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Black Rain

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Black Rain (1989)

Black Rain is a 1989 thriller directed by Ridley Scott and starring Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia as NYPD detectives who find themselves working with the police in Osaka, Japan to recapture the Yakuza boss they were transporting back and mistakenly let go. Making the film was not only grueling, but difficult as there were many clashes in the methods of Western film productions and Japanese film productions operated. Apparently the 'rules & regulations'-oriented Japanese system aggravated cinematographer Howard Atherton so much that he left and the remaining camera work was completed by Jan de Bont (who shot Die Hard and would later direct Speed). It is noteworthy that lead actor Yusaku Matsuda who played the main villain Sato, was dying of cancer, but refused to reveal the advanced stage of his disease to director Ridley Scott for fear that he would be replaced. He finished the movie, telling others that sacrificing his chances at "living a few more months" was a worthy trade off for the chance to "live forever" in a motion picture. He passed away seven months after the movie's American premiere. The cast also included Kate Capshaw and legendary Japanese actor Ken Takakura.


The following weapons were used in the film Black Rain:


SPOILERS.jpg WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Handguns

Colt Python Snub Nose

NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a blued snub-nosed Colt Python as his main service weapon. However, once Conklin and Charlie arrive in Japan, the Osaka Police Chief stressed that they hand in their guns since they are "civilians" there, so grudgingly turns his Python in and is never seen again throughout the remainder of the movie.

Colt Python Snub Nose with 2.5" barrel - .357 Magnum
Conklin fires his Python at the fleeing Yakuza.
Conklin aims his Python outside the airliner after discovering that he'd been duped into releasing Sato.

Colt Detective Special

NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a Colt Detective Special as his backup handgun. Shortly after they arrive in Osaka there is a scene where Conklin and his partner Charlie Vincent are in the Japanese police headquarters. Both the Colt Python snub and the Colt Detective Special are visible on Conklin's belt. Conklin carries the two revolvers next to each other in what is known as a "New York Reload". This scene takes place before the two NYPD detectives are forced to turn over their handguns to the Osaka police.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen - .38 Special
Conklin (Michael Douglas) deploys his Colt Detective Special while holding his Colt Python in his left.
Conklin searches for Sato with his backup Colt in a meat packing plant.
While waiting in Osaka Police Headquarters, Conklin is seen here carrying his two revolvers next to each other in what is known as a "New York Reload".

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose

NYPD Detective Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose Revolver (with Pachmayr Presentation Grips) during the first half of the movie. Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) is then given Charlie's Model 66, from Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura), after Charlie's death and uses it in the steel factory shootout.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose with Pachmayr grips - .357 Magnum
Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) draws his S&W at the Italian restaurant.
Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) gives up his S&W after being told by the Osaka police that they cannot carry their weapons while in Osaka.
Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) with the S&W model 66 in the steel foundry as he's being taunted by Sato.

Smith & Wesson Model 36

The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is carried by several members of the Osaka Police during the raid on the Yakuza hideout.

Smith and Wesson Model 36 - .38 Special - 5 shot
Osaka officer wields the S&W Model 36.
Closeup of the Model 36.

Colt Diamondback

It appears that one of the uniformed N.Y.P.D. officers assisting Conklin (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) when they arrest Sato in the meat packing plant is carrying a Colt Diamondback. Technically this is incorrect. A uniformed N.Y.P.D. officer in the late 1980's would not have carried that model and instead would have more than likely been carrying a Ruger Security Six, Smith & Wesson Model 64 or the Smith & Wesson Model 10. However Conklin is shown carrying a Colt Python and Charlie has a S&W Model 66. Neither model would have been carried by a N.Y.P.D. detective in the 1980's so consider it poetic license.

Colt Diamondback with 4" Barrel and Colt Rubber combat grips - .38 Special
N.Y.P.D. officer on the right with a Colt Diamondback. Note the ventilated top rib. It appears to be too small to be the Colt Python

Heckler & Koch P9S

One of Sato's men, Yoshimoto, (Jun Kunimura) carries a Heckler & Koch P9S during the foundry gunfight. One is also seen on the table in Sato's hideout when the Osaka police raid it.

Heckler & Koch P9S - 9x19mm
Yoshimoto (Jun Kunimura) armed with the H&K looks for Conklin in the foundry.

Heckler & Koch P7

the Heckler & Koch P7 is used by Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) during the steel factory shootout.

H&K P7M8 - 9x19mm
Assistant Inspector Matsumoto fires the P7.

Desert Eagle Mark I

Sugai's driver (Professor Toru Tanaka) is seen firing the Desert Eagle Mark I in the teahouse shootout.

Magnum Research Desert Eagle MK I - .357 Magnum. First model of Desert Eagle put into production.
Sugai's driver fires the Desert Eagle during the final gunfight at the "oyabun" council meeting.

Submachine Guns

Heckler & Koch HK94A3

Numerous gangsters of both Sato and Sugai use the Heckler & Koch HK94A3 in the final shootout - The HK94s are 'chopped and converted' to resemble Heckler & Koch MP5A3s. Assistant Inspector Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) takes one from one of Sato's men as he joins up with Conklin.

The "Fake MP5", the Heckler & Koch HK94A3 Converted to full auto fire, shortened barrel and added third firing position on trigger pack - 9x19mm. This version was used in many films during the 1980s and 1990s.
Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) carries the H&K HK94 in a publicity photo. His HK 94 has a slender foregrip.
Matsumoto holds the HK94 as he discovers Sato's trap. Note the lack of barrel lugs.
Matsumoto fires the HK, killing many of Sato's and Sugai's men.

Micro-Uzi

Sato's men carry the Micro Uzi as they enter the Italian Gangster's restaurant where Nick and Charlie are also dining. Sato's men disguised as farmers draw their hidden Micro-Uzi's in the ambush at the teahouse.

Micro Uzi with folding stock - 9x19mm
Sato (Yusaku Matsuda) is guarded by his Micro-Uzi wielding Yakuza as he enters the restaurant.
Another of Sato's henchmen in the resturaunt
Disguised as farmers, Sato's men open fire on the Yakuza bosses with their Micro-Uzi's.

Uzi

A full-size Uzi is used by one of the Yakuza during the teahouse shootout at the end of the film.

IMI Uzi - 9x19mm
One of Sugai's guards is holding an Uzi as Sato's men ambush them.
Sugai's guard on the right holds an UZI as the car explodes behind him

MAC-10

One of Sato's disguised assassins (Al Leong) uses a suppressed MAC-10 during the final shootout.

Ingram MAC 10 open bolt submachine gun - 9x19mm

One of Sato's disguised assassins (Al Leong) holding a suppressed MAC-10 as he's taken out by Matsumoto.

Sugai's guard on the left holds a MAC-10 as the car explodes behind him.

Shotguns

Stevens Model 67

In order to take out Sato, Conklin (Michael Douglas) is given a Stevens 67 shotgun by Sugai's men. The weapon features an extended magazine tube and sawed-off stock. Conklin uses it to kill two Yakuza in the house. He was apparently only given three shells for it, as the hammer falls on an empty chamber when he tries to fire a fourth, at which point Conklin discards it.

Savage/Springfield Model 67 - 12 gauge. This is the same firearm, built under contract by Savage, but branded 'Springfield' for 3rd party sales
Sugai's men toss the shotgun at Conklin's feet.
Conklin inspects his shotgun before he leaves to take out Sato.
Conklin aims his shotgun at a fleeing Sato.

Remington 870 Folding Stock

In a continuity error, Conklin's shotgun mysteriously transforms into a Remington 870 Folding Stock. This was because the main unit couldn't film the final battle in Japan as the filmmaker's visas had run out, so the main unit shifted to California to film the final battle.

Remington 870 Police Magnum with folding stock - 12 gauge
A publicity photo shows Conklin (Michael Douglas) with a Remington 870.
Conklin (Michael Douglas) with the Remington 870 as he approaches the teahouse.

Rifles

Steyr SSG 69

Members of the Osaka SWAT Team carry Steyr SSG 69 bolt-action sniper rifles when they raid Sato's suspected hideout.

Steyr SSG 69 - 7.62x51mm NATO
Osaka police with the sniper rifle.

Norinco Type 56-1

A Yakuza fires the Norinco Type 56-1 in the teahouse shootout.

Norinco Type 56-1 - 7.62x39mm
A Yakuza on the right fires the Norinco.

Miscellaneous

Trivia

Though the majority of the scenes taking place in Japan were actually filmed in Japan, the final shootout at the winery took places in Napa, California for two reasons. (a) The production's work Visa had run out but more importantly (b) Japan's strict gun control forces many filmmakers to use 'flash paper' style non guns. Since Ridley Scott wanted real automatic weapons firing blanks, they had to film the gun battle in the U.S. What also tips off the viewer that this shootout was filmed in the states was the presence of so many well known Chinese American Stuntmen, like Al Leong of Die Hard and Big Trouble in Little China fame, who would not be in Japan (since there are many Japanese Stuntmen who would be available).


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