Bennie the Howl (Benya Krik)
Original Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Benya Krik
Yuri Shumsky
Mendel Krik
Matvei Lyarov
Sobkov
Sergei Minin
Ruvim Tartakovskiy
Evgeniy Lepkovsky
Froim Grach
Osip Merlatti
Lyovka Byk
Teodor Brainin
Kol'ka Pakovskiy
Nikolai Nademsky
Dvoira Krik
Anna Goricheva
Bennie the Howl Benya Krik ; the American release title incorrectly translates "Krik" as a nickname while this is a Jewish surname) is a 1926 Soviet B&W silent film directed by Vladimir Vilner. The plot is adapted from both Isaak Babel's short stories The Odessa Tales and the real life of Mikhail Vinnitsky aka Mishka Yaponchik, the prototype of the titular character. Benya Krik, nicknamed "The King", is a crime boss of Jewish descent in the city of Odessa. His gang organises protection racket, and when one of the Odessa richmen refuses to pay, Benya robs his bank. During the Russian Civil War, Benya under the influence of Bolshevik Sobkov teams with Reds, reforming his gang into a Red Army regiment. But instead of fighting against the enemies of the revolution, the "regiment" continues robberies and revellings, and at last Benya finds his bitter end.
Revolvers Nagant M1895 Nagant M1895 revolvers are seen in hands of Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky ), Froim Grach (Osip Merlatti) and Lyovka Byk (Teodor Brainin) during the bank robbery in 1917. The head of the Militsiya of the Provisional Government Tsysin (Leonid Chembarskiy) and several of his subordinates also carry Nagants. In the scenes, set during the Russian Civil War, Nagants are used by Red Commissar Sobkov (Sergei Minin ) and his aide Kochetkov (Ivan Sizov ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s - 7.62x38R Nagant. The rounded front sight is a sign of revolvers produced from 1890s until 1930. Error creating thumbnail: File missing During the robbery Benya orders the bank manager to open the safe under the threat of the gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Benya holds his Nagant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Froim Grach aims his Nagant at a cashier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyovka Byk holds his Nagant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tsysin appears from the armored car, holding a Nagant and a Colt M1911 . His aide (at the left) holds a Nagant and a Mauser C96 . Error creating thumbnail: File missing The revolvers of Tsysin and his aide are seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the scene, set during the Russian Civil War, Commissar Sobkov draws his Nagant when Benya disobeys the orders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kochetkov stops Sobkov from direct confrontation, and Sobkov unclenches his fist, letting the revolver hang on the lanyard. Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the final scene Kochetkov kills Benya. Unidentified revolver During the robbery Saveliy Butsis (Aleksandr Sashin) and Lyovka Byk (Teodor Brainin) hold revolvers of unclear model. Possibly this is a single gun that is seen in hands of different characters due to continuity errors. The revolver bears resemblance with Webley RIC family but seems to lack the swing-out ejector rod.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Drunk Saveliy Butsis brandishes his revolver. When later he fires at the bank manager, his gun switches to a Nagant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyovka blithely carries the revolver tucked in his belt with the barrel upward. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The grips of Lyovka's revolver is seen. In next moment this gun switches to a Nagant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyovka's revolver again switches from the Nagant to the unidentified model. Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model In the scene, set in 1914, Russian Imperial police personnel carry Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model revolvers. The revolvers are seen only in holsters. Small parts of the grips and the lanyards prove that the holsters aren't empty.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Uberti No 3 New Model Russian Top Break - replica of the Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model - .44 Russian/.45 Long Colt Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Gorodovoy (policemen in Russian Empire) carries a Smith & Wesson in holster. The lanyard is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A small part of the grip is seen. Pistols Colt M1911 Abdullah the Persian (Georgi Astafyev) and Kol'ka Pakovskiy (Nikolai Nademsky) carry Colt M1911 pistols during the bank robbery. Tsysin (Leonid Chembarskiy) holds an M1911 together with a Nagant M1895 . Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky ) carries an M1911 in the final scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Original Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abdullah's Colt is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kol'ka aims his Colt at the bank employes. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kol'ka's pistol is seen at the background right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing ]Tsysin proudly poses with a Colt in hand and two Nagant M1895 revolvers tucked in his belt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tsysin appears from the turret of the armored car, holding a Colt and a Nagant. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tsysin with his handguns. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Colt is seen on the table during the gambling. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Benya greets Commissar Sobkov, covertly holding a Colt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Benya carries a Colt tucked in his belt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the final scene Benya draws his pistol, understanding that his men turn away from him, but is disarmed by Kochetkov. Steyr M1912 Benya Krik (Yuri Shumsky ) carries a Steyr M1912 in addition to a Nagant M1895 revolver in one scene, set during the Civil War. Later Kol'ka Pakovskiy (Nikolai Nademsky) is seen with a Steyr 1912.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Steyr-Hahn M1912 (1913 mfg) - 9x23mm Steyr Error creating thumbnail: File missing Benya carries a Steyr 1912 tucked in his belt. Later he carries a Colt M1911 . Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kol'ka holds a Steyr 1912. Roth-Steyr M1907 During the bank robbery, Froim Grach's (Osip Merlatti) Nagant switches to a Roth-Steyr M1907 pistol and then back to the revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Roth-Steyr M1907 - 8mm Roth-Steyr Error creating thumbnail: File missing Froim Grach holds his Roth-Steyr pistol at the background right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the pistol. Error creating thumbnail: File missing What appears to be a Roth-Steyr is seen on the table during the gambling. Mauser C96 Tsysin's aide carries a Mauser C96 when the Militsiya goes to the place of the robbery.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mauser in holster is seen when Tsysin and other Militsiya personnel prepare to visit the place of the robbery. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tsysin's aide at the foreground holds the Mauser in holster. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Mauser in seen in hands of the same character when he argues with Tsysin. Rifles Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Nearly all Red Army men, including the personnel of Benya Krik's "regiment", are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing In Summer 1917, the personnel of the volunteer Women's Battalion march with M91 Infantry rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the bolt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A row of rifles is seen at the background in the "barracks" of Benya's "regiment". Error creating thumbnail: File missing A sailor carries an M91 Infantry rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man at the right carries an M91 Infantry rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kochetkov (Ivan Sizov ) with the rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Red Army men with rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Red Army men encircle the train with Benya's "regiment" in the final scene. Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon Several Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon rifles are also seen in hands of the Red Army men in the final scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several M91 Dragoon rifles are seen together with M91 Infantry rifles. Mosin Nagant "Obrez" Mosin Nagant "obrez" sawed-off rifles are seen in hands of several of Benya Krik's men.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man in center carries an "obrez". Error creating thumbnail: File missing Second from the left man holds an "obrez". Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbine Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbines are briefly seen in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Berthier Mle 1892 Artillery Carbine - 8x50mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of the Benya's men in center carries a Berthier carbine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the turned down bolt handle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Red Army man at the left holds what appears to be the same Berthier Mle 1892 carbine. Machine Guns Maxim M1910 Several Maxim M1910 machine guns are used by Benya Krik's "regiment". Several Maxims are mounted on Tsysin's armored car.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim M1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Maxim in mounted in the turret of the armored car. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Benya's men load two Maxims in the railway wagon together with the loot. Other Weapons F1 Hand Grenade Some of Benya Krik's men carry F1 hand grenades .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing F1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade with Mle1916 Billant fuse. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of Benya's men carries an F1 grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man at the right carries an F1 grenade. RG-14 Hand Grenade Some of Benya Krik's men carry RG-14 hand grenades .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RG-14 Russian hand grenade (Model 1914 grenade) Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of Benya's men carries an RG-14 tucked in his belt together with a Nagant M1895 revolver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man in center carries an RG-14 grenade. Trivia Armored Car An armored car, armed with Maxim M1910 machine guns in the turret and in the sides of the hull, is used by Tsysin's Militsiya unit. This is a full-scale mockup without a direct prototype, made specially for filming. Same vehicle is also seen in Arsenal
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tsysin's armored car arrives at the place of the robbery. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Maxim in the turret. See Also 
