The Ace of Aces (L'As des as)

The Ace of Aces (L'As des as) Original French Poster Country France West Germany Directed by Gérard Oury Release Date 1982 Language French German Studio Cerito Films Gaumont International Rialto Film Main Cast Character Actor Jo Cavalier Jean-Paul Belmondo Gaby Delcourt Marie-France Pisier Simon Rosenblum Rachid Ferrache Gunther von Beckman Frank Hoffmann Adolf Hitler Günter Meisner

The Ace of Aces (original title L'As des as) is a 1982 French-German adventure comedy directed by Gérard Oury. Jean-Paul Belmondo appears as Jo Cavalier, a trainer of French boxing team on 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and former World War I fighter ace. On the way to Nazi Germany he befriends a Jewish boy and later decides to help him and his family.

The following weapons were used in the film The Ace of Aces (L'As des as):

Handguns

Luger P08

During 1916 sequence Gunther von Beckman (Frank Hoffmann) uses a Luger P08 after both his and Jo Cavalier's (Jean-Paul Belmondo) planes crashed on no man's land. In 1936 sequence numerous German officers and police carry Lugers.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Von Beckman aims at Cavalier.

He tries to capture the French ace.

A German police motorcyclist holds a Luger during the chase for Cavalier's car in 1936.

A motorcyclist fires his pistol in the same scene.

An officer aims his pistol at Cavalier.

Walther PPK

In 1936 sequence Gunther von Beckman (Frank Hoffmann) carries a Walther PPK in holster. In one scene Jo Cavalier (Jean-Paul Belmondo) disarms him.

Walther PPK - 7.65 mm Browning aka .32 ACP

Cavalier draws von Beckman's pistol from the holster...

...and takes his as hostage.

Rifles

Lebel Mle 1886

During 1916 sequence Lebel Mle 1886 rifles are seen in hands of French soldiers.

Lebel Model 1886 Rifle - 8x50Rmm

French soldiers with Lebel rifles watch air battle.

They greet the victory of French ace.

Gewehr 98

Mauser Gewehr 98 rifles are seen in hands of German soldiers in 1916.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German soldiers watch air battle. The rifle in center has tangent-leaf rear sight, indicative of Reichswehr service.

Karabiner 98k

Karabiner 98k rifles are seen in hands of German soldiers in 1936.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Guards in Hitler's Berghof residence.

German soldiers greet Hitler's car on German-Austrian border.

Machine Guns

Lewis (visually modified)

During the air battle in the opening scene both Jo Cavalier's (Jean-Paul Belmondo) and Gunther von Beckman's (Frank Hoffmann) fighter planes are armed with two synchronised machine guns. These machine guns appear to be aircraft version of Lewis with 97-round magazines, visually modified to resemble Vickers in case of Cavalier's S.E.5 and Parabellum MG14 in case of von Beckman's Fokker Dr.I (both planes are flying replicas).

Aircraft mounted Lewis Gun - .303 British

97-round magazine

Vickers Aircraft Machine Gun

Parabellum MG14 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Cavalier attacks.

A close view of a magazine on Cavalier's plane.

Cavalier fires.

Von Beckman in his Dr.I triplane.

Von Beckman is in good mood when Cavalier's plane seems to be shot down.

Under Cavalier's fire Von Beckman's triplane became a biplane...

...and a monoplane at last.

Maxim MG08

A Maxim MG08 is seen in 1916 in German trenches. Adolf Hitler (Günter Meisner) mans it as gunner's assistant.

Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser

An MG08 in trenches.

A close view of the muzzle.

Hitler holds an ammunition belt.

A side view of MG08.

Hotchkiss Mle 1914

A Hotchkiss Mle 1914 is seen in 1916 in French trenches.

M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun with Tripod - 8x50Rmm

A Hotchkiss is seen in center.

Trivia

Several artillery piecies are seen in French and German trenches in 1916 sequence.

A guess: 105 mm howitzer??

A guess: 75 mm gun and 105 mm howitzer??