Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord!
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here.

How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal) (1942)

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Revision as of 17:41, 1 April 2019 by Pyramid Silent (talk | contribs) (→‎Single Barreled Shotgun)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search


How the Steel Was Tempered
(Kak zakalyalas stal)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Original Theatrical Poster
Country Error creating thumbnail: File missing USSR
Directed by Mark Donskoy
Release Date 1942
Language Russian
Studio Kiev Film Studio
Ashkhabad Film Studio
Main Cast
Character Actor
Pavel Korchagin Viktor Perest-Petrenko
Fyodor Ivanovich Zhukhrai Daniil Sagal
Tonya Tumanova Irina Fedotova
Artyom Korchagin Viktor Bubnov
Dolinnik Aleksandr Khvylya
Sergei Bruzzhak Boris Runge
Viktor Leshchinskiy Vladimir Balashov
Pavel's mother Yelena Anufrieva


How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal, also released in English as Heroes Are Made) is a Soviet 1942 historical drama directed by Mark Donskoy and based on the eponymous novel by Nikolai Ostrovsky (1932-1934). The protagonist, Pavel ("Pavka") Korchagin, is a young man from small Ukrainian town of Shepetovka (currently Shepetivka) who joins Reds during the Russian Civil war.

This movie is the first screen adaptation of the original novel, followed by 1956 movie Pavel Korchagin and 1973 TV series, reworked in 1975 into two-part theatrical version. The novel was also adapted for screen in Yugoslavia in 1988 and in China in 2000.


The following weapons were used in the film How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal):


Revolvers

Nagant M1895

Red sailor Fyodor Ivanovich Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal) uses a Nagant M1895 revolver when he hides in Korchagins' house. This is an authentic pre-1930 version.

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
Zhukhrai holds a Nagant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A good view of pre-1930 rounded front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Zhukhrai prepares his revolver...
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
...but the pursuers dind't find him.

Pistols

Walther PP

Several German Imperial officers carry out of time Walther PP pistols. Pavel Korchagin (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) steals a pistol from the room of German commandant.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
War Time Walther PP Pistol - 7.65x17mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A perfect view of Walther PP on the table in the room of German commandant.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Viktor Leshchinskiy (Vladimir Balashov) takes the pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavka steals the pistol. When he leaves the room, the pistol switches to TT-33 (see below).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavka gives the pistol to Fyodor Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal). Later Zhukhrai's PP again switches to TT during the chase after the German car.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A German Major (V. Krasnovitskiy) (at the left) fires a Walther PP at pursuing Reds.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of same German officer with a PP in hand.

TT-33

When Pavka Korchagin (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) steals a pistol from the room of German commandant, Walther PP switches to equally out of time TT-33. Later a TT is used by Fyodor Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal). Some German officers carry TT holsters but the pistols aren't seen.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Pre-1947 version.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An officer at the left carries a TT holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavka gets out the window, holding a TT instead of Walther PP, seen in previous moment.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Zhukhrai fires the TT during the pursue after the car with German officers.

Mauser C96

Several officers of German Imperial army and army of pro-German Ukrainian Hetmanate carry Mauser C96 pistols.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An Ukrainian officer (Dmitriy Kapka) carries a Mauser C96 in holster, marching in front of his soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Same officer draws his Mauser C96 when breaking in Korchagins' house in seach of Fyodor Zhukhrai.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The officer threatens Artyom Korchagin.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The lanyard ring of the grip is seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of the scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
German officers in a car escape from Red partisans. One of the officers holds a Mauser C96; next to him Viktor Leshchinskiy (Vladimir Balashov) holds a Luger P08.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of same German officer with a Mauser in hand.

Luger P08

Viktor Leshchinskiy (Vladimir Balashov), Korchagin's archenemy from youth, holds a Luger P08 in one scene. Several German officers also use Lugers.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Luger P08 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A German officer fires at Ukrainian Sotnik (Capt.) who tries to join escaping Germans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Leshchinskiy, escaping in German car, fires a Luger at pursuing Reds.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Leshchinskiy and a German officer fire Lugers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Leshchinskiy fires at Pavka Korchagin.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
He drops the pistol, being shot by Zhukhrai.

Unidentified pistol

A Sotnik (Capt.) of Ukrainian army (Nikolai Bratersky) holds an unidentified pistol. It bears resemblance with FN Model 1910 but it's only a guess.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
For comparison: FN Model 1910 - .380 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Sotnik, shot by a German officer, drops his pistol.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1891

Revolutionary Russian soldiers, Red Guards, Red patrisans and Haidamaks (soldiers of Hetmanate army) are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. Both Infantry and Dragoon versions can be seen.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon Rifle - 7.62x54mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Bolshevik Dolinnik (Aleksandr Khvylya) holds an M91 Dragoon rifle when speaking on a meeting.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Red Guards of Shepetovka with M91 rifles. Both Infantry and Dragoon rifles are seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Marching Haidamaks are armed with a mix of Mosin Nagant and Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Red partisan carries an M91 Infantry rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An M91 Infantry rifle in hands of a partisan is seen at the foreground.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Fyodor Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal), now the commander of Red partisans unit, carries an M91 Infantry rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A partisan carries an M91 Dragoon rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A partisan bayonets a German soldier.

Mosin Nagant M1907 Carbine

Some of Red partisans and Red Army men, notably brothers Artyom (Viktor Bubnov) and Pavel (Viktor Perest-Petrenko) Korchagins, are seen with Mosin Nagant M1907 Carbines.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Mosin Nagant Model 1907 Carbine - 7.62x54mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Artyom Korchagin holds an M07 Carbine. In next scene his gun switches to Arisaka Type 38 carbine (see below).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavel Korchagin, now Red Army cavalryman, carries an M07 carbine during the cavalry charge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavel carries a carbine in another scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pavel carries a carbine in another scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
One of the local men carries an M07 carbine when he bids farewell before going to front.

Arisaka Type 38 Carbine

Artyom Korchagin (Viktor Bubnov) also carries an Arisaka Type 38 Carbine instead of previously seen Mosin Nagant M1907 carbine. A large number of Arisaka Type 30 and Type 38 rifles was purchased by Russian Empire from Japan during the Great War, among which no less than 30,000 carbines, so this weapon wasn't uncommon in the years of Russian Civil war.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Arisaka Type 38 Carbine - 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Artyom holds the Arisaka carbine with opened bolt.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A closer view of the barrel.

M98/29 Persian Mauser

German Imperial soldiers are armed with M98/29 Persian Mauser rifles, standing for correct Mauser Gewehr 98s. Same rifles are also used by Haidamaks. Such rifles, identified by the shape of front sight protector and the position of top sling swivel, were available after Iranian army was disarmed during Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. They are seen in several other Soviet movies, filmed in 1942-1944, like Neulovimyy Yan.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Persian Mauser 98/29 with bayonet - 7.92x57mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
German soldiers with Persian Mauser rifles in action against Red Guards of Shepetovka.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Haidamaks march with Mosin Nagant M1891 and Mauser rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A soldier with Mauser rifle on railway station.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rifles in gun rack in barracks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A German soldier in action against Reds, attacking the town.

Tokarev SVT-38

German Imperial soldiers are also armed with Tokarev SVT-38 rifles, chosen probably for their availability (in 1942 these rifles were mostly withdrawn from active service and moved to training units) and for uncommon outlook in comparison with Mosin rifles, making them more "foreign". Same usage of SVT rifles for German Imperial troops is seen in several other Soviet movies, filmed in 1942-1944, like Aleksandr Parkhomenko.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Tokarev SVT-38 - 7.62x54mm R
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Several German soldiers at the right hold rifles that appear to be SVT-38s.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A soldier at the background with supposed SVT rifle. The barrel and bayonet of another rifle is seen at the left.

Shotguns

Single Barreled Shotgun

Some Red partisans are armed with Single Barreled Shotguns.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
IZh-5 - 16 gauge
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A partisan in center holds a single barreled shotgun. The shotgun bears resemblance with IZh-5, but it's only a guess.

Double Barreled Shotgun

Some Red partisans are armed with Double Barreled Shotguns.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Men at the right and at the background hold double barreled shotguns.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910

Red Guards and partisans use Maxim M1910 machine guns.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Maxim of Red Guards of Shepetovka.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Maxim on Red Army tachanka horse cart. The barrel isn't seen but most likely it's the same prop.

Maxim MG08

An MG08 is seen in German commandant's office.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An MG08 is seen at the background.

Other Weapons

RG-14 Hand Grenade (dummy)

Fyodor Zhukhrai (Daniil Sagal) carries a pair of hand grenades. They appear to be mockups of RG-14, possibly training dummy version.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Model 1914 Russian hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Zhukhrai carries grenades in his belt. The general shape of these grenades is similar to Model 1914, but they lack a hole for fuze in the top of the body and safety pin on the grip.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another view of Zhukhrai's grenades.

Trivia

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
1944 English release poster