Halls of Montezuma

Poster

Country	United States
Directed by	Lewis Milestone
Release Date	1951
Language	English and German
Studio	20th Century Fox
Distributor	20th Century Fox

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Lt. Anderson	Richard Widmark
Conroy	Richard Hylton
Slattery	Bert Freed
Sgt. Johnson	Reginald Gardner
Sgt. Zelenko	Neville Brand
"Pretty Boy" Riley	Skip Homeier
Pigeon Lane	Jack Palance
Doc	Karl Malden
Whitney	Martin Milner
Dickerman	Jack Webb

Halls of Montezuma is a 1951 World War II film set on an unnamed island in the Pacific invaded by a battalion of US Marines. After several days battling snipers and machine gun nests, the advance is halted by deadly and accurate rocket fire. A platoon of Marines led by former school teacher Lt. Anderson (Richard Widmark), with the assistance of a translator (Reginald Gardner), are sent on a patrol to find prisoners for intel on the battery location. The movie was made with the full cooperation of the United States Marine Corps, and shot on location at Camp Pendleton. The film's title is a reference to the opening line of the Marines' Hymn.

The following weapons were used in the film Halls of Montezuma:

Sidearms

Star Model B

The Star Model B is the main sidearm of the US Marines, standing in for the Colt M1911A1 (probably because of an inability to acquire .45 caliber blank ammunition). It is used by Lt. Anderson (Richard Widmark) and Sgt. Zelenko (Neville Brand). Slattery (Bert Freed) carries a Star Model B in a shoulder holster.

Star Model B with blue finish - 9x19mm

Slattery (Bert Freed) carries a Star Model B in a shoulder holster.

Lt. Anderson (Richard Widmark) draws his Star Model B whilst hiding in a cave with Doc (Karl Malden).

A wounded Sgt. Zelenko (Neville Brand) draws his Star Model B.

Zelenko aims his Star Model B.

Luger P08

"Pretty Boy" Riley (Skip Homeier) carries a Luger P08. Although this seems an odd choice for a US Marine in the Pacific, he can be seen with it in a flashback of his civilian days, meaning it may have been a World War One souveneir. He is constantly seen spinning it.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

"Pretty Boy" Riley (Skip Homeier) with his Luger P08.

"Pretty Boy" chambers his Luger in a flashback.

"Pretty Boy" looks down the Luger sights.

"Pretty Boy" threatens his stepmother with a Luger.

M1917 Revolver

Sgt. Johnson (Reginald Gardner) has a Colt M1917 Revolver with pearl grips in a shoulder holster.

Colt M1917 Revolver - .45 ACP

Sgt. Johnson (Reginald Gardner) has a Colt-model M1917 revolver in his shoulder holster.

Nambu Type 14

Sgt. Johnson (Reginald Gardner) throws away a Nambu Type 14 found on the body of a wounded Japanese officer. Slattery (Bert Freed) attempts to take it as a souvenir, but Lt. Anderson confiscates it.

Nambu Type 14 - 8x22mm Nambu

Sgt. Johnson (Reginald Gardner) confiscates a Nambu Type 14 from a wounded Japanese officer.

The Type 14 lying next to a Katana sword.

Rifles

M1 Garand

The main weapon of the US Marines is the M1 Garand. It is carried by Sgt. Zelenko (Neville Brand), Conroy (Richard Hylton), Slattery (Bert Freed), Pigeon Lane (Jack Palance), Koffman (Robert Wagner) and War Correspondent Dickerman (Jack Webb). Zelenko has an M7 bayonet attached to his M1 on several occasions.

M1 Garand with M7 bayonet - .30-06

Sgt. Zelenko (Neville Brand) has an M1 Garand with M7 bayonet slung around his shoulder as he carries a casualty.

Zelenko fixes an M7 bayonet to an M1 as he marks a grave.

M1 Garand - .30-06

Slattery (Bert Freed) fires his M1 from atop an M4 Sherman tank.

Dickerman (Jack Webb) on patrol with his Garand.

Koffman (Robert Wagner in his first credited acting role) carries an M1 Garand.

Slattery with his Garand.

Zelenko with his M1.

Dickerman aims his Garand.

Conroy (Richard Hylton) wades through a river with his M1.

Pigeon Lane (Jack Palance) with his M1.

M1 Carbine

Lt. Anderson (Richard Widmark) and Sgt. Johnson (Reginald Gardner) carry the M1 Carbine with an anachronistic bayonet lug.

M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

Lt. Anderson (Richard Widmark) advancing with his M1 Carbine.

Anderson drops his Carbine as he dives for cover.

Anderson signalling with Carbine.

Johnson climbs up a hill with his Carbine.

Johnson with Carbine slung.

Lt. Anderson with his M1 Carbine.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Japanese snipers use the Gewehr 98 instead of correct Arisaka_Rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A Japanese sniper readies his Gewehr. Note the Lange Visier rear sight.

A Japanese sniper aims his Mauser with parade hook.

Machine Guns

Browning Automatic Rifle

"Pretty Boy" Riley (Skip Homeier) and Whitney (Martin Milner) carry the Browning Automatic Rifle.

Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06

Several Marines have the Browning Automatic Rifle slung.

A Marine in a foxhole with his BAR.

Whitney (Martin Milner) on watch with his BAR.

Whitney carries his Browning Automatic Rifle on patrol.

"Pretty Boy" Riley (Skip Homeier) with his BAR.

"Pretty Boy" takes cover from a Japanese sniper.

"Pretty Boy" fires his BAR at the snipers nest.

"Pretty Boy" threatens Japanese prisoners with his Browning Automatic Rifle.

Browning M1917

Conroy (Richard Hylton) mans a Browning M1917 in one scene.

Browning M1917 - .30-06

Conroy (Richard Hylton) can be seen with a Browning M1917 in the left foxhole.

The M1917.

Browning M1919A4

US Marines use the Browning M1919A4. It is also seen mounted on the turret of the LVT-4 Troop Transport and LVT(A)-4 gun carriage, and in the hull of the M4 Sherman.