About Friends-Comrades (O druzyakh-tovarishchakh)

About Friends-Comrades (O druzyakh-tovarishchakh) DVD Cover Country USSR Directed by Vladimir Nazarov Release Date 1970 Language Russian Studio Mosfilm Main Cast Character Actor Olga Danilovna Listopad Zinaida Slavina Vladimir Mikhaylovich Gorskiy Valeriy Zolotukhin Fyodor Sergeyevich Ivolgin aka Uncle Fedya Ivan Lapikov Stanislav Kovalskiy Oleg Efremov Aleksey Utrobin Mikhail Kokshenov Kostya Zhokhov Aleksei Inzhevatov Vitaliy Aleksandrovich Glazyev Pyotr Glebov Viktor Pshennikov Gennadiy Yukhtin

About Friends-Comrades (the literal translation of the original title O druzyakh-tovarishchakh) is a Soviet 1970 made for TV adventure movie directed by Vladimir Nazarov. The story, loosely based on real events, is set in Moscow in Autumn 1919. A group of Anarchists who oppose themselves to Bolshevicks plan terror against high rank Soviet officials. They explode a bomb in Moscow city committee of Bolshevick party. In order to prevent the future activities of Anarchists three young Chekists (Cheka agents) are sent to infiltrate the group.

The title of the film is taken from the iconic Soviet song "Davay zakurim" ("Let's Smoke") that appeared in 1942, more than twenty years after the events of the movie.

The following weapons were used in the film About Friends-Comrades (O druzyakh-tovarishchakh):

Revolvers

Nagant M1895 Revolver

Nagant M1895 revolvers are widely used by Chekists and Anarchists. All Nagants in the movie are of anachronistic post-1930 version.

Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38N

A conspirator (Vladimir Smirnov) draws his Nagant.

A Nagant that belongs to a Chekist is seen on the table.

Chekist Sanya Plavun (Boris Yurchenko) holds his Nagant.

Viktor Pshennikov (Gennadiy Yukhtin) aims his Nagant at Stanislav Kovalskiy (Oleg Efremov).

Another view of Pshennikov's Nagant.

Unnamed Chekist holds his Nagant during the ambush.

Pistols

FN Model 1922

FN Model 1922 pistol is a personal handgun of Chekist Stanislav Kovalskiy (Oleg Efremov).

FN Model 1922 with wood grips - .32 ACP

Kovalskiy holds the pistol.

The longer barrel of Model 1922 can be seen.

The FN 1922 on the table.

FN Model 1903

When Kovalskiy is unmasked, he uses FN Model 1903 instead of previously seen FN Model 1922.

FN Model 1903, right side

Tokarev TT-33

In one scene Kovalskiy's FN Model 1903 is replaced with TT-33 that has roughly similar outlook.

Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Post-1947 version

Mauser C96 Pistol

Mauser C96 pistols are used by some Chekists and Anarchists.

Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" - 7.63x25mm Mauser.

"Uncle Fedya" Ivolgin (Ivan Lapikov) carries the Mauser C96 in wooden holster.

Anarchist Klychkov (Aleksey Bakhar) draws a nickel plated Mauser (at the right).

Klychkov fires his Mauser (the nickel plated pistol switches to blued one).

Yakov Khristoforovich Peters (Uldis Lieldidzs), Deputy Chairman of the Cheka, personally takes part in the final operation against the conspirators.

Chekist Aleksey Utrobin (Mikhail Kokshenov) fires his Mauser.

Utrobin's pistol is seen firing.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1891/30 Rifle

Mosin Nagant M1891/30 rifles, standing for original M1891s, are used by Komsomoltsy during the patrol on streets.

Mosin Nagant M1891/30 - 7.62x54mmR

Aleksey Utrobin (Mikhail Kokshenov) loads his M91/30 rifle. The hex receiver is typical for pre-1936 manufactured rifles.

A student familiarizes with rifle.

Kostya Zhokhov (Aleksei Inzhevatov) holds the rifle at the right.

A close view of the barrel with bayonet, attached backwards. This is a exclusively cinematic practice; in reality such practice was banned by service manuals.

Zaytsev (Mikhail Rozanov) holds the rifle at the right.

Zhokhov and Utrobin on patrol.

A row of rifles with bayonets.

A numer of rifles in Anarchists weapons cache.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry

Some Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles are also seen.

Full-length, Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifle - 7.62x54mm R

A patrolman carries an M91 Infantry rifle.

Machine guns

Maxim M1910/30

Maxim M1910/30 machine guns, standing for original M1910s, are seen on the villa, used as Anarchists headquarters.

Maxim 1910/30 machine gun - 7.62x54mmR

The Maxim in window.

Anarchists open fire.

A conspirator carries the Maxim.

The Maxim and numerous M91/30 rifles in weapon cache.

Other Weapons

F-1 Hand Grenade

In the final scene Viktor Pshennikov (Gennadiy Yukhtin) uses an F-1 hand grenade, anachronistic for 1919 (though it can stand for some similar looking "pineapple" style grenade of Great War era).

F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

Pshennikov performs the typical cinematographic feat of pulling the pin with his teeth.

RGD-5 Hand Grenade

An Anarchist is seen with heavily anachronistic RGD-5 hand grenade. The black color of the body indicates URG-N training version.

URG-N RGD-5 training grenade

RGD-5 is seen on the belt of a man at the left.

Dummy Training Grenade

What appear to be dummy training stick grenade is seen in hands of an Anarchist. It stands for RG-14 hand grenade.

Training stick grenade. Such cast aluminum dummies were widely used in USSR for basic training.

RG-14/30 Soviet hand grenade.

The man carries two grenades.