pistol Error creating thumbnail: File missing Storytelles "confronts" a snowman that depicts evil Councillor. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The grip of the pistol is too flat and simplified for a genuine gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Storyteller defends Gerda. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Storyteller confronts Councillor. The lock of the pistol appears to be percussion cap but has some details of flintlock. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Same pistol is seen on the wall among the weapons of Robber Woman. Another blunderbuss pistol is hold by a bearded robber (Evgeniy Filatov).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A bearded robber (at the left) holds a blunderbuss pistol. Note that it is different from Storyteller's pistol, having a different lock and more curved grip. Percussion Cap Pistol A Percussion Cap Pistol , mostly used by Robber Woman (Olga Vikland), appears to be a genuine Russian M1848 soldier's model or one of French Chatellerault models.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Russian M1848 Infantry soldier's percussion cap pistol - .71 caliber Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of the grip and percussion cap lock. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Robber Woman draws her pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing She carries the pistol during the ambush on the gold coach. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One more good view of the pistol. Numerous Percussion Cap Pistols of different model are used by the robbers. They appear to be same props, reused in several scenes. Possibly these pistols are not original guns, but good mockups, fitted with some genuine parts, like locks. Only these pistols are seen firing (genuine historical guns of black powder era certainly doesn't fire on screen to avoid damage).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Percussion cap pistol Error creating thumbnail: File missing A tall robber on a bicycle (unexpectedly for a fairy tale!) holds a percussion cap pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl carries a percussion cap pistol in a makeshift holster. She also carries a percussion pocket pistol (see below). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Robber Woman fires in air. In this scene her pistol looks different from the one that she carried earlier; it resembles a mockup rather an original gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl fires two pistols in air. Again, these guns seem to be mockups. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Storyteller, disguised as a robber, carries a pistol with military-style grip. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl holds a pistol when she lets Storyteller to go free after getting news that Gerda saved Kai. Percussion Pocket Pistol A Percussion Pocket Pistol is seen among the guns of Little Robber Girl (Era Ziganshina). It appears to be the same prop, used in some other Lenfilm productions, like Tri tolstyaka
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl carries a small percussion cap pistol tucked in her belt. She also carries a larger pistol in holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing She threates Gerda with her pistol. This gun has military-style outlook and pocket size. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl threatens Gerda and Storyteller with small percussion cap pistol and a larger flintlock pistol (see below). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl carries same small pistol in her belt when she lets Storyteller to go free after getting news that Gerda saved Kai. Percussion Dueling Pistol Percussion Dueling Pistols are seen in hands of several robbers, and of Little Robber Girl. At least two different pistols of this kind are seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Percussion Cap Ardesa 1871 Dueling Pistol - .45 inch Error creating thumbnail: File missing A robber in top hat (at the left) holds a long-barreled dueling pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl aims a long-barreled pistol at Storyteller. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of the grip and the percussion cap lock. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Modern replica of Lepage percussion dueling pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A robber in center holds a long-barreled pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of same pistol is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One more view of same pistol (second from the left man in hat with feather). Flintlock Pistol When Little Robber Girl finds out Storyteller, dusguised as a robber, in the cave, she draws one more pistol, this time a flintlock one. This pistol with silvery inlay is also used in Tri tolstyaka
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A robber (thrid from the left) carries a flintlock pistol with silvery inlay in his belt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Same robber with same flintlock pistol is seen in center. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of same pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl holds a flintlock pistol and a percussion pocket pistol (see above). Matchlock/ Wheellock Pistol A very large pistol is seen in "apartments" of Little Robber Girl. It has massive pommel, like Matchlock and Wheellock pistols of 16th-17th century.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Brunswick wheellock pistol Error creating thumbnail: File missing A large pistol with pommel on grip is seen on chopping-block, next to hatchet. "Knee Flintlock Pistol" A robber (Anatoli Stolbov ) carries a pistol with short buttstock. Such guns, not large enough for even shortest of carbines, are sometimes referred as "Knee Pistols". They were especially popular in Ottoman Empire, on Balkans and in North Africa. The gun seems to be the same prop, used in Tri tolstyaka
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Knee-pistol of the Osmanic Empire cal. 45mm. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Second from the left robber (the one with several pocket watch on chain) carries a gun tucked in the belt. It has a small buttstock instead of grip. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The photoshopped (lightened) screenshot allow to ID this weapon as flintock (note the lack af the flint in the jaws). Error creating thumbnail: File missing The short buttstock of this gun is seen (second from the left man). Revolvers Reichsrevolver M1879 While most robbers are armed with percussion cap and flintlock guns, one of the gang (Mikhail Vasilyev ) holds a Reichsrevolver M1879 . This revolver, wiped nearly to white, appears to be the same prop, used in numerous Lenfilm productions, notably Priklucheniya Sherlocka Holmsa i Doktora Watsona
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Reichsrevolver M1879 Revolver - 10.6x25R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Long Guns Muskets Several robbers are armed with various muskets of unindentified models.
When Little Robber Girl appears, returning from hunt, she carries a relatively small musket. The lock of this gun isn't seen. Same looking gun is seen in another Lenfilm productions, Truffaldino_iz_Bergamo
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: 1860 Russian-made Single Barreled Percussion Shotgun, so-called "Shompolka" Error creating thumbnail: File missing Little Robber Girl carries a musket. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The ramrod under the barrel is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The buttstock is seen very blurry due to fast motion. An unidentified long gun is briefly seen in hands of a robber.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A robber in green cloak at the right holds some long gun. One more robber holds a long gun that lacks any kind of lock (possibly a simple mockup).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A robber in black cloak and dark red hat holds a long gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same gun (in center). A long gun is seen in the den of robbers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A long gun is seen at the left, near the stairs. What looks like a kind of Wheellock Musket (doubtless a not very elaborated mockup) is seen in the den of robbers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A long gun is seen at the background. The shape of stock resembles wheellok long guns. Blunderbuss A tall robber (German Lupekin) is seen with a Blunderbuss . It's hard to say if this is a genuine gun or a mockup.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing C. Ybarra Marked Percussion Blunderbuss Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The robber holds his gun single-hand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The robber holds his gun (second from the left). 
