The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo

The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo Le comte de Monte Cristo Original French Poster Country France Italy Directed by Claude Autant-Lara Release Date 1961 Language French Studio Cineriz Les Films J.J. Vital Les Productions Rene Modiano Distributor Gaumont Main Cast Character Actor Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte-Cristo Louis Jourdan Mercédès Yvonne Furneaux Fernand de Mortcerf Jean-Claude Michel Caderousse Pierre Mondy Henri de Villefort Bernard Dhéran Abbot Faria Henri Guisol Mario Franco Silva Haydée Claudine Coster

The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo (original title Le comte de Monte Cristo) is a 1961 French-Italian two part movie, a screen adaptation of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, directed by Claude Autant-Lara and starring Louis Jourdan and Yvonne Furneaux.

This page is for the 1961 French film starring Louis Jourdan. For the 1954 French film starring Jean Marais, see here. For the 1975 British film starring Richard Chamberlain see here. For the 1979 French mini-series starring Jacques Weber, see here. For the 1998 French miniseries starring Gerard Depardieu, see here. For the 2002 English-language film starring James Caviezel, see here.

The following weapons were used in the film The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo:

Pistols

Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1833 Percussion Cap Pistol

When Edmond Dantès (Louis Jourdan) and smuggler Mario (Franco Silva) land on the island of Monte Cristo, Dantès carries a Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1833 percussion cap pistol, identified by the typical shape of the grip with the lanyard ring and the faceted barrel. The barrel is shorter than on the standard model, possibly being cut down to about a half of the original length. In the following scene when the duo explore the treasure cave, this pistol is carried by Mario due to a continuity error.

Chatellerault Model 1833 Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal. The screen gun has shortened barrel but otherwise is identical.

Dantès carries an Mle 1833 pistol tucked into his belt.

The shortened barrel is seen.

Another view of Dantès' pistol.

During the exploration of the cave, the Mle 1833 pistol is tucked into Mario's belt.

Percussion Cap Pistol

When Dantès and Mario embark on the island of Monte Cristo, Mario carries a Percussion Cap Pistol of unclear model. In the following scene, this pistol is carried by Dantès due to a continuity error. Same pistol is used by Dantès, now as the Count of Monte Cristo, in the scene in Caderousse's inn. The general appearance of the pistol allows to guess that it's likely a flintlock cavalry pistol converted to a percussion cap lock.

Henry Parker long sea service pistol (percussion conversion) - .60 calibre. The screen gun is of approximately the same type, although it is shorter and with different shape of the grip.

The percussion cap lock of Mario's pistol is seen.

The grip of Mario's pistol is seen.

During the exploration of the cave, this pistol is tucked into Dantès's belt.

Another view of the pistol.

The grip is seen.

Count of Monte-Cristo aims the pistol at Caderousse and his wife who made an attempt to kill him at night.

A good view of the pistol.

The pistol on the floor.

Percussion Dueling Pistol

Two sets of Percussion Dueling Pistols are seen in the scene of the planned duel between Count of Monte Cristo and Albert de Mortcerf. Fernand de Mortcerf (Jean-Claude Michel) takes one of these pistols.

Mang in Graz Match Percussion Dueling Pistol - .38 inch

A case with two dueling pistols and a set of accessories is seen at the far left.

Both sets of dueling pistols are seen. The pistols in the case at the bottom have longer barrels and the differently shaped grips that the ones in the case on top. Both sets include mallets that are used for loading of rifled pistols.

Fernand de Mortcerf takes one of the pistols and cocks the hammer. In next moment the gunshot is heard, but in reality it would be impossible that the pistols, stored in the case, are already loaded.

Muskets

St.Etienne Mle 1842 Percussion Cap Musket

When Edmond Dantès (Louis Jourdan) and Mario (Franco Silva) explore the island in search of the treasures, both are armed with percussion cap muskets. Dantès' musket appears to be a St.Etienne Mle 1842 (a close-up of the lock allows to differ it from an Mle 1822T that was converted from a flintlock musket). This gun lacks the muzzle cap (maybe this detail was just lost). Unlike it, Mario's gun retains the muzzle cap in common French style. The lock of Mario's musket is seen only marginally that doesn't allow to say for sure if this is an Mle 1822T or Mle 1842.

St.Etienne Mle 1842 Percussion Cap Musket - .69 caliber

Dantès carries his musket.

The barrel is seen.

Mario hold both muskets. Note the difference between the front sections of the barrels.

Mario holds both muskets. The percussion cap lock of Dantès' musket is seen. This gun is slightly longer that Mario's one that may be a Voltigeur (light infantry) version of the musket.

Dantès holds his musket during the exploration of the cave.

The percussion cap lock is seen. Its shape allows to identify the musket as purposely built percussion cap gun rather than a converted flintlock one.

Mario holds his musket.

Flintlock Hunting Musket 1

In a flashback scene that depicts the story of Abbot Faria (Henri Guisol) how he became a witness of the pirates hiding their treasures on the island of Monte Cristo (yes, such a ridiculous crossover with the Treasure Island), Faria carries a Flintlock Musket. This gun looks similar to Charleville Muskets but has shorter handguard, possibly being a military gun converted into a hunting one (rather than purposedly build Flintlock Fowler).

Faria (at the right) holds a musket.

The flintlock can be seen.

Another view of the flintlock.

Flintlock Hunting Musket 2

In the flashback scene, Abbot Faria's unnamed and uncredited companion holds a hunting musket with long thin barrel and short handguard. The lock is seen very unclear, but it's more likely a flintlock than a percussion cap lock.

Faria's companion's musket is seen in distance. The lock is seen very unclear, but flintlock seems more probable.

The companion's musket is seen behind Faria.

A good view of the barrel. The ramrod of the gun is absend, but the support for the ramrod is seen below the barrel.

Unidentified muskets

The soldiers, escorting Edmond Dantès to the Castle If, are armed with muskets with bayonets. In the abovementioned flashback scene, the pirates on the island of Monte Criso are also armed with muskets. In both cases, the locks aren't seen, and it's impossible to say if the guns have flintlocks or percussion cap locks.

For reference: Charleville Mle 1777 Flintlock Musket - .69 caliber

For reference: St.Etienne Mle 1842 Percussion Cap Musket - .69 caliber

Soldiers hold muskets with bayonets during the ceremony in Marseille. The muskets are most likely Charleville models but it's hard to say anything about the locks (while only flintlocks would be correct for the scene set in 1815).

The bayonets are seen when Dantès is transported to the Castle If.

Soldiers with muskets escort Dantès.

Another view of the soldiers' muskets.

At least one of the muskets seems to be a correct flintlock gun.

In the flashback scene, a pirate at the left carries a musket that seems to be an anachronistic percussion cap gun.

Another pirate holds a musket of unclear type at the entrance of the cave. It resembles the musket that Edmond Dantès carries when he expolers the island.

Several abandoned muskets are seen in the cave together with the pirates' goods. Some of these muskets have French style muzzle caps.