Hannie Caulder

Hannie Caulder Theatrical Poster Country United Kingdom Directed by Burt Kennedy Release Date 1971 Language English Spanish Studio Trigon British Film Productions Distributor Paramount Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Hannie Caulder Raquel Welch Thomas Luther Price Robert Culp Emmett Clemens Ernest Borgnine Frank Clemens Jack Elam Rufus Clemens Strother Martin Bailey Christopher Lee Preacher Stephen Boyd

Hannie Caulder is a 1971 Western starring Raquel Welch as the title character, a woman who wants to exact revenge on the gang of outlaw brothers who terrorized her and killed her husband. Robert Culp co-stars as a bounty hunter whom Hannie asks to train her in the ways of the gun. The film was directed by Burt Kennedy (The War Wagon) and the cast also included Ernest Borgnine, Strother Martin, Jack Elam, and Christopher Lee. In the years following the release the film has achieved cult movie status.

Handguns

Tranter Revolver

Hannie Caulder (Raquel Welch) carries an English Tranter self-cocking revolver. Based on the size, this is likely a 54-bore (.442 caliber) model. In the film, this revolver is scratch made by a gunsmith named Bailey (Christopher Lee). Note that this particular Tranter has a double trigger self-cocking mechanism in which one trigger rotates the cylinder and cocks it while the other trigger actually fires it; the movie trope concerning such a talented gunsmith in Mexico is quite factual as it appears that certain Mexican gunsmiths may be responsible for the mysterious "long cylinder" conversions of 1860 Colt revolvers (these conversions are definitely not factory, and they display incredible craftsmanship).

Tranter 54-bore self-cocking revolver

Hannie's Tranter new in the box.

Hannie Caulder (Raquel Welch) fires the Tranter as Thomas (Robert Culp) looks on.

Hannie with the Tranter.

A publicity still of Raquel Welch as Hannie with the Tranter revolver.

Adams Revolver

Tom Price (Robert Culp) also carries an Adams Revolver on his strong side. He uses it to shoot the bottles that Hannie is missing with his Smith & Wesson and also in the gun fight with a group of bandits. When they arrive at Bailey's home (Christopher Lee) Bailey asks Price if that old Adams has blown up yet. Price replies that it's still holding true. This isn't an implausible scenario. The Confederacy imported approximately 1,000 Adams revolvers and there was a company in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts that made a copy of the Adams. The Union purchased several hundred of the American Adams during the civil war as well.

Adams Revolver.

Price in action with the Adams against a group of bandits who attack while they are at Bailey's

Publicity still of Thomas Luther Price (Robert Culp) with the Adams Revolver and Hannie Caulder (Raquel Welch) with her Tranter Revolver.

Remington 1875

Emmett Clemens (Ernest Borgnine) uses a Remington 1875 throughout the film.

Remington 1875 - .45 Long Colt.

Colt Single Action Army

Both Frank Clemens (Jack Elam) and the mysterious Preacher (Stephen Boyd) in black use Colt Single Action Army Revolvers as their main weapons.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model. The most common of the SAA revolvers as it is just the right length. .45 Long Colt

Frank shoots his Colt SAA

Frank grips a leg wound with his gun hand

The mysterious Preacher (Stephen Boyd) hands his revolver to the gunsmith Bailey (Christopher Lee) for repair

Smith & Wesson New Model No.3

Thomas Luther Price (Robert Culp) carries two revolvers one in a side holster and one in a cross draw holster. One of these weapons which Hannie takes in order to practice shooting appears to be a Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 with the 6.5" barrel.

Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 w/ 6.5" barrel

Price's Revolver in a cross draw holster.

Hannie practices shooting with Price's revolver.

Hannie with the revolver.

Price ejects the shells from the revolver after taking it back from Hannie.

Price in action with the Smith & Wesson

Rifles/Carbines

Winchester Model 1892 Trapper Saddle Ring Carbine

Hannie Caulder's husband holds a Trapper Saddle Ring Carbine on the Clemens brothers when they first arrive at his home.

Winchester 1892 Trapper Saddle Ring Carbine w/14 inch barrel

Mr. Caulder looks out his window with his Winchester Model 1892 in hand

Mr. Caulder holds his weapon on the Clemens brothers

Hannie holds the rifle.

Winchester Model 1892

After attacking Hannie at her home, the Clemens brothers get involved in a shootout with a group of stagecoach guards who are armed with Winchester Model 1892 rifles.

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .32WCF/.38-40/.44-40/.25-20

The coach guards fire at the Clemens brothers

Mauser M43

At the beginning of the film, the Clemens brothers rob a bank and are subsequently fired on by the Federales, who appear to be armed with the Spanish Mauser M1943.

Mauser M43 - 8 x 57mm Mauser

The Federales resting before the robbery occurs with their weapons near at hand

The police fire at the Clemens brothers after the robbery at a nearby bank

Shotguns

Double Barreled Coach Shotgun

Rufus Clemens (Strother Martin) uses a Double Barreled Coach Shotgun throughout the movie.

Reproduction Colt 1878 Shotgun

Side view of Rufus' shotgun

Production Trivia

Though directed by an American and starring well known American actors, "Hannie Caulder" was a product of Tigon British Film Productions, a UK production company famous for such B grade horror movies as Witchfinder General (1968), The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971), and The Creeping Flesh(1972). "Hannie Caulder" came to fruition because Tony Tenser, head of Tigon, had always wanted to make a Western and Raquel Welch was willing to make a western. The movie was filmed in Spain during the winter of 1971 and was distributed by Paramount in North America. In an interview with Gerald Peary, director Quentin Tarantino (famous for his love of cult and grindhouse movies) said the film was one of his inspirations for Kill Bill, stating: "Why I love Hannie Caulder so much is Robert Culp. He is so magnificent in that movie. I actually think there's a bit of similarity between Sonny Chiba and Uma Thurman (in Kill Bill) and Raquel Welch and Robert Culp in Hannie Caulder."

It's obvious that that the script was written by somebody who knew a thing or two about combat. Burt Kennedy ,who co-wrote (un-credited) and directed the movie, served with the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division in the South Pacific during World War II. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart, Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in 2001.