The Paris Commune (Zori Parizha)

The Paris Commune (Zori Parizha) Original Theatrical Release Poster Country USSR Directed by Grigoriy Roshal Release Date 1936 Language Russian Studio Mosfilm Main Cast Character Actor Jaroslav Dombrowski Nikolai Plotnikov Catherine Millard Antonina Maksimova Etienne Millard Andrei Abrikosov Karl Steiper Viktor Stanitsyn Eugene Gorrot Dmitri Dorlyak Raoul Rigault Vladimir Belokurov Richet Anatoliy Goryunov Mother Pichot Vera Maretskaya

The Paris Commune (USA theatrical release title; the original title Zori Parizha ("Dawn of Paris")) is a 1936 Soviet B&W historical movie, directed by Grigoriy Roshal. It depicts the events of Paris Commune in 1871.

The following weapons were used in the film The Paris Commune (Zori Parizha):

Handguns

Lefaucheux Model 1854

Various characters, including Jaroslav Dombrowski (Nikolai Plotnikov) and Karl Steiper (Viktor Stanitsyn), are seen with Lefaucheux Model 1854 revolvers.

Lefaucheux Model 1854 - 12mm Pinfire

Karl Steiper, the commander of International Battalion, carries a Lefaucheux revolver tucked at his belt.

Another view of Steiper's revolver.

A Communard at the right carries a revolver tucked at his belt.

Wounded Dombrowski leads his men in attack with a revolver in hand.

Colt 1851 Navy

Various characters, including Eugene Gorrot (Dmitri Dorlyak), are seen with Colt 1851 Navy revolvers.

Colt 1851 Navy - .36 caliber

A Colt 1851 Navy is seen at the background.

Eugene Gorrot fires a Colt.

An aged female Communard fires a Colt during the defence of the last barricade.

Unidentified revolvers

While in battle, Karl Steiper's (Viktor Stanitsyn) Lefaucheux revolver is substituted with some other model. Similar looking revolvers are seen in another scenes. These revolvers (possibly a single movie prop) bear distant resemblance with Nagant M1895 though the barrel is too long and the grip is nearly vertical.

For comparison: Tranter Model 1868 Army - .450 Adams

Steiper fires a revolver.

A female Communard at the left carries a revolver tucked at her belt. Next to her Mother Pichot (Vera Maretskaya) holds a Gras Model 1874 rifle.

A French Army officer draws his revolver...

...and fires.

Percussion Cap Pistol

What appear to be Percussion Cap Pistols of unclear model are briefly seen in hands of Paris National Guard soldiers. In one scene Monsieur Vesset (Naum Rogozhin) fires a percussion cap pistol.

A female Communard in center carries a percussion cap pistol at her belt.

Vesset fires from the window.

Rifles

Gras Model 1874

Gras Model 1874 rifles are used by both Paris National Guard and French Army soldiers. They stand for historically correct Chassepot 1866 rifles that have very similar outlook. Gras rifles were highly available for filmmakers as 450,000 Gras were purchased by Russian Army during the WW1, and a lot of them were still at hand in mid-1930s. Most rifles are fitted with Mle 1874 bayonets though Mle 1866 Yataghan sword bayonets are also seen.

Gras Mle 1874 with Mle 1874 sword bayonet - 11 x 59mm Gras

Catherine Millard (Antonina Maksimova), a female volunteer of National Guard, appears with a rifle in the opening scene.

A centry at the gates of the city hall of Montmartre, one of the main centers of Commune.

Frappeau (Georgi Chernovolenko) holds a rifle.

Corporal Bordieux (Ivan Bobrov) of Versailles troops holds a rifle during the night attack on National Guard positions.

A National Guard soldier fires his rifle.

Eugene Gorrot (Dmitri Dorlyak) stops Catherine Millard from needless firing. Gorrot's rifle is fitted with a Mle 1866 Yataghan sword bayonet.

A National Guard soldier in action.

National Guard soldiers attach bayonets to their rifles.

Soldiers of French Army fire a salvo during the battle for a barricade.

National Guard soldiers and volunteers stand in formation during the funeral of General Jaroslav Dombrowski.

Trivia

Field Cannons

All cannons of National Guard are heavily outdated muzzle-loading smoothbore guns (the real cannons of the time of Franco-Prussian War and Paris Commune were breach-loading). The cannons appear to be genuine weapon of Napoleonic era, not mockups, used in movies of later times. Their size and shape match Russian M1805 12-pounder field gun.

A cannon on position during the night battle.

Artillerymen fire the cannon.