The Tree of Guernica
Original Theatrical Poster
The Tree of Guernica L'arbre de Guernica ; also released in English as The Guernica Tree ) is a 1975 French-Italian arthouse war drama directed by Fernando Arrabal. The plot is set during the Spanish Civil War in a small town of Villa Ramiro near Guernica. The town and its inhabitants are torn by the war: a charismatic young woman Vandale becomes a Communist leader in the town, the local landowner Count Cerralbo and three of his nephews are on the Francoists side while his son Goya, a scandalous artist, joins Anarchists, and the pacifistic teacher Antonio Garcia tries to save children from the devastating effect of war. The film is created in highly surrealistic manner.
The following weapons were used in the film The Tree of Guernica (L'arbre de Guernica) :
Revolvers Smith & Wesson Military & Police style Several Republicans in Villa Ramiro carry Smith & Wesson Military & Police style revolvers, very likely Spanish clones of the original M&P. Possibly same revolvers are seen in hands of Nationalist officers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Orbea Revolver 1892 Espagnol - 8 x 27mm M1892. This Spanish-manufactured clone of M&P revolver was widely used by French army during WW1. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An officer in charge of the firing squad holds a revolver. It is seen only partially but what is seen resembles S&W M&P model. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A revolver is seen in hands of one of the Republican commanders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Officer Onesimo (Franco Ressel ), one of the Count Cerralbo's nephews, holds a revolver when the Nationalists troops occupy Villa Ramiro. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Same officer with revolver in hands is seen at the background. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A revolver is seen at the left in hands of an officer when the Nationalists capture Goya. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An officer in charge of a military tribunal draws a revolver, ordering the accused Republicans to shut up. Pistols Beretta Model 70 When the Nationalist troops occupy Villa Ramiro, Colonel Rafael (Cosimo Cinieri), Count Cerralbo's nephew, holds an anchronistic Beretta Model 70 .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 70 - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rafael holds a Beretta 70 pistol. Beretta M1915 One of the Nationalist officers holds a pistol with typical Beretta open-top slide. The length of the open part of the slide matches Beretta M1915 rather than later versions.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta M1915 - .32 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing The officer in Spanish Army uniform (others are dressed in blue uniform of Falange Espanola) holds a pistol that is supposed to be Beretta 1915. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the pistol. It is a hammerless gun that also matches M1915. Submachine Guns Beretta Model 38A Beretta Model 38A submachine guns are seen in hands of Nationalist soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 38A - 9x19mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with a Beretta 38A in attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel and the forend of the Beretta 38A can be seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The standard bearer carries a Beretta 38A on sling. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Officer Ramiro (Mario Novelli ), one of the Count Cerralbo's nephews, holds a Beretta 38A when the Nationalists troops occupy Villa Ramiro. Thompson M1921 or M1928 A Thompson Submachine Gun of unclear model is seen in hands of a Nationalist soldier. The Thompson is fitted with a foregrip, so M1921 or M1928 seem to be possible guesses.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt M1921AC Thompson with 20-round magazine - .45 ACP Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with a Thompson is seen at the left. The SMG has supposedly 30-round stick magazine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Thompson is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The foregrip is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The rear sight is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with Thompson guards the captured Republicans. Mockup Submachine Gun During the siege of Villa Ramiro, a Republican airplane, piloted by Goya, appears over the positions of the Falange Espanola troops, and a gunner from the back seat fires a submachine gun, successfully destroying the artillery. This SMG turns out to be acetylene-powered mockup, styled alike Haenel-Schmeisser MP28/II or Bergmann MP35/I . The stock seems to be taken from Beretta Model 38 while the receiver and the barrel shroud are custom.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gun lacks any magazine, be it bottom- or side-mounted, but is fitted with a small box under the barrel that is likely the gas ballon. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The stock, resembling Beretta 38, is seen. Shotguns Beretta Model 412 Folding Shotgun The defenders of Villa Ramiro widely use Single Barreled Shotguns . Most if not all of them are Beretta Model 412 (also known as FS-1 and "Companion") folding shotguns, identified by the typical opening lever located forward of the trigger guard. This shotgun was produced from 1929 until 1972 in various calibers, from 36 to 12 Gauge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Beretta Model 412 Single Barreled Folding Shotgun - 28 gauge Error creating thumbnail: File missing The defenders on the barricade hold several single barreled shotguns and a Double Barreled Shotgun . Error creating thumbnail: File missing More defeners with shotguns and a Mauser rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Republicans brandish shotguns during the demonstration. One of the guns in center seems to have a front sight but in other respects it looks the same as other shotguns. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vandale (Mariangela Melato ) fires a shotgun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Republicans with shotguns and Mauser rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close-up of a Beretta 412. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican reloads the shotgun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vandale aims her shotgun. She erroneously holds the finger not on the trigger but on the opening lever. Double Barreled Shotgun Double Barreled Shotguns are also widely used by the Republicans. Most if not all of these shotguns have exposed hammers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A defender of Villa Ramiro holds a double barreled shotgun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A young female Republican holds a double barreled shotgun. The bands on the barrels are possibly traces of the artisanal repairs. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of the Republicans brandishes a double barreled shotgun during the demonstration. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two double barreled shotguns are seen on the barricade at the left and center. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican in center reloads a double barreled shotgun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican brandishes an open shotgun, greeting the successfull attack of a plane on enemy positions. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican at the left reloads his shotgun. Rifles Spanish Mauser Model 1893 Full-length Spanish Mauser Model 1893 rifles are main weapons of the Nationalists troops. They are also sometimes used by the Republicans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 1893 Spanish Mauser - 7x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican in steel helmet holds an M1893 full-length rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Republican holds an M1893 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Nationalist soldier at the right holds an M1893 rifle on shoulder. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican fires an M1893 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nationalist soldiers with M1893 rifles in attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of M1893 rifle is seen at the background. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nationalist soldiers break in the town. Spanish Mauser Model 1943 Both Republicans and Nationalists use anachronistic Spanish Mauser Model 1943 short rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Spanish Mauser M43 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of M1943 short rifles is seen in the Republicans headquarters. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Republican in center fires an M1943 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two Republicans reload their rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An open bolt is seen at the foreground. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Republicans fire M1943 rifles and single barreled shotguns. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Republicans watch the attack of the plane on enemy positions. An M1943 rifle is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Nationalist artilleryman carries an M1943 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nationalist soldiers escort captured Goya. An M1943 rifle is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with M1943 rifle guards the military court. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier carries an M1943 rifle. More rifles are seen at the table. Winchester Model 1873 A Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle is seen in hands of one of the Republican commanders. During the street battle, a midget man holds a Winchester 1873. Supposedly an Uberti replica is used as the movie was filmed in Italy. This rifle may be used as a stand-in for Garate El Tigre that was really used during the Spanish Civil War.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Uberti replica of a Winchester 1873 carbine Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A man in white shirt brandishes a Winchester. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The saddle ring can be seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The front sight is seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A midget holds a Winchester 1873. It's most likely the same prop reused. Machine Guns ZB-30 Nationalists use ZB-30 machine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing ZB-30 (deactivated) - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A machine gun is seen on the positions of the Falange Espanola troops. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two soldiers with machine guns in attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with the machine gun in attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier with the machine gun. Bofors 40mm Nationalists, attacking Villa Ramiro, deploy two Bofors 40mm autocannons. They are used as field guns and when "firing", doesn't show any recoil.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bofors 40mm L/60 AA gun in a wheeled trailer mounting - 40x311mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Bofors gun on position. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Bofors in action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One more view of the Bofors gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close view of the barrel. Other Weapons Cannone da 47/32 M35 An Italian 47 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35 AT gun is seen in the besieged Villa Ramiro. The Nationalists troops also use such cannon (most likely the same prop reused).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cannone da 47/32 M35 - 47x195 mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Women of Villa Ramiro transport the Cannone da 47/32 gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Cannone da 47/32 of the Falange Espanola troops. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The gun "fires" with small amount of fire and smoke and without any recoil. Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk IV One more gun used by the Nationalists troops against Villa Ramiro is an anachronistic British Ordnance QF 6-pounder AT gun. The gun is Mk IV model with L/50 barrel and muzzle brake.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ordnance QF 6-pounder - 57x441 mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of the 6-pounder gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The 6-pounder gun supports the attack of the Nationalists. Documentary footage of the Spanish Civil War is incorporated in the film.
Spanish Mauser Model 1893 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Spanish Army soldiers march with 1893 Spanish Mauser rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Spanish Republicans march with M1893 rifles. The rifle of the man in center looks somewhat strange: while generally looking same as other M93 rifles, it seems to have a protruding magazine (or maybe it's not a magazine but a rolled rifle sling). Artillery Error creating thumbnail: File missing Unidentified field guns on parade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 105 mm Vickers howitzer is transported on a lorry. These artillery piecies were manufactured in Spain under license. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing 105 mm Schneider M1913 field guns. These artillery piecies were used by Republican, Nationalists and Italian troops. Armor Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet T-26 tanks. These tanks were supplied to Spanish Republic while in the movie they are used to represent the Nationalists forces. Error creating thumbnail: File missing T-26 tanks. Airplanes Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ju 52/3m of Condor Legion bomb Guernica. 
