The Big Red One is a 1980 World War II film that follows members of a rifle squad of the US 1st Infantry Division during their tour in the European theater of the war. The squad consists of four soldiers who come to be known as the "Four Horsemen": Griff (Mark Hamill), Zab (Robert Carradine), Vinci (Bobby Di Cicco), and Johnson (Kelly Ward), who are led by an NCO known only as the Sergeant (Lee Marvin). They struggle to survive throughout the war, including the North African campaign, the invasion of Sicily, Omaha Beach on D-Day, and onto the invasion of Germany and the discovery of the concentration camps. The film was directed by Samuel Fuller, who was known for his war films such as The Steel Helmet and Merrill's Marauders in addition to having served in the US 1st Infantry Division during the war. Fuller's daughter has stated in past interviews that the movie is in many ways an account of her father's war experiences. An extended version of the film was released on DVD in 2004 as The Big Red One: The Reconstruction.
The following weapons were used in the film The Big Red One:
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries a M1903 Springfield Rifle fitted with a bayonet as he surveys the battlefield just prior to the war being over.
An M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by an American soldier on patrol with the Sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge. In a deleted scene, the Sergeant is seen arguing with paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne, who are armed with the M1 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWorld War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WWII, shown with khaki sling and oiler and a period twin magazine pouch for buttstock - .30 CarbineError creating thumbnail: File missingIn a scene from the Reconstruction, an M1 Carbine is seen briefly held by an American soldier on patrol with the Sergeant during the Battle of the Bulge.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn a deleted scene, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne are armed with the M1 Carbine.
Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk 1*
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1* is the rifle seen carried by British troops who liberate a makeshift hospital in Tunis.
A Gew 98 Mauser rifle is seen being smashed by a mad horse that spooks the Private during the WWI prologue. This was supposed to be the Private's Springfield, as he states later that his rifle was smashed by the animal.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm MauserError creating thumbnail: File missingMauser Gew 98 Rifle (as noted by the straight bolt action) laying on the ground. This was supposed to be the Private's Springfield, as he states later that his rifle was smashed by the animal.
1886 Lebel Rifle
As the Big Red One hits the beach in North Africa, Vichy French soldiers are seen armed with the Lebel Model 1886 Rifle as their main weapon.
During the World War I prologue, the Private (Lee Marvin) carries an M1911 as his sidearm. An M1911 is also used by a Belgian woman who produces the pistol from a pack to threaten a German infiltrator (this was seen in the Reconstruction).
The M1928A1 Thompson Submachine Gun is seen being carried mainly by Pvt. Switolsky (Doug Werner). While it lacks the Cutts Compensator, the Thompson is an M1928A1 identified by its square receiver shape and not the upside down T shape of the M1A1. Most of Switolsky's role was cut from the theatrical version of the film, but was restored for the Reconstruction.
The MP40 is seen carried by German soldiers, namely Sergeant Schroeder (Siegfried Rauch) throughout the film. During the shootout in the asylum, Rensonnet (Serge Marquand) declares "I am sane!" while firing an MP40.
The Browning 1919A4 Machine Gun is seen firing from the modified M51 Sherman mocked up to resemble a German Tiger. The Sergeant is seen firing the machine gun from the tank in the battle near the Christ on the Cross. The Browning M1919A4 is also briefly seen held by a US soldier during the Battle of the Bulge.
In a scene from "The Reconstruction"., a Browning Automatic Rifle is very briefly seen in the lap of a relaxing American soldier that is filmed by a documentary cameraman (played by the film's director Samuel Fuller).
In a scene from "The Reconstruction", an M20B1 "Super Bazooka" is fired by Pvt Kaiser (Perry Lang) in order to take out an enemy artillery bunker. This weapon was anachronistic for WWII.
