Count of Monte-Cristo, The (1975)

The Count of Monte-Cristo Theatrical Poster Country UK Italy Directed by David Greene Release Date 1975 Studio ITC Norman Rosemont Productions Distributor Scotia-Barber NBC Main Cast Character Actor Edmond Dantes / Count of Monte-Cristo Richard Chamberlain Mercedes Kate Nelligan Abbot Faria Trevor Howard Fernand Mondego Tony Curtis Danglars Donald Pleasence de Villefort Louis Jourdan Caderousse Alessio Orano Haydee Isabelle De Valvert

The Count of Monte-Cristo is a 1975 British-Italian made for TV movie, a screen adaptation of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, directed by David Greene and starring Richard Chamberlain, Trevor Howard, Donald Pleasence, Tony Curtis, and Kate Nelligan.

This page is for the 1975 British film starring Richard Chamberlain. For the 1954 French film starring Jean Marais, see here. For the 1961 French-Italian film starring Louis Jourdan, see here. For the 1979 French mini-series starring Jacques Weber, see here. For the 1998 French miniseries starring Gerard Depardieu, see here. For the 2002 English-language film starring James Caviezel, see here.

The following weapons were used in the film The Count of Monte-Cristo:

Pistols

Flintlock Pistol

When the prosecutor de Villefort (Louis Jourdan) conflicts his father Noirtier (Anthony Dawson), he holds a Flintlock Pistol of unclear model. It looks similar to An XIII cavalry pistol but has significally shorter barrel that barely protrudes from the stock. Possibly the barrel and the ramrod of this pistol were shortened for conversion into a pocket pistol (similar variants existed).

For reference: Saint Etienne 1810 Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

De Villefort tells his father than he knows all about the Bonapartist conspiracy. The side plate is seen.

The pistol is seen from the muzzle.

One more view of the pistol. The grip is seen.

The flintlock is seen.

Kentucky Percussion Cap Pistol

When Danglars (Donald Pleasence) is ruined, he draws a Kentucky Percussion Cap Pistol from a drawer. The bright yellow wood and the shape of the sights allow to identify this pistol as a modern replica, probably a Pedersoli production, judging by the exact shape of the "bird's head" grip and the muzzle cap (the generally similar replica by Traditions Firearms varies in both details).

Pedersoli Kentucky Percussion Pistol - .44 caliber

Danglars takes the pistol from the drawer. The "bird's head" grip is seen.

Another view of the pistol.

The muzzle and the muzzle cap are seen.

A good view of the pistol.

The pistol on the table. The markings on the barrel are barely seen but still "INTERCONTINENTAL ARMS INC" (seen partially) and "Cal. 44" can be read (Intercontinental Arms is a retailer for Italian made replica guns).

Shotguns

Beretta Model 412 (visually modified as Flintlock Pistol)

The flintlock dueling pistols, seen in hands of Count of Monte-Cristo (Richard Chamberlain) and Albert Mondego (Dominic Guard), turn out to be sawed-off, visually modified Single Barreled Shotguns. They are fitted with non-functional flintlocks. A closeup allows to see the real trigger and the trigger guard on the shotgun together with the fake trigger and its guard. Judging by the cylindrical hinge prominently protruding under the receiver and the opening lever located forward of the trigger guard, the base gun is a folding shotgun, very likely a Beretta Model 412.

Beretta Model 412 Folding Shotgun - 28 gauge

Count of Monte-Cristo trains in shooting. The hinge of the break-open gun can be seen.

He takes aim.

Count hands the pistol to his servant Ali (Harry Baird). Note the real trigger, the trigger guard and the opening lever inside the fake trigger guard.

He holds another pistol. Again the hinge is seen.

When the pistol fires, the flintlock remains still, and there is no flash on the lock.

Albert Mondego holds a pistol during the duel. The furniture seems to be made of some thin sheet metall, possibly tin.

A good view of Albert's pistol.

Count of Monte-Cristo aims during the duel. The non-functional flintlock is seen.

Beretta Model 412 (visually modified as Flintlock Cavalry Carbine)

When Edmond Dantes (Richard Chamberlain) descends into the cave on the island of Monte-Cristo, his long percussion cap musket (see below) switches to a flintlock carbine, resembling the French Charleville Mle 1777. When Dantes fires at the lock of the treasure chest, the flintlock remains still, and there is no flash on it. As the opening lever located forward of the trigger guard is seen, the carbine is supposed to be another visually Beretta Model 412 shotgun. Probably the reason of replacing a percussion cap musket with a fake flintlock gun was the need to make a gunshot on screen, for which the shotgun is more convenient to use during the set.

Beretta Model 412 Folding Shotgun - 28 gauge

For comparison: French 1777 Cavalry Flintlock Carbine - .69 caliber

Dantes carries a carbine with the flintlock instead of previously seen long musket.

Dantes leans his gun against the treasure chest. Note the muzzle cap that resembles the cavalry carbine.

Dantes aims at the lock on the chest.

When the gun fires, the flintlock remains still, and there is no flash of the lock.

The buttstock is seen. The opening lever located forward of the trigger guard allows to identify the gun as a visually modified Beretta 412 shotgun.

Another view of the carbine.

Muskets

Chatellerault Mle 1822 T Percussion Cap Musket

When Edmond Dantes (Richard Chamberlain) embarks on the island of Monte-Cristo, he holds a long barreled military style percussion cap musket. When he explores the cave, the musket switches to a flintlock carbine (that turns out to be a visually modified Beretta 412 shotgun, see above), and after Dantes returns to the shore, his gun is again the long musket. Judging by the shape of the side plate, this is a Chatellerault Mle 1822 T (converted from flintlock to percussion cap lock) rather than purposely build percussion cap St.Etienne Mle 1842. This scene is set in 1829 when the percussion cap lock was already invented but still less common than the flintlock.

St.Etienne Mle 1842 Percussion Cap Musket - .69. Mle 1822 looks almost the same except for details of the lock and the notch on the buttstock.

Dantes approaches the cave, holding a musket.

The muzzle cap is seen.

Dantes returns from the treasure cave. Previously seen flintlock carbine switches back to a long musket.

He raises the musket in joy. The notch on the buttstock is a feature common for Mle 1822 musket.

The percussion cap lock and the side plate are seen.

The barrel with the muzzle cap is seen. The brass furniture is most often seen on the muskets, produced after the Napoleonic wars.

Charleville Flintlock Musket

During the arrest of Edmond Dantes, the convoying soldiers carry Charleville flintlock muskets.

Charleville Mousquet Modele 1777 - .69 caliber

A soldier in the Marseille port holds a musket with bayonet (at the right).

Two soldiers carry muskets during the arrest of Edmond Dantes.

Another view of the muskets.

A close-up of the barrel of one of the muskets. The muzzle cap seems to be different from the most common Mle 1777.

The muzzle cap of a musket is seen.

Two soldiers in the boat hold muskets when Dantes is transported into the Castle If.

Note that the muskets have different muzzle caps.

The flintlock is seen when a soldier hits Dantes with the buttstock.