Velvet Season (Barkhatnyy sezon)

Velvet Season (Barkhatnyy sezon) Theatrical Release Poster Country USSR Switzerland Directed by Vladimir Pavlovich Release Date 1978 Language Russian Spanish French English Studio Mosfilm Pro Dis Film A.G. Zurich Main Cast Character Actor Nikolay Shukhov aka Nicholas Juozas Budraitis Marie Tatyana Sidorenko Henri Lamer Aleksandr Lazarev, Sr. Liz Bradbury Valentina Ignatyeva Richard Bradbury Sergey Bondarchuk Police Commissioneer Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy Bernard Algimantas Masiulis Shipmaster Burr Nikolay Kryuchkov

Velvet Season (Barkhatnyy sezon) is a 1978 Soviet-Swiss action movie directed by Vladimir Pavlovich. The story is set in Autumn 1938 in Southern France. After the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War are dissolved, a trio of former Brigades soldiers, Nicholas (Juozas Budraitis), Henri (Aleksandr Lazarev, Sr.) and Liz (Valentina Ignatyeva), stay for several days in a French seaside town to help the Red Cross nurse Marie (Tatyana Sidorenko) deliver a group of Spanish refugee children to a specially organised orphanage. Meanwhile, a local leader of French Nazis, Georges Grenier (Viktor Sergachyov), is arrested for several murders and sentenced to the death penalty. The Nazis under the command of Bernard (Algimantas Masiulis) plan to release their leader by taking hostages at a marine station. Nicolas, Henri and Liz are the only ones who have a chance to foil this plan.

The following weapons were used in the film Velvet Season (Barkhatnyy sezon):

Revolvers

Nagant M1895

Short-barreled

During the interrogation of the captured Nicholas and in the final scene, Bernard (Algimantas Masiulis) uses a nickel plated, short-barreled Nagant M1895 revolver.

Nagant M1895 Revolver with 3.3" barrel - 7.62x38R Nagant

Bernard loads his revolver with a single bullet.

A general view of the revolver.

Bernard aims the revolver at Nicholas...

...and starts interrogation, playing Russian roulette with Nicholas.

Standard

Bernard (Algimantas Masiulis) holds a standard Nagant M1895 revolver when his gang take hostages. In the final scene, Liz (Valentina Ignatyeva) uses Bernard's revolver. This is a Soviet post-1930 version, possibly standing in for a French Mle 1892 Revolver or original Belgian Nagant.

Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. This example was dated 1939 manufacture and was a War time issued weapon. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Bernard carries a Nagant in his belt.

He draws the revolver.

Liz picks up the revolver, dropped by Bernard.

Liz fires the Nagant in the final scene, during the flight in her father's plane, hijacked by Bernard.

Pistols

Walther P38

Walther P38s are seen in hands of Bernard's henchmen in the scene at the shooting range. Some police officers also carry P38s. The P38 was issued to German service starting in 1939 and couldn't be seen in France in 1938.

Walther P38 - 9x19mm

Bernard's henchman fires a Walther at the shooting range.

Another man holds a Walther in a very unusual way in the same scene.

A policeman in center holds a P38.

Luger P08

A Luger P08 is seen in the scene at the shooting range.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Bernard's henchman fires a Luger at the shooting range.

FN Model 1922

Several of Bernard's henchmen are armed with FN Model 1922 pistols when they surprise Nicholas.

FN Model 1922 - .32 ACP

Bernard's henchman at the left holds an FN 1922.

Another henchman holds Nicholas at gunpoint.

FN Model 1910

Some French police officers carry FN Model 1910 pistols.

FN Model 1910 - .380 ACP

A policeman aims his pistol.

Submachine Guns

MP40

Anachronistic MP40s are widely used by Spanish Republicans and by Bernard's henchmen. Nicholas (Juozas Budraitis), Henri (Aleksandr Lazarev, Sr.), Liz (Valentina Ignatyeva), and Henri's friends Francois (Lev Polyakov) and an unnamed one (Viktor Filippov) use captured MP40s during the shootout with Bernard and his gang.

MP40 - 9x19mm

Nicholas and Liz fire at an attacking plane in the opening scene.

A number of MP40 are found in Henri's apartments.

Bernard's henchman holds an MP40 during the hostage scene.

Bernard's henchmen with MP40s.

Liz fires a captured MP40.

Henri fires an MP40.

Nicholas fires an MP40.

A closeup of an MP40.

MP38

In the opening scene, Liz holds an MP38 fitted with the rear part of an MP40 receiver. The same prop is later seen in hands of Bernard's henchman. It is also used by Marie (Tatyana Sidorenko).

MP38 - 9x19mm

Liz's MP38.

Bernard's henchman with the MP38.

Marie fires.

She drops the MP38.

Rifles

Enfield P14

In the opening scene, many Spanish Republicans are armed with Enfield Pattern 14 rifles. The same rifles are used by French police. P14 (and, according to some data, the M1917) were quite widely used during the Spanish Civil War.

Pattern M1914 (P 14) Enfield - .303 UK

Spanish Republicans marching. Most carry Enfield P14 rifles.

French policemen with Enfield P14 rifles.

Winchester Model 1895

Winchester Model 1895 rifles are also used by Spanish Republicans. This is historically accurate as at least 9,000 Russian contract M1895s was provided from the USSR to Spain.

A Russian contract Model 1895 in 7.62x54 Russian. Note the loading bridge over the reciever

Republican soldiers march with Winchester M95 rifles.

Two soldiers at the left fire at an attacking plane.

Two men run with Winchester M95s in hand. The image is blurry due to fast movement but the general shape of M95 is still seen.

1893 Spanish Mauser

Several rifles that appear to be genuine 1893 Spanish Mausers are seen in the opening scene.

1893 Spanish Mauser - 7x57mm Mauser

Three rifles match the shape of the Spanish Mauser M1893.

Mannlicher M1895

A French policeman holds a rifle that appears to be a Mannlicher M1895.

Original Austro-Hungarian Steyr Mannlicher M1895 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher

The rifle is seen at the right.

The shape of the barrel with stacking rod matches the Mannlicher.

The same rifle is seen at the right.

Machine Guns

PKM (visually modified to resemble MG34)

In the opening scene, Henri (Aleksandr Lazarev, Sr.) carries a PKM machine gun, visually modified to resemble an MG34. A similar prop is also mounted on a plane used by the Spanish Nationalists or Legion Condor (the plane itself isn't seen, only the barrel and belt of the machine gun).

A picture of the original MG34 and PK conversion

Henri carries the fake MG34.

Henri marches with his machine gun.

A MG34 fires from the plane. The belt is seen.

A good view of the MG34's barrel.

Henri returns fire.

Maxim M1910

A Russian Maxim M1910 is seen among the weapons of Spanish Republicans. Again, it is a fitting weapon as no less then 2,500 Russian Maxims were delivered from the USSR and Poland.

Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR

Two men in the foreground tow a Maxim.

A Maxim M1910 is seen among the weapons surrendered by Spanish Republicans to French authorities at the border.

Trivia

Toy Pistol

A Spanish boy carries a toy pistol. The toy plays a notable role in one scene.

Nicholas picks up the toy gun, thrown away by pacifist-minded Marie.

The boy holds his toy gun during the hostage scene.