Play Dirty

Movie poster

Country	UK
Directed by	André De Toth
Release Date	1969
Language	English Arabic German
Studio	Lowndes Productions Limited
Distributor	United Artists

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Capt. Douglas	Michael Caine
Capt. Cyril Leech	Nigel Davenport
Col. Masters	Nigel Green
Maj. Alan Watkins	Patrick Jordan
Kalarides	Enrique Ávila
Hassan	Mohsen Ben Abdallah
Sadok	Aly Ben Ayed
Kostos Manov	Takis Emmanuel
Boudesh	Scott Miller
Capt. Johnson	Michael Stevens

Play Dirty is a 1969 British World War II film starring Michael Caine and Nigel Davenport, directed by André de Toth, whose previous film credits mainly included crime films and westerns. This is appropriate, and this film is a little of both, featuring a former petroleum engineer (Caine) leading a rag-tag band of murderers, terrorists and rapists sent behind enemy lines in North Africa to blow up a German fuel depot. The movie was partially filmed in the Spanish province of Almería, which explains some of the weapons found in the film, as well as why some locations may appear familiar, since parts of Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Sergio Leone's Man with No Name trilogy were filmed there as well. The ending may be unusual for a war movie, but its nihilism fits in well with the rest of the film.

The following weapons were used in the film Play Dirty:

Handguns

Llama II

Captain Douglas (Michael Caine) has a Llama II as his sidearm. Whether he carries it as his normal sidearm or due to his disguise is unknown. Captain Leech (Nigel Davenport) temporarily takes it away from him during the ambush.

Llama II - .380 ACP. Courtesy of Carbines for Collectors. Used with kind permission.

Captain Douglas cocks his pistol. Notice the lack of a grip safety and the contours on the grip.

Captain Douglas' pistol in Captain Leech's belt.

Webley Mk IV

Hassan (Mohsen Ben Abdallah) uses a Webley Mk IV.

Webley Mk.IV WW2 British Army version chambered for .38 S&W

Hassan takes aim with his Webley.

Submachine Guns

Star Model Z45

The members of the unit (Michael Caine, Nigel Davenport, Aly Ben Ayed, Enrique Ávila, Takis Emmanuel and Scott Miller) are armed with Spanish Star Model Z45 submachine guns. They are used when they are disguised as Germans soldiers as well as Italian soldiers. This is an anachronism, as these guns weren't produced until 1945. In a continuity error, some of them turn into MP40's towards the end of the film.

Star Model Z-45 folding stock - 9x23mm

Captain Leech reloads. Noticed the "jungle-clipped" magazines.

Captain Douglas shows the group how serious he is.

One of the group fires during the attack on the faux oil depot.

Captain Douglas with a Z-45. In the previous scene and in the following scene, he has a MP40.

MP40

MP40s are used by German soldiers throughout the film. In a continuity error, the Star Model Z45's in the film turn into MP40's towards the end.

MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm

Captain Douglas with his MP40.

The business end of a German MP40.

The Germans fire upon Douglas' group.

Captain Leech's MP40 after the attack.

Sten Mk II

Sten Mk II submachine guns are by British soldiers throughout the film.

Sten Mk II (Canadian) Submachine gun - 9x19mm

A German soldier salvages a Sten from the dead British after an ambush. This one has the wire stock.

Rifles

M43 Spanish Mauser

M43 Spanish Mausers are carried by Hassan (Mohsen Ben Abdallah) and Assine (Mohamed Kouka) as well as German soldiers.

Spanish Mauser M43 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

One of the nomads reaches for his Mauser.

The Germans search the British dead. Notice the straight bolt handle.

One of the guides with his Mauser.

A closeup of the Mauser's receiver.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I rifles are carried by British soldiers in the film.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I - .303 British

A British soldier with his Enfield in the jeep.

Machine Guns

Vickers MK1 Machine Gun

Vickers MK1 machine guns are mounted on the jeeps of Colonel Master's irregular unit and also Major Watkins' unit.

Vickers Mk1 Machine Gun

The Vickers on Captain Leech's jeep.

Lewis Gun

Lewis Guns are seen mounted on Captain Leech's jeep at the beginning of the film and also trucks from Watkin's commando unit.

Lewis gun - .303 British

The Lewis on the back of Captain Leech's jeep.

MG34

MG34's are seen mounted on both Master's unit vehicles and also on German half tracks.

MG34 7.92x57mm Mauser with front and rear sights folded down.

The MG34 on the team's jeep.

The Germans prepare for the ambush.

The Germans load the MG34.

MG42

German troops use MG42s during the ambush.

MG42 Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

An MG42 before the ambush.

Vickers K machine gun

Two Vickers K medium machine guns are seen twin mounted on Watkin's Jeep.

Vickers K Machine Gun - .303 British

Twin Vickers K machine guns on the front of the jeep.

Bergmann MG 15nA machine gun

One of the gun trucks has Bergmann MG 15nA machine gun mounted on it. The Bergmann MG 15nA machine gun is not to be confused with the MG15 machine gun which is completely different.