The Deadly Tower

The Deadly Tower (1975)

The Deadly Tower was a made-for-TV dramatization of Charles Whitman's 1966 shooting spree starring Richard Yniguez, Ned Beatty, and in the lead role as Charles J. Whitman, a young Kurt Russell. This would be one of Russell's first "adult" roles, the polar opposite of the family friendly roles that made him a star at Disney. The film ran afoul of facts however, leading to lawsuits from both Officer Ramiro Martinez and Officer Houston McCoy, who in real life had been the one to kill Whitman. Martinez objected to the characterization of his wife, and received an out of court settlement. McCoy got nothing, as he had not allowed his name to be used at all, and thus his case was thrown out. Since the city of Austin and the University of Texas were reluctant to revisit the events of the massacre, filming was done in Baton Rouge, with the Louisiana State Capitol building standing in for the UT Main Building.

The following weapons were used in the film The Deadly Tower:

Sporterized Arisaka Type 02 Paratrooper Takedown Rifle

Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell) starts his rampage with a Sporterized Arisaka Type 02 paratrooper takedown rifle. This stands in for the 6mm Remington 700 Whitman used in reality.

Arisaka Type 02 Paratrooper Takedown rifle - 7.7x58mm. This is the base rifle for the sporterized take down rifle.

Whitman takes aim. Notice the shape of the bolt.

A close-up of the receiver as Whitman reloads.

M1 Carbine

Whitman switches to an M1 Carbine later on. Earlier in the film, he is shown buying it, six magazines, and 600 rounds of ammunition.

M1 Carbine (Post-War) - .30 Carbine

Whitman reloads. Notice that some of his magazine are "jungle-clipped" together.

Whitman reloads an M1 magazine.

Sawed-off Shotgun

Whitman buys and cuts down a double barreled shotgun prior to his rampage. In real life, Whitman's sawed-off shotgun was an automatic shotgun, described in the police report as a "Sears 12 gauge 2.75 chamber automatic shotgun."

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 Gauge.

Whitman cuts down his shotgun.

In the official police report, he cut down the stock as well, but doesn't do so in this movie.

Whitman loads the shotgun when he knows the end is near.

Remington Model 760

One of the most common rifles in the movie is the Remington Model 760 pump action rifle. Whitman has one in his arsenal, a substitute for the Remington Model 14 in .35 Remington he had in real life, but is never shown using it. It is the only weapon shown used by Lieutenant Lee (Pernell Roberts) and Allan Crum (Ned Beatty). Various policemen and armed citizens are shown using it throughout the film as well.

Remington 760 - first introduced in 1952

Lt. Lee tries shooting Whitman from an airplane.

Allan Crum and Martinez as they get to the observation deck.

A close-up of the receiver as Crum covers Martinez.

Smith & Wesson Model 19

Officer Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez) is armed with a Smith & Wesson Model 19 as his service weapon. In the film, as in real life, he empties his revolver into Whitman, but the film ignores the fact that officially, Whitman didn't die until he was shot in the head with a shotgun by Officer Houston McCoy. Whitman also has a Model 19 in his arsenal, but doesn't use it.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum - .357 Magnum

Martinez about to open the door to the observation deck.

A shot of the business end of the S&W 19.

Martinez cautiously advancing.

Ithaca 37

Various policemen and civilians, including Officer C.T. Foss (Paul Carr), are shown with Ithaca 37 shotguns. Foss is in the film in place of Officer Houston McCoy, who refused to allow his name to be used. Foss is shown freezing upon seeing Whitman and not firing at all, while in reality, McCoy is officially credited with firing the shots that killed Whitman.

Ithaca Model 37 riot version - 12 Gauge

Foss meets Crum below the tower.

Foss in the lobby of the tower.

Another officer with an Ithaca 37 leads Martinez away after it's all over.

Luger P08

Whitman is show loading a Luger P08 pistol. He tucks it into his waistband when he knows the end is near, but never draws it.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm. This is blank adapted movie gun.

Whitman loads his Luger.

Winchester Model 1894

Some armed citizens are shown shooting back with Winchester Model 1894 rifles.

Winchester 1894 - .30-30.

An armed citizen returns fire.

Remington Model 700

Some armed citizens are shown shooting back with Remington Model 700 rifles.

Remington Model 700 (1970s Production) - .308 Winchester

An armed citizen returns fire.

Mossberg 500

A policeman is shown armed with a Mossberg 500 with an extended magazine.

Mossberg 500 with high-capacity magazine tube - 12 Gauge

Whitman's arsenal

Other guns in Whitman's arsenal include the aforementioned Remington Model 760 and an Astra 400. The real Whitman had a Remington Model 14 and a 6.35mm Galesi-Brescia pistol, respectively

Whitman's arsenal laid out on his bed. His three pistols are visible.

His arsenal in his USMC footlocker. His Arisaka is shown disassembled.

His arsenal ready for use.

Miscellanea

Understandably, the city of Austin and the University of Texas refused to assist in the filming, as less than a decade had passed since the actual massacre. In lieu of the UT Main Building, filmmakers used the Louisiana State Capitol building in Baton Rouge, which resembled the UT tower.

Once you get aerial shots, however, it's clear that this is not Austin. The UT tower is surrounded by a campus, not warehouses, and is not by the river.