The Green Hell (Kautschuk)

The Green Hell (Kautschuk) Error creating thumbnail: File missing Original Poster Country Germany Directed by Eduard von Borsody Release Date 1938 Language German Portuguese English Studio Universum Film Main Cast Character Actor Henry Wickham René Deltgen Don Alonzo de Ribeira Gustav Diessl Mary Waverley Vera von Langen Consul Waverley Herbert Hubner José José Alcantara Captain Murray Hans Nielsen The Governor of Para Walter Franck

The Green Hell (Kautschuk ("Natural Rubber")) is a 1938 German B&W adventure movie directed by Eduard von Borsody and loosely based on the real story of Henry Wickham, British adventurer who illegally exported a large shipment of Brazilian rubber seeds to the British Empire in 1876, that allowed to create rubber plantations in British colonies and bring the end of the Brazilian monopoly on natural rubber. The story of Wickham's expedition is supplemented with a love line with a rivalry with the richest Brazilian planter for the heart of the daughter of the British Consul.

The following weapons were used in the film The Green Hell (Kautschuk):

Revolvers

Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless

Henry Wickham's (René Deltgen) sidearm is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless revolver. During the encounter with a large pack of caimans, the revolver switches to a Smith & Wesson Military & Police due to a continuty error.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless "Lemon Squeezer" - .38 S&W. The screen gun has shorter barrel, likely 3.5 or 4 inch.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The grip of Wickham's holstered revolver is seen.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham fires at caimans.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

He reloads the revolver.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Another view of the S&W Hammerless revolver. In next scene it switches to an M&P revolver.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

During the encounter with a large pack of caimans, Wickham's Safety Hammerless revolver switches to an anachronistic Smith & Wesson Military & Police.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 6.5" barrel and gold medallion grips - .38 Special

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham fires at caimans. This scene, being very different in quality and showing real caimans being hit by gunshots, may be taken from a documentary about the Amazon, made by Franz und Edgar Eichhorn in 1930s.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham reloads the revolver.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

One of the cartridges stucks, so Wickham cannot close the cylinder and has to use the buttstock of his unloaded rifle against the caimans.

Reichsrevolver M1879

When José, a plantation worker, kills another worker in a fight and goes on the run, two of the overseers fire Reichsrevolver M1879 revolvers. Reichsrevolver M1879s are also used by Brazilian officers in Fort Ambe. This revolver is anachronistic for 1876 and very alien for Brazil.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Reichsrevolver M1879 Revolver - 10.6x25R

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Two men in center hold Reichsrevolvers.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Another view of the same scene.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The grip of the revolver is seen in the overseer's holster during the chase after José.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A Brazilian Army officer demonstrates his marksmanship, firing at a target that he watches in the mirror.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A Reichsrevolver in hands of a drunk officer.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The officer holds his revolver in a very reckless way, with the muzzle at his head and the finger on the trigger.

Unidentified revolvers

Don Alonzo de Ribeira (Gustav Diessl) carries a revolver in holster. Only a part of the grip is seen. It resembles the grip of Wickham's Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless so maybe the same prop is reused.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The grip of Don Alonzo's holstered revolver is seen.

Pistols

Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822

In the same scene Percussion Cap Pistols are seen in hands of two overseers, shooting after the fleeing José. One of the pistols is definitely a Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 while another one looks similar except for minor details, like the shape of the barrel band, and may be a commercial version of the Cavalry pistol.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Chatellerault Model 1822 T Percussion Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A man at the foreground cocks the hammer of his percussion cap pistol. This is a Model 1822 Cavalry pistol.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Another overseer at the background right also holds a percussion cap pistol. It looks very similar except for the barrel band.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The overseer at the foreground places the percussion cap on the nipple while the man at the background cocks the hammer.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The percussion cap pistol is seen in holster of one of the men, accompanying Don Alonzo de Ribeira.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Another view of the pistol in holster.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 1871

During the adventures in Amazon jungles, Henry Wickham (René Deltgen) uses a Mauser Karabiner 1871. Don Alonzo de Ribeira (Gustav Diessl) and his men also use Karabiner 1871s when they hunt for Wickham.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Mauser Karabiner 1871 - 11x60mmR

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham fires at the native tribe warriors.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The carbine is in Wickham's lap.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham fires at caimans.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

José (José Alcantara) fires Wickham's carbine.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Don Alonzo holds a carbine.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

He hands the gun to one of his men.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Wickham loads his carbine.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

He takes the gun and fires in air to signal to the British ship.

Mauser Gewehr 1871

Brazilian soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1871 Infantry rifles. Some bayonets, used on the rifles, nevertheless look more like Model 1898.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Mauser Gewehr 1871 - 11x60mmR. This is the infantry rifle variant.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Several Mauser 1871 rifles are seen in the gun rack at the left. A soldier on the pier also holds a rifle (only the buttstock can be seen) while Don Alonzo holds a Karabiner 1871.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A rifle with bayonet is seen at the right.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The rifle in hands of a soldier at the left is fitted with a Model 1898 bayonet. Note the long, slender blade and the crosspiece that is different from Model 1871 (it can be seen a little further).

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A soldier holds a Mauser 1871 during the night hunt for escaped Wickham.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A soldier with Mauser 1871 rifle on the Brazil patrol steamboat.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The Model 1871 bayonet in scabbard is seen.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

The captain of the patrol steamboat (Ernst Rotmund) takes the rifle from the soldier and fires at José.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A soldier holds Mauser 1871 rifle in the scene of the trial of Wickham.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A soldier at the governor's palace. His rifle seems to be fitted with Model 1898 bayonet.

Trivia

Artillery

Napoleonic era style field guns are seen in the Fort Ambe.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A cannon is seen in the night scene.