Hell Is for Heroes

Hell is for Heroes is a World War II film directed by Don Siegel in 1962.

Movie Poster for Hell is for Heroes (1962)

The following guns were used in the film Hell is for Heroes:

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand by various characters including Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin), T/Sgt. Pike (Fess Parker), Sgt. Larkin (Harry Guardino), and Pvt. Homer Janeczek (Nick Adams) to name a few.

M1 Garand

The men in a trench holding their M1 Garands.

Soldiers firing their M1 Garands to cover Pvt. Reese and the others.

Homer picks up an M1 Garand towards the end of the movie.

M1 Carbine

The M1 Carbine is seen with the mortar crews.

M1 Carbine

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Mortar crew with M1 carbines slung.

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Another shot of the Mortar crews M1 carbines.

M3 submachine gun

Pvt. Reese (Steve McQueen) uses the M3 submachine gun throughout the film. He tapes three of his magazines together for faster reloading. Interestingly Reese only has M1 Garand ammunition pouches, and not any box magazine pouches.

M3 "Grease Gun"

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Reese assembles his M3 submachine gun.

Reese turns his M3 towards a clumsy soldier after he is almost shot by him.

Reese prepares his M3 for the final assault on the pillbox.

Reese firing at the pillbox.

Note: Many weapons used in the film experienced malfunctions. The M3 submachine gun Steve McQueen uses in the film kept jamming and this can be noticed in several scenes.

McQueen clears a jam in his M3

McQueen has to clear another jam just a few seconds later.

Browning Automatic Rifle

Pvt. Kolinski uses the Browning Automatic Rifle throughout the film.

Browning Automatic Rifle "B.A.R."

Kolinski escorts a prisoner with his B.A.R.

Kolinski holding the B.A.R.

Karabiner 98k

The Karabiner 98k is used by opposing German forces. After killing a charging German, Reese picks up the dead soldiers Karabiner 98k rifle and removes the bolt so no other enemies can quickly use the rifle.

MP40

A advancing German carrying a Karabiner 98k.

Reese picks up the dead Germans rifle.

Note the removed bolt in Reese's right hand.

German on the left is firing a Karabiner 98k.

MP40

The MP40 is used by opposing Germans forces.

MP40

German soldier with holding a MP40.

Another shot of the soldiers MP40.

Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12

The Schwarzlose Machine Gun Model 07/12 is seen during the final assault. This is actual stock footage of German soldiers using the machine gun.

Stock Footage showing the Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 in action.

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Again more stock footage of the Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 machine gun.

Browning 1919

The Browning M1919A4 is seen being carried by a soldier in the beginning of the movie, and later on during the final attack.

Browning 1919 machine gun

Soldier carrying the Browning 1919 on his shoulder.

Soldiers fire the Browning 1919 during the final assault.

Browning 1919 stirring up some dust.

Browning M2

The Browning M2 is seen mounted on a tank during the final assault. The footage of the tank is actually stock footage.

Browning M2 machine gun

Stock footage showing the Browning M2 mounted on a tank.

M2 Mortar

The M2 Mortar. is used by the U.S. troops during the final assault and the previous night.

Soldiers firing the M2 mortar.

M2 mortar in action.

M-2 Flamethrower

The M2 Flamethrower is used by Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) and several others. The firing mechanism looks like an M1A1 flamethrower, yet the fuel tanks are that of a M-2 flamethrower. Although a pair of typical M-2 Flamethrowers are seen, they are never fired in the movie.

M-2 Flamethrower

Cpl. Henshaw fires his M2 flamethrower at some Germans.

Two soldiers equipped with M2 flamethrowers make their way forward in the final assault.

Homer helping retrieve an M2 flamethrower.

Note the different firing mechanism than a typical M2.

Mk 2 hand grenade

Mk 2 hand grenades are used by Reese and various soldiers.

Mk 2 Hand Grenade

T/Sgt. Pike with 2 Mk 2 Hand Grenades on his belt.

Reese with a Mk 2 Hand Grenade.

close up of the prop Mk 2 grenade.

S Mines

During an attempted attack on the enemy bunker, Reese leads a the group of soldier through a mine field loaded with S-mines.

S Mine prongs sticking out of the ground.

Special

The film was produced on a low budget that quickly got out of control. Only two actors played German soldiers, meaning that they are killed multiple times during the film. Hell is for Heroes utilizes the use of stock war footage shot during WWII. As with some other war movies of the era, filmmakers inserted clips of actual war footage saving time and money. Most of the stock footage is of artillery being fired, but also includes the some of machine gun fire. Below are some screenshots of the stock footage of artillery.