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Stripes (1981): Difference between revisions

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==Fake Uzi Submachine gun aka "The MAC Uzi"==
==Fake Uzi Submachine gun aka "The MAC Uzi"==
Seen in the film are the fake Uzi Submachine guns, fabricated out of MAC-10s (9mm versions) by Special Effects Unlimited, in the 1970s.  There may have not been enough real blank adapted Uzis in the U.S. at the time so these faux Uzis were used in several movies.  These fake Uzis were famously used in the Christopher Walken film ''[[The Dogs of War]]'' and also in the films ''[[High Risk]]'' and ''[[Raw Deal]]''.
Seen in the film are the fake Uzi Submachine guns, fabricated out of MAC-10s (9mm versions) by Special Effects Unlimited, in the 1970s.  There may have not been enough real blank adapted Uzis in the U.S. at the time so these faux Uzis were used in several movies.  These fake Uzis were famously used in the Christopher Walken film ''[[The Dogs of War]]'' and also in the films ''[[High Risk]]'' The Killer Elite and ''[[Raw Deal]]''.
[[Image:Stripes-MAC-Uzi 01aa.jpg‎|thumb|none|500px|Czechoslovakian Border guard ([[Joe Flaherty]]) with his "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm]]
[[Image:Stripes-MAC-Uzi 01aa.jpg‎|thumb|none|500px|Czechoslovakian Border guard ([[Joe Flaherty]]) with his "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm]]
[[Image:Stripes-MAC-Uzi 01CUa.jpg‎ |thumb|none|500px|Closeup of the "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm]]
[[Image:Stripes-MAC-Uzi 01CUa.jpg‎ |thumb|none|500px|Closeup of the "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm]]

Revision as of 07:07, 23 April 2009

Stripes (1981)

Stripes (1981) was a hit comedy starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis (of Ghostbusters fame). Despite being a broad farce, with implausible situations, it is indicative of the mindset of the U.S. Military in the 1970s (i.e. the immediate Post Vietnam war Years). Morale was not high, and despite an active Cold War with the Soviets, the military's budget was slashed under then President Jimmy Carter. Stripes was filmed with the cooperation of the U.S. Army, and many portions of the film was filmed at an active Army base, Fort Knox, Kentucky (but nowhere near the famous "gold reserve"). Despite being irreverent, the film still depicted American Soldiers as brave and dedicated, albeit a little weird and goofy. It was that positive portrayal of the U.S. Army in general (despite some comical and incompetent characters) which allowed the Defense Department to approve helping the film.

The following guns were used in the film:

M16A1

During training, the recruits are seen with M16A1 rifles.

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M16A1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm.
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During training the recruits hold M16A1 Rifle - 5.56mm. What is interesting is that they still have their magazines locked, which is unnecessary since they are just on a forced march/run.
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During Boot camp bayonet training, we see a mix of M16A1 and M16 (SP1) rifles - 5.56mm
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Francis "Psycho" Soyer (Conrad Dunn) shoots live rounds at a flock of ducks and hits an observation tower - 5.56mm. In reality such an action would result in the immediate removal of such a 'recruit'.

M16 (SP1)

Mixed in the M16A1 rifles are M16 (AR15 SP1) slab side receiver rifles. Though there 'may' have been some left over in inventory during the 1970s, when this movie was filmed, it would have been rare. These are 'movie' guns, aka, SP1 rifles converted to full auto fire by movie armorers.

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M16 aka SP1 (flat "slab side receiver") with an A1 "birdcage" Flash hider, used to imitate the M16A1 in many Vietnam era movies. This version has a 20 round magazine - 5.56mm
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John Winger's (Bill Murray) rifle is an original M16 (SP1) during bayonet training - 5.56mm
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When Pvt. "Psycho" Soyer (Conrad Dunn) says "Finally I get to kill something", he loads a 20 round magazine into an M16 (SP1) slab side rifle 5.56mm

M1 Garand "Training Rifles"

During the boot camp sequences of the film, the recruits don't actually use real M1 Garand rifles. They instead use plastic & metal training rifles patterned after the M1 Garand.

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M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06
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Winger leads his platoon with plastic & metal M1 Garand Training Rifles.
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Some detailed shots of Winger's Plastic & Metal M1 Garand training rifle.

M1911A1

The Standard sidearm of all of the U.S. Military personnel (officers, NCOs, Military Police) are the M1911A1 in the film. What is interesting is that the so called "Russian Soldiers" (i.e. the officers) at the end of the film also carry M1911A1 pistols. I suppose they couldn't get Tokarev or Makarov pistols.

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World War 2 issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP.
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Pvt. John Winger (Bill Murray) threatens Czechoslovakian Border guard (Joe Flaherty) with his M1911A1 while Pvt. Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) thinks of the consequences - .45 ACP. Note: That is a fictional uniform for the Czechoslovakian soldier, made up of obsolete American uniform parts. It looks nothing like the real uniform that a border guard would wear.

Fake Uzi Submachine gun aka "The MAC Uzi"

Seen in the film are the fake Uzi Submachine guns, fabricated out of MAC-10s (9mm versions) by Special Effects Unlimited, in the 1970s. There may have not been enough real blank adapted Uzis in the U.S. at the time so these faux Uzis were used in several movies. These fake Uzis were famously used in the Christopher Walken film The Dogs of War and also in the films High Risk The Killer Elite and Raw Deal.

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Czechoslovakian Border guard (Joe Flaherty) with his "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm
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Closeup of the "MAC-Uzi" with a full wooden stock - 9mm
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The "Russian" Soldier in the tower reacts to the RV's rocket launcher while holding a "Mac-Uzi" - 9mm

MAC-10

Used by John Winger (Bill Murray) and Stella Hansen (P.J. Soles) during the rescue and by Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) at the end of the film.

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Ingram MAC 10 open bolt submachine gun - .45 ACP

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John Winger (Bill Murray) and Stella Hansen (P.J. Soles) wield their MAC-10s during the rescue of their platoon - .45 ACP
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Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) fires his MAC-10 at the charging Russians - .45 ACP

Valmet M76

Many of the so called "Russian Soldiers" at the base in Czechoslovakia are carrying Valmet M76 rifles, since real AKs or AK clones were near impossible to get in the 1970s. Only with the advent of imported rifles from China and Egypt did American movies get to see closer versions of the AK rifle series. The Valmet M76 rifles used in the film appear to be the 5.56mm versions.

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A Valmet M76 chambered in 5.56mm (.223). The Valmet was also offered in 7.62x39 and .308 (7.62x51mm)
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Leading the RV into the camp, "Russian Soldiers" carry the Valmet M76 Rifle - 5.56mm
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"Russian guards" carry their Valmet M76 rifles (both with 20 round magazines) - 5.56mm
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A pair of "Russian" guards, one with a Valmet M76 rifle, the other with a real Uzi submachine gun, not the fake "MAC-Uzi"

Uzi Submachine Gun

Seen rarely, but mixed in the other weapons at the "Russian" base, we see a few real Uzi Submachine guns with full wooden stocks.

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Seen at the lower left of frame, a Russian soldier holds a wooden stocked Uzi - 9mm. Note: observe the "Russian Officers" uniform. No Soviet uniform wears it's rank like that - the ranks were on the shoulder boards (which this uniform lacks) and they did not have service hash marks on their sleeves.

M72A2 LAW Rocket

Seen carried by Corporal Tyson (John Voldstad) when the platoon gets ready to go after Winger and Ziskey. The LAW rocket launchers are the M72A2 version, however, they have the large sticker on the side indicating that they are the Trainers, not the standard rockets.

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M72A2 LAW 66mm
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Corporal Tyson (John Voldstad) loads a bunch of M72A2 LAW rockets (trainer rockets in reality) - 66mm

M224 60mm Light Mortar

Recruits at Fort Knox are seen firing the M224 60mm Light Mortars at the range.

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Recruits checking out the M224 - 60mm
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Capt. Stillman (John Larroquette) challenges a recruit to fire the M224 - 60mm
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Closeup of the M224 60mm Light Mortar - 60mm

M67 Hand Grenade

Corporal Tyson (John Voldstad) must get rid of a supposedly 'live' M67 hand grenade of which Captain Stillman accidentally pulls the pin. But it is clear that he holds the blue painted M69 Training hand grenade. (a) An Army officer would not be allowed to have live ordnance sitting on his desk, (b) the Corporal would probably have the presence of mind to not run with the grenade (and possibly trip) and just hold down the spoon until he can dispose of it (hopefully he is near the grenade range) or just take the pin and re-insert it into the fuse body and (c) in the film, Tyson yells "Grenade!" seconds after he leaves the office and we hear an explosion ... one wonders where he threw the grenade since it was so near to an Army Administration building full of people (?)

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Corporal Tyson (John Voldstad) nervously holds an M67 hand grenade (actually an inert blue M69 training grenade) in the movie 'Stripes (1981)

Field Gun

A yet unidentified American Field gun (direct fire artillery versus a howitzer which is a high angle of fire weapon) is used by a "Russian" gunner who is dispatched by Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates). It tries to destroy the American "Urban Assault Vehicle" with direct fire, but fails. It's second shot goes wild and destroys the remains of the Czech Border Guard Station.

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Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates) knocks out the Russian gunner, causing the barrel to swing upwards and fire.