The Last Chance

The Last Chance Die letzte Chance French Language Movie Poster Country Switzerland Directed by Leopold Lindtberg Release Date May 26, 1945 Language Dutch English French German Italian Polish Swiss German Yiddish Studio Praesens-Film Distributor Praesens-Film Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (U.S.A.) Main Cast Character Actor Ltnt. Halliday John Hoy Sgt. Braddock Ray Reagan Major Telford Ewart G. Morrison Tonina Luisa Rossi Priest Romano Calo Frau Wittels Therese Giehse Bernard Wittels Robert Schwarz

The Last Chance is a 1945 Swiss movie directed by Leopold Lindtberg (Fusilier Wipf) set during the Second World War and is considered to be the most famous cinema production in Switzerland in its more than one hundred years of film history. Northern Italian 1943, American Sergeant Braddock, and English Lieutenant Halliday are able to escape from German captivity during a transport together. They hide and have to witness the deportation of Jewish civilians. At the northern Italian border, they meet refugees from various countries trying to make their way across the mountains to the safety of Switzerland and take charge of the group.

The following weapons were used in the film The Last Chance:

Revolvers

Ordonnanzrevolver M1872

British Major Telford (Ewart G. Morrison) keeps a revolver in his back pocket. This revolver appears to be of Swiss origin rather than British Webley-style. It is described by Maj. Telford as a revolver to which he has 5 rounds. An Ordonnanzrevolver M1872 is a good guess but it can also be a Model 1882 Revolver.

Ordonnanzrevolver Modell 1872 - 10.4mm Swiss rimfire

The bottom of the grip is seen right beneath his belt.

Maj. Telford bends which gives the best view of the revolver's grip which looks very much like a Swiss revolver; especially to the M1872 pictured above.

Submachine Guns

Beretta M1938A

An Italian partisan and a German soldier can be seen wielding Beretta Model 38As.

MAB Mod. 1938 with 20-round magazine - 9x19mm

The partisan with his Beretta blocks Braddock and Halliday the way.

A detailed view of the Beretta hanging from his shoulder.

The Beretta is seen in the center held by a German soldier awaiting the priest outside the church.

Suomi KP/-31

What appears to be a Suomi KP/-31 equipped with a stick magazine is carried by one partisan. The Swiss Military purchased many of these submachine guns in November 1942 from Finland which was designated as the "Mp. 43".

Suomi KP/-31 - 9x19mm Parabellum

A glimpse of the gun is seen on the left. Note the different barrel shroud and handguard compared to the Beretta above. This is the only time that this weapon is somehow clearly visible.

Rifles

Karabiner 31

German and Swiss soldiers are seen using K31 Rifles.

Karabiner Modell 1931 (K. 31/Kar. 31) - 7.5x55mm Swiss (GP 11)

The right German soldier opens fire with his K31 at fleeing prisoners.

A German Ski patrol shots at a fleeing person. Two of them working the straight bolt handle.

A slung K31 of a Swiss soldier carrying exhausted Halliday on a stretcher.

Swiss soldiers aim their carbines into the air.

The soldiers firing a salute salvo. This shot reveals a perfect view of Swiss engineering.

Vetterli Model 1869/71

Numourous German soldiers are seen with Vetterli Model 1869/71 rifles.

Vetterli Repetiergewehr Modell 1869/71 - 10.4mm

German soldiers running with their Vetterli rifles.

The striking trigger guard can be seen on the left.

Vetterli Model 1870

Some of the Italian partisans appear to be armed with Vetterli Model 1870 Cadet rifles.

Vetterli Kadettengewehr Modell 1870 - 10.4mm

The first partisan with the rifle over his back turns around. Note the lack of the side-mounted loading gate and the stock which is made entirely of wood. The position of the slung rifle on his back suggests that this does not have a box magazine unlike the M1870/87 and M1870/87/15.

Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine

The coachman (Giuseppe Galeati) encounters Italian soldiers who have Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbines.

Carcano M91/38 Cavalry Carbine with folded bayonet - 6.5x52mm

Two soldiers stopping the coachman at a checkpoint with their Carcano carbines.

A closer view of the folding bayonet.

Another full view of one carbine.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

At least, one German soldier carries a Gewehr 98.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

He holds his rifle up while pushing people into a train car.

The Lange Visier rear sight is visible.

Mauser Gewehr 1871

One of the partisans appears to be armed with a Mauser Gewehr 1871 Jäger variant.

Mauser Jägerbüchse 1871 - 11x60mmR

The first partisan runs up the steps with his Mauser Jäger rifle.

Unknown Rifles

Some full-length rifles with straight bolt handles are carried by Italian partisans.

Two partisans moving off their hiding place.

A front view of the rifle reveals the straight bolt handle.

Another partisan (with the black hat) holds a rifle.

A rifle is slung by a partisan (second from right).

Machine Guns

Furrer M25

A German soldier is briefly seen hip-firing a Swiss Furrer Lmg 25.

The soldier fires his light machine gun.

Other

Beretta Holster

Two Italian officers carry holsters for Beretta M1934 pistols. It is unclear if the holsters contain the pistols.

Double Barreled Shotgun

One of the partisans holds a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun which is a continuity error since he was seen with an unknown rifle a few scenes before.

Charles Parker 1878 Side by Side Shotgun - 12 Gauge

He points the shotgun at the two refugees.

A slightly different view of the lowered shotgun.