 Join our Discord!
|
| If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
The Thin Red Line (1998)
The Thin Red Line is the 1998 World War II film directed by Terrence Malick and is the second movie adaptation of the James Jones novel (the first being a 1964 film of the same name). The film is a fictional account of an engagement by the US Army to capture an entrenched Japanese position during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. The majority of the film was shot in Queensland, Australia. One of the notable characters in the film is Cpt. Staros (Elias Koteas), an intelligent, sensitive Army captain who refuses to send his men to their certain death on a futile frontal assault on a fortified Japanese position, which puts him at odds with the ambitious Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte). Another notable characters include the cynical and shrewd 1st. Sgt Welsh (Sean Penn), Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin) who is heavily devoted to his wife, and Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel), a deserter who hates the Army, but loves the men of Charlie Company enough to rejoin them during the battle. Despite its seven Academy Award nominations, this film is often overlooked due to its release in the same year as Steven Spielberg's World War II film Saving Private Ryan.
The following weapons were used in the film The Thin Red Line:
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Allied Weapons
Rifles
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand is the primary rifle of Charlie Company in the film and is used by Pvt. Witt (Jim Caviezel), Pvt. Bell (Ben Chaplin), Pvt. Coombs (Matt Doran), Pfc. Beade (Nick Stahl), Pvt. Ash (Thomas Jane) and Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok).
M1 Carbine
M1 Carbine rifles are used by the sergeants and officers in the film including Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson), Sgt. McCron (John Savage), Cpt. Gaff (John Cusack), Cpt. Staros (Elias Koteas), and 2nd Lt. Whyte (Jared Leto).
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
M1928A1 Thompsons are carried by Pvt. Dale (Arie Verveen), 1st Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn), Sgt. Storm (John C. Reilly) among other US soldiers.
Machine Guns
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2
Cpl. Queen (David Harrod) keeps a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 slung over his back, which he carries along with his Winchester 1897. Pvt. Sico (Robert Roy Hofmo) also carries one before he fakes sickness to avoid combat.
Shotguns
Winchester 1897
Cpl. Queen (David Harrod) is seen using a Winchester 1897 shotgun, along with a BAR, although he is seen firing the Winchester rather then the BAR.
Handguns
M1911A1
Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok) steals an M1911A1 hanging from a bunk in the ship carrying Charlie Company to the island. He notably uses it when he charges a Japanese machine gun emplacement and fires it at them. Basically every other US soldier also has an M1911A1 as their sidearm, although only few soldiers such as Captain Gaff (John Cusack) are seen using them.
Other
M1A1 Flamethrower
A US soldier is seen holding an M1A1 Flamethrower after Hill 262 is captured. He later uses it to torch the camp.
MK II Hand Grenade
Several US soldiers are seen using MK II Hand Grenades in the film. At one point we see Sgt. Keck (Woody Harrelson) straightening the folds on the pin of his grenade, which proves to be a fatal mistake on his behalf when the pin pulls too easily while still attached to his belt.
Oerlikon 20mm Cannon
On the ship under the command of Brig. Gen. Quintard (John Travolta) is a pair of Oerlikon 20mm Cannon mounted on a Mk 20 Mod 2 gun mount.
Bofors Twin Mount
On the ship under the command of Brig. Gen. Quintard (John Travolta) is a Bofors 40mm twin mount.
Axis Weapons
This film features a very accurate, almost complete arsenal of genuine WWII Japanese weapons, a stark contrast to the original film where not a single Japanese weapon was seen.
Rifles
Arisaka Type 38
Japanese soldiers are seen mainly using Arisaka Type 38 rifles.
Arisaka Type 99
Some Japanese soldiers are seen using Arisaka Type 99 rifles with monopod.
Machine Guns
Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun
Japanese soldiers are also seen using Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Guns in the film.
Nambu Type 3 Heavy Machine Gun
Japanese soldiers are seen using Nambu Type 3 Heavy Machine Guns in the film.
Handguns
Nambu Type 14
The issued sidearm of the Japanese Imperial Army is the Nambu Type 14 Pistol. One soldier is seen using it to commit suicide when refusing capture after Hill 262 is taken. Later in the film we see Pfc. Doll (Dash Mihok) showing off a Nambu pistol to fellow soldiers in a personnel transport truck, likely taken off a dead Japanese soldier on the Hill.
Other
Japanese Type 98 AA/AT
A 20mm Japanese Type 98 AA/AT gun is seen in the Japanese camp during the assault on Hill 262.
