Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Better Tomorrow (1986)
A Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film directed by John Woo and starring Chow Yun-Fat as a friend to a pair of brothers who decide to take on the Triad crime organization. The film would spawn the 1987 sequel A Better Tomorrow II and the 1989 prequel A Better Tomorrow III , as well as a 2010 South Korean remake.
The following weapons were used in the film A Better Tomorrow :
Handguns
Smith & Wesson Model 10
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver is carried by Sung Tse-Kit (Leslie Cheung ) as his police service weapon. A suppressed revolver is also used by an assassin who attempts to kill Ho and Kit's father.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Early model Smith & Wesson Model 10 - .38 Special
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sung Tse-Kit (Leslie Cheung ) practices one-handed firing with the S&W Model 10 in the range.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kit uses a S&W Model 10 in the range when he is at the police academy.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An assassin attempts to kill the father of Ho (Ti Lung ) and his brother Kit (Leslie Cheung ) with a suppressed revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kit takes his service revolver and his handcuff before going to the docks.
Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman
During the shootout in the restaurant, one of Taiwanese gangsters who attempts to fire at Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat ) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman - .357 Magnum
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A gangster fires at Mark Lee moments before being shot.
Beretta 92F
Director John Woo 's favorite handgun, the Beretta 92F , makes frequent appearances in this film. Mark (Chow Yun-Fat ), Ho (Ti Lung ), and Kit (Leslie Cheung ) all use the pistol at different times in the film, as do many of Triad gangsters. Aside from being the film that introduced the Beretta 92F as a staple of John Woo films, A Better Tomorrow was one of the first films ever to feature this famous pistol, which had been on the civilian market for less than a year at the time of filming.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta 92F - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat ) dual-wielding Beretta 92F pistols during the shootout in the Taiwanese restaurant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat ) using a Beretta 92F during the shootout in the Taiwanese restaurant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark tosses down his two empty pistols in the restaurant, before grabbing his hidden Beretta from a potted plant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing's right-hand man holds his Beretta 92F. Couldn't ask for a better view of this gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing's right-hand man (Shing Fui-On ) fires his 92F.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing In an incredibly rare scene (for John Woo at least), Mark is seen making a mid-mag reload in the parking garage.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kit runs out of ammo for his captured Beretta 92F.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing's right-hand man (Shing Fui-On ) on the right fires his Beretta. Fui-On would later play Wong Hoi in John Woo's The Killer .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho (in the middle) holds the Beretta as he, Mark and Kit take cover.
Beretta 92SB
The Beretta 92SB is seen in the hands of Shing (Waise Lee ) and a few of Triad gangsters throughout the film, and is identifiable by its rounded trigger guard, and modern Beretta grips (versus the older style grips of the original 92).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta 92SB - 9x19mm (note rounded trigger guard and flat bottom magazine)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing (Waise Lee ) cleans off his 92SB.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing holsters his 92SB. Despite the blurry image, note the rounded trigger guard.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing In a continuity error, a Beretta 92SB instead of a 92F is seen in the hand of the Triad assassin who wounds Kit at the docks.
Smith & Wesson 39
Sung Tse-Ho (Ti Lung ) carries a Smith & Wesson 39 pistol during the scenes set in Taiwan, and the gangster who betrays him also uses one during the restaurant shootout. Other Triad members use this pistol during the shootout in the parking garage and at the docks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson 39 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sung Tse-Ho (Ti Lung ) aims his S&W 39 before being captured by Taiwanese police.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho lays down his S&W 39.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The S&W 39 featured in the newspaper along with the story of Ho's capture.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of the thugs wielding a S&W 39 during the restaurant shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Triad member's handgun is briefly visible as he gets shot in the parking garage.
Colt M1911A1
Many Colt M1911A1 variants show up in this film, seldom clearly enough to make an ID. Seen mostly in the hands of Triad gangsters.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II issued Colt M1911A1 pistol - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of a thug wielding an M1911A1 in the restaurant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Triad gangster takes cover with his M1911A1.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is relatively common in early John Woo films. When Mark is engaged in a shootout in the restaurant, one of his Berettas turns into a Browning. Later Mark is seen dual-wielding the Browning alongside his Beretta while taking a data tape.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Classic commercial Browning Hi-Power - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing In a continuity error, one of Mark Lee's Beretta handguns turns into a Browning Hi-Power during the shootout in the restaurant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark tosses down his two empty pistols in the restaurant, before grabbing his hidden Beretta from a potted plant. The one on top appears to be a Browning.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat ) holding Triad gangsters at gunpoint with a Browning Hi-Power and a Beretta pistol while taking a tape of important counterfeiting data.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another shot of Mark dual-wielding a Browning Hi-Power and a Beretta 92F.
Colt Python
A nickel-plated Colt Python is used by Kit in the final shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Python - .357 Magnum
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kit picks up the Colt Python.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kit holds the Colt Python.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Colt Python is fired.
Shotguns
Remington 870
The leader of Taiwanese gangsters fires what appears to be a Remington 870 when he betrays Ho and Shing. Mark also uses this shotgun when he returns to rescue Ho and Kit in the finale.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Remington 870 - 12 Gauge
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gangster takes his shotgun when he prepares to kill Ho.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gangster fires his shotgun.
Submachine Guns
Heckler & Koch MP5A3
A Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine gun, with a slimline handguard and an early straight magazine, is initially used by Ho in the final shootout at the docks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1980s type Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with neoprene handguard and straight magazine - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Heckler & Koch MP5A3, using an early straight magazine, is carried by Ho (Ti Lung ) in the final shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho holds Triad boss Shing hostage with an MP5A3 and a Beretta pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho holds Triad boss Shing hostage with an MP5A3 and a Beretta pistol. This shot makes it easy to see the old style slimline handguard.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho points the MP5A3 at Shing.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ho dual-wields the MP5A3 and the Beretta.
Mini Uzi
The Mini Uzi is notably seen in the hands of Mark in the final shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mini Uzi with stock folded - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark points the Mini Uzi at Shing as he and Ho drive to the docks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mark Lee (Chow Yun-Fat ) carries a Mini Uzi with a folded stock during the final shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For the second time in the film, Mark reloads a weapon (a rare sight in John Woo films), this time after running dry on his Mini Uzi.
MAC-10
The MAC-10 is used by the Triad boss Shing (Waise Lee ) during the final shootout.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ingram MAC-10 open bolt submachine gun - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A MAC-10 is pointed at Kit (Leslie Cheung ) during a Mexican standoff. Later the same MAC-10 is used by the Triad boss Shing (Waise Lee ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing In a continuity error, Mark uses the MAC-10 instead of a Mini Uzi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing fires the MAC-10 at Kit.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shing on the left fires the MAC-10 at Mark.
Rifles
M16A1
M16A1 rifles are carried by police officers when Ho is captured in Taiwan. Some Triad gangsters are also armed with M16A1 rifles during the final shootout at the docks, although they are not seen very clearly.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M16A1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Taiwanese police officers with their M16A1 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Triad gangsters hold Kit captive with their M16A1 rifles.
See Also