Breakthrough

Movie Poster

Country	United States
Directed by	Lewis Seiler
Release Date	November 17, 1950
Language	English French German
Studio	Warner Bros.
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Capt. Tom Hale	David Brian
Lt. Joe Mallory	John Agar
Sgt. Pete Bell	Frank Lovejoy
Cpl. Danny Dominick	William Campbell
Pvt. Edward P. Rojeck	Paul Picerni

Breakthrough is a 1950 American movie directed by Lewis Seiler that focuses on a platoon of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. It follows the events from the commanding officer Capt. Tom Hale, the newly Lt. Joe Mallory, and the battle battleharded Sgt. Pete Bell from pre-D-Day invasion training to the Battle of Saint-Lô.

The following weapons were used in the film Breakthrough:

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

Sgt. Pete Bell (Frank Lovejoy), Pvt. Jimbo Hollis (Matt Willis) and some U.S. soldiers are armed with M1928A1 Thompsons.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP.

Sgt. Pete Bell tosses away his Thompsons to use Mallory's M1 Carbine.

The Thompson of Pvt. Jimbo Hollis on the right.

Jimbo fires his SMG at a German soldier who tries to kill Sgt. Bell.

A U.S. soldier gives a signal to move forward. Note the extended magazine.

MP40

Some German soldiers and a female French collaborator (Janet Barrett) can be seen using MP40s.

Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm

A German soldier engages Yanks from his trench. Note the inaccurate representation of WWII German uniforms: All Landsers wear WWI-era Stahlhelm M16s (this model saw very limited use during WWII) with the eagle insignia, which was already in 1943 removed for camouflage purposes. They have should be worn an M35 (at least), M40 or M42.

The same soldier emerges to shoot Sgt. Bell. The uniform top is a mix from the 1920s Reichswehr with the Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) of the Third Reich.

The MP40's muzzle of the sniper.

Capt. Hale sees the sniper through a floorboard slot.

Two German soldiers crawling with their MP40s during a counterattack.

Rifles

M1 Carbine

M1 Carbines with and without late WWII bayonet lugs, are also used by U.S. soldiers including Lt. Joe Mallory (John Agar) Cpl. Danny Dominick (William Campbell), Capt. Tom Hale (David Brian), 2nd Lt. Johnson (uncredited)

World War II Era M1 Carbine

Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine.

Lt. Mallory attaches a launcher with a red flare on his M1 Carbine before the training. The bayonet lug is visible.

Sgt. Bell takes over Mallory's role and fires the red flare to the cease-fire.

A general view of Mallory's carbine with the launcher handed over by Bell.

Capt. Tom Hale with his slung carbine on board the cargo ship.

Close-up of the muzzle with the front sight.

A view of the rear parts.

Lt. Mallory gives orders while wielding his M1 Carbine.

The M1 Carbine of Lt. Johnson doesn't have a bayonet lug.

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand is carried by Pvt. Sammy Hansen (Dick Wesson), Sgt. Pete Bell, Pvt. Edward P. Rojeck (Paul Picerni), Pvt. 'Four-Eff' Nelson (Richard Monahan), Sgt. Roy Henderson (Edward Norris), throughout the film. At the end, Sgt. Pete Bell is briefly seen carrying a Garand over his back.

M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle - .30-06

Soldiers around Lt. Mallory firing their M1 Garand during the training.

Pvt. Nelson and Pvt. Hollis talking about what to do with a then captured Luger. Nelson's Garand is seen in the foreground.

U.S. soldiers with their Garands on the beaches of Normandy.

Sgt. Henderson orders Pvt. Frank Finley and Cpl. Danny Dominick to follow him.

Two GIs empty their Garands at the sniper's position.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Instead of the short Karabiner 98k, the longer predecessors, the Gewehr 1898 is the main battle rife of German troops. A French civilian is also be seen with a Gew. 98 when he reached the sniper's position.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Many German soldiers in a trench defend the Normandy shore from the Allied landing.

Landsers waiting for the Americans to come closer. It is also strange, that all Germans have their (WWI-era!) backpacks on during fighting.

The French villager is about to let out his anger at the collaborator's corpse with his Gewehr.

Machine Guns

Browning M1919A4

The Browning M1919A4 is used by some American soldiers.

Browning 1919A4 Machine Gun - .30-06

The Browning is fired during the training.

An MG team suppressing the German trench at the beach.

A close-up of a Browning M1919A4 at an American position.

MG34

German soldiers use MG34s equipped with Gurtrommel 34 belt drums.

Maschinengewehr 34 with 50 round Gurtrommel 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A German soldier fires his MG34.

MG42

An unused MG42 is seen leaning against a wall in the hiding place of the French collaborator.

Maschinengewehr 42 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The unloaded MG43 in the background.

Browning M1917A1

A Browning M1917A1 is very briefly seen fired by one U.S. soldier.

Browning M1917A1 machine gun with tripod and ammo box - .30-06

The M1917A1 being fired.

Hand Grenades

Mk II Hand Grenade

Many Mk II Hand Grenades are seen hanging on uniforms. These grenades are variously used by U.S. soldiers; notably Cpl. Danny Dominick, who disabled a German tank with one of them.