Finances of the Grand Duke (Die Finanzen des Großherzogs)Finances of the Grand Duke (Die Finanzen des Großherzogs) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video GamesFinances of the Grand Duke (Die Finanzen des Großherzogs)
Finances of the Grand Duke (original title Die Finanzen des Großherzogs; also released in English as The Grand Duke's Finances) is a German 1924 B&W silent adventure comedy directed by F.W. Murnau (it's the only comedy of this master of horror movies). The story is set on a fictional Mediterranean island of Abacco. Grand Duke Don Ramon, the ruler of Abacco, finds himself in heavy debt. His only hope is a wedding with the Russian Grand Duchess Olga. Don Ramon incognito goes to Berlin to meet Olga who is pursued by her brother, Crown Prince Nikolai who opposes this wedding. Meanwhile businessman Bekker, whose plans to start a sulfur mining on Abacco were rejected by Don Ramon, makes a conspiracy to overthrow the Grand Duke. Only the intervention of a gentleman thief Philipp Collins saves the day.
The following weapons were used in the film Finances of the Grand Duke (Die Finanzen des Großherzogs):
Luis Hernandez (Walter Rilla), Bekker's hireling and self-proclamed "President of Republic Abacco", has a Mauser C96 pistol at hand when he is surprised by Grand Duke and Collins.
One of the conspirators (Max Schreck; credied as "the sinister conspirator") carries a Reichsrevolver M1879. A holstered Reichsrevolver is also carried by a traffic policeman in Berlin.
Most rifles in the movie are full length Mauser rifles that have straight bolt handles and ladder-type rear sights. Based on the location of the bolt handle and shape of the action these are Mauser Gewehr 1871 rifles. These rifles are used by conspirators and by Russian sailors from Crown Prince Nikolai's ship.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMauser Gewehr 1871 - 11x60mmR. This is the infantry rifle variant.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMauser Gewehr 1871 Jaeger - 11x60mmRError creating thumbnail: File missingA conspirator (Georg August Koch; credited as "the dangerous conspirator") holds a Mauser rifle. This is the Jaeger Model 1871 based on the arrangement of barrel bands and sling, and finger rest projecting from the wrist of the stock behind the triggerguard.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA pair of Mauser rifles is seen at the left.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Mauser rifle in hands of a Russian sailor.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe straight bolt handle can be seen. This rifle has the long rear sight leaf and triggerguard-mounted sling of the infantry-length rifle.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAugustine (Ilka Grüning), the Grand Duke's cook, pursues escaping conspirators with a Mauser rifle in hands. Again, the arrangement of the barrel bands and location of the sling mounts identify this as the Jaeger Model 1871.
Some Russian sailors carry Mauser 1871 carbines with short barrels and turned-down bolt handles. These are distinctive from the Serbian-contract M87/80 carbines because they lack the elongated receiver tang of the M78/80 Mauser-Milovanovich action.
A German M1916-class minesweeper stands for the Russian cruiser under the flag of Crown Prince Nikolai. It is armed with two 105mm guns on bow and stern and a pair of small caliber guns (possibly 5.2cm).
