Fatal Error (Tödlicher Irrtum)

Fatal Error (Tödlicher Irrtum) Original Theatrical Poster Country East Germany Directed by Konrad Petzold Release Date 1970 Language German Studio DEFA Main Cast Character Actor Shave Head Gojko Mitic Chris Howard Armin Mueller-Stahl Caroline Annekathrin Bürger Jessebee Krystyna Mikolajewska White Leaf Kati Bus Allison Rolf Hoppe Lee Garrett Hannjo Hasse Hank Jackson Bruno O'Ya

Fatal Error (Tödlicher Irrtum) is a 1970 East German Western ("Red Western") movie directed by Konrad Petzold. In late 19th century in Wyoming an oil company pumps oil on the territory of Shoshone tribe. A chain of murders of Shoshone chiefs with shares in the oil business follows. The young chief Shave Head (Gojko Mitic) and his half-blooded brother Chris Howard (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who is local deputy sheriff start investigation.

The following weapons were used in the film Fatal Error (Tödlicher Irrtum):

Revolvers

Single Action Army

Single Action Army revolvers are widely seen in the movie, used by deputy sheriff Chris Howard (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Allison's henchmen Parker (Hartmut Beer) and Kid Kearny (Rolf Ludwig) and townsman Ben (Gerry Wolff). Revolvers have different barrel length but not all of them closely match original Civilian, Artillery and Cavalry models. All SAA revolvers, seen close enough, seem to lack spring-loaded ejector rods, and rod housings are empty.

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Colt Single Action Army with 4.75" barrel, case colored and blued, referred to as "Quick-Draw" or "Civilian" model - .45 Long Colt

Colt Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model - .45 Long Colt

Colt Single Action Army with 7.5" barrel known as the "Cavalry" model - .45 Long Colt

Parker kills a Shoshone chief at the gaming table. The length of the ejector rod housing is equal to barrel length, like on Civilian model, but the revolver lacks front sight, so it is likely Cavalry model with shortened barrel.

Parker carries two revolvers in holsters. Left revolver is longer that the right one.

File:Todlicher Irrtum-SAA-5.jpg

A local kid steals a revolver from sleeping Old Ben. The revolver appears to be the same gold-plated Cavalry model that is seen in Osceola.

Kid Kearny takes Elmar Guiness' (Werner Röwekamp) revolver. It also appears to be a gold-plated Cavalry model but not the same that Ben owns (Ben's revolver has darker grip) but the second piece of a pair of revolvers.

A closer view of one of Parker's revolvers. Its barrel and ejector rod housing are like Civilian model but the overall length is more similar to Artillery model, and the revolver lacks its front sight.

Chris Howard loads Artillery model revolver. In most other scenes he is seen with a Reichsrevolver M1879.

Chris' Single Action Army revolver is seen on a stone at the left.

One of Lee Garret's assistants fires at Allison's henchmen during the attack on oil rig. His revolver matches Cavalry model except for (again!) absent front sight.

Reichsrevolver M1879

Out of place (but widely available for filming) Reichsrevolver M1879 revolvers are seen in hands of Chris Howard (Armin Mueller-Stahl), corrupt town Sheriff Hank Jackson (Bruno O'Ya), Indian agent McLaurin (Bruno Carstens), Allison's henchmen Kid Kearny (Rolf Ludwig) and Ten Eyck (Stefan Lisewski), and Lee Garrett's girlfriend Caroline (Annekathrin Bürger).

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Reichsrevolver M1879 - 10.6x25R

McLaurin holds a Reichsrevolver.

Chris Howard draws his revolver when Jackson wants to see the marksmanship of new deputy.

Jackson draws his revolver (he carries two Reichsrevolvers).

Chris holds a Reichsrevoler. A Single Action Army revolver is seen at the left together with Winchester Model 1892.

Kid Kearny with a Reichsrevolver.

One of Allison's henchmen fires at Lee Garret and his workers.

Fire breaks out from the base of the barrel that can be seen on a blank agapted gun.

Caroline with a Reichsrevolver.

Ten Eyck fires. Again a gout of flame from the base of the barrel is seen.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbines are used by both main characters - Shave Head (Gojko Mitic) and Chris Howard (Armin Mueller-Stahl), and also by Parker (Hartmut Beer) and several other Allison's henchmen, engineer Lee Garrett (Hannjo Hasse) and Shoshone chief Black Tomahawk (Slobodan Velimirovic).

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Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .32WCF/.38-40/.44-40/.25-20.

Shave Head with a Winchester 92.

Chris with a Winchester 92.

Black Tomahawk with a Winchester 92.

Shave Head with a Winchester 92.

Parker holds a Winchester 92. In this scene his rifle is described as Henry 1860.

A closeup of Shave Head's Winchester.

Lee Garret fires his rifle during the attack on oil rig.

Chris holds his own Winchester and another rifle, taken from one of Allison's men.

Winchester Model 1873 Carbine

Several Winchester Model 1873 carbines are seen in Sheriff Jackson's office. Shoshone warriors also use Winchester 73s. Old Ben (Gerry Wolff) disarms one of Allison's men of a Winchester 73 during the shootout.

Winchester Model 1873 carbine (1st generation) - 44-40 Winchester

Rifles in gun rack in Sheriff's office. Second and fourth from the left appear to be Winchester 73, first, third and fifth are Winchester 92, and the rifle at the right appears to be a Schuetzen rifle.

A Winchester 73 in hands of Shoshone warrior.

Another Shoshone with a Winchester 73.

Old Ben gets a Winchester, pulling it through the window.

Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Some Shoshone warriors and Lee Garrett's workers are armed with single shot Martini action Schuetzen rifles, popular German target and hunting guns.

German manufactured Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Martini-Stahl system Schuetzen Rifle - 8.15x46mm R

Several rifles are seen in Shoshones cache; a Winchester is in center, while other guns are Schuetzen rifles.

Another view of the guns.

A typical lever of Martini-Stahl system (less fanciful shape than on most Martini system Schuetzen rifles) is seen.

One of Lee Garret's men holds a Schuetzen rifle at the background.

A rifle in hands of a Shoshone warrior.