Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Steel Helmet (1951)
The Steel Helmet is the 1951 war film that was the first US feature film to portray the Korean War onscreen (the war had only begun a year earlier). This was also the breakout film for writer/director Samuel Fuller , who went on to direct such notable war films as Merrill's Marauders and The Big Red One . The Steel Helmet also marked the feature film acting debut of venerable character actor Gene Evans , who would proceed to have a role in Fuller's next Korean War film Fixed Bayonets! (also released in 1951). The production was also the first (but not the last) to use the Santa Monica Mountains as a stand-in for Korea. The film is a meditation on race, bigotry, tolerance, and morality in wartime.
The following weapons were used in the film The Steel Helmet :
Rifles
M1 Garand
Throughout the film, American GIs carry an M1 Garand .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand - .30-06
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Short Round (William Chun) finds an M1 Garand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Short Round rousts Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Zack is seldom seen without his M1 Garand and cigar stub.
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Zack and Lt. Driscoll (Steve Brodie ) disagree about tactics.
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing A North Korean sniper with an M1 Garand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Zack returns fire against a North Korean sniper.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt. Driscoll's final resting place.
M1 Carbine
Several GIs are armed with M1 Carbines .
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1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle
Short Round collects 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle from dead snipers and carries them throughout the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing A North Korean sniper with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing North Korean infantry charge with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle
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Handguns
M1911A1 Pistol
Throughout the film, GIs carry an M1911A1 pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An American GI holsters his M1911A1 pistol.
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
Several American soldiers carry M1928A1 Thompson submachine guns. Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo ) and Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans ) each borrow one in one scene to locate and eliminate a pair of North Korean snipers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo ) opens fire on a sniper.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans ) joins Sgt. Tanaka shooting at the other sniper.
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans ) with a M1928A1 Thompson . Note the bolt actuator on top of the receiver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Note the simplified rear sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pvt. Baldy returns fire.
PPSh-41
Throughout the film, North Korean infantrymen carry a PPSh-41 “Burp Gun.”
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PPSh-41 Chinese “Burp Gun” - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The squad examines a captured PPSh.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A North Korean infantryman charges with a "Burp Gun."
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The PPSh against the column next to the BAR.
Machine Guns
Browning Automatic Rifle
The GIs use Browning Automatic Rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06
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Browning M2HB
Lt. Driscoll's patrol transports a Browning M2 machine gun to their observation post.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M2HB - .50 BMG machine gun on M3 tripod
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Browning M1917
Throughout the film, North Korean infantry fire a Browning M1917 machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1917 - .30-06
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Other
Mk 2 hand grenade
Throughout the film, American GIs carry an Mk 2 hand grenade .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 2 hand grenade
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Model 17 Stielhandgranate
A North Korean major attacks the squad with a Model 17 Stielhandgranate , but forgets to pull the pin.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Model 17 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Grenade away!
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Tanaka (Richard Loo ) and Pvt. Baldy (Richard Monahan ) clown around with the potato masher.
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M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)
Throughout the film, Sgt. “Buddha Head” Tanaka (Richard Loo ) wields a M20 "Super Bazooka"
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chinese Type 51, a copy of the M20A1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5"
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Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Tanaka gets the kill.