Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago Poster Country United States Italy Directed by David Lean Release Date 1965 Main Cast Character Actor Yuri Omar Sharif Lara Julie Christie Tonya Geraldine Chapman Komarovsky Rod Steiger Pasha Tom Courtenay

Doctor Zhivago is the 1965 adaptation of Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning novel of the same name directed by David Lean and starring Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chapman, Rod Steiger, and Tom Courtenay. Filming in the Soviet Union was out of the question, as it was the middle of the Cold War and the Soviets hadn't even allowed Pasternak's novel to be published (it was published in Italy after being smuggled out,) so filming was done in Spain, Finland, and Canada. The film wasn't shown in Russia until after the fall of Communism. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, but only won five, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Score.

The following weapons were used in the film Doctor Zhivago:

Garate Revolver

When his peaceful demonstration is attacked by Cossacks, Pasha (Tom Courtenay) picks up a Spanish copy of the Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action, the Garate .455 Revolver, later giving it to Lara (Julie Christie) to hide. Lara uses it herself. Red Partisan leader Liberius (Gérard Tichy) appears to be equipped with one as well.

British Army issued Garate revolver - .455 Webley

The Garate revolver laying on the ground

Pasha tells Lara to hide his Garate revolver

Lara eyes the Garate.

Lara fires the Garate.

Liberius loads up his Garate.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Rifles

Some Russian soldiers like Pasha are seen with historically correct Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. These can be identified by the lack of a semi-pistol grip and a spike bayonet that attached to the front sight base. Most of the film was shot in Spain, which had no shortage of Mosin Nagants since the Soviet Union had supplied Republican forces with Mosin Nagants during the Spanish Civil War.

Full-length, Soviet Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mm R

Pasha leading soldiers with a M91 rifle

Tsarist troops with a mix of Mosin Nagants and Spanish 1893 Mausers.

A Tsarist solder urges his fellow troops to turn back. Note the distinctive sling loop of the Spanish Mosin Nagants.

Kuril (Bernard Kay) with a Mosin Nagant slung.

Kuril plays with the action of his Mosin Nagant, revealing that his rifle is empty.

Another closeup of Kuril's rifle.

One of Strelnikov's guards with his Mosin Nagant.

1893 Spanish Mauser rifles

Since the Cold War limited the supply of real Mosin Nagant rifles, and because the film was mostly shot in Spain, most extras are equipped with 1893 Spanish Mauser rifles in the large crowd scenes.

1893 Spanish Mauser - 7x57mm Mauser

Tsarist troops parade through Moscow with their Mausers after the outbreak of war. It has somehow been adapted to take a socket spike bayonet.

Troops with Mausers have a laugh at an officer's expense.

The ladder sights can be seen on these Mausers.

A mutineer with his Mauser. The bayonet lug is clearly visible here.

Red partisans open fire on White troops.

Dead White troops from a local military school with their Mausers. Note the socket spike bayonet.

Maxim M1910

Maxim M1910 machine guns are used by Russian soldiers.

Russian copy Maxim M1910 - 7.62x54R

Dead soldiers frozen near a Maxim

A crudely camouflaged Maxim guarding a Russian trench.

One of two Maxims guarding Strelnikov's armored train.

The other Maxim guarding Strelnikov's armored train.

Red partisans open fire with a Maxim.

Another angle of the above.

Nagant M1878

A Russian Tsarist Officer fires a Belgian Nagant M1878 to get his soldiers' attention.

Nagant M1878 revolver - 9.4mm Nagant

The Tsarist officer fires his Nagant into the air

Cannon

Strelnikov's armored train is equipped with two cannons, most likely mockups.

Strelnikov's armored train.