White Sun of the Desert (Beloye solntse pustyni)
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DVD Cover
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Country
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USSR
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Directed by
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Vladimir Motyl
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Release Date
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1970
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Language
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Russian
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Studio
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Mosfilm Lenfilm
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White Sun of the Desert (Beloye solntse pustyni) is a 1970 classic Russian "Eastern" film by Vladimir Motyl, one of the most popular Russian films of all time. The setting is the east shore of the Caspian Sea where the Red Army soldier Fyodor Sukhov (Anatoly Kuznetsov) fight against the gang of outlaws lead by Abdullah the Black (Kakhi Kavsadze).
The following weapons were used in the film White Sun of the Desert (Beloye solntse pustyni):
Revolvers
Nagant M1895
The Nagant M1895 revolver is the personal weapon of the main character, Fyodor Sukhov (Anatoly Kuznetsov). This weapon was handed to him by his commander as award, so Sukhov appreciates his revolver and use it in most firefight scenes. Several Abdullah's men also use Nagant revolvers.
Rakhimov (
Musa Dudayev), the commander of a squadron of Red Army, fires his Nagant in air.
Semyon (
Vladimir Kadochnikov), former Russian Army officer and Abdullah's second-in-command, holds two Nagants (one is his own and the other taken from Sukhov). Note a Japanese
Shin gunto sword at his side.
Semyon holds his Nagant in another scene.
A close view of Sukhov's Nagant. Note a very large lanyard ring that is absent in other scenes (possibly this Nagant is a different prop).
Sukhov with his Nagant, wounded in shoulder, in the final scene.
Reichsrevolver M1879
Reichsrevolver M1879 revolvers are used by several Abdullah's men. Sayid (Spartak Mishulin) takes the revolver from one of the brigands but never fired it. Only a single Reichsrevolver can be seen in a time, so it looks like only one movie prop was used in the film.
Reichsrevolver M1879 Revolver - 10,6x25R.
The same character is hit with lasso by Sayid.
Sayid disarmes a brigand.
Sayid take back his weapons.
A brigand at the background aims his Reichsrevolver. Brigand at the left aims Mosin-Nagant Carbine, brigand at the right (Arkadiy Sokolov) aims Mauser.
A brigand fires his Reichsrevolver.
A brigand threatens Vereshchagin (
Pavel Luspekaev) with his Reichsrevolver.
Mahmud (Pasha Abdulragimov), Abdullah's bodyguard, holds his Reichsrevolver in the final scene.
A close view of Mahmud's revolver.
Pistols
Mauser C96
Mauser C96 is a personal weapon of Abdullah the Black (Kakhi Kavsadze) and several of his men. During the scene on the shore Sukhov (Anatoly Kuznetsov) also use Mauser C96, knocking out the weapon from hand of Ibraghim (D. Gerami), commander of small group sent to capture Sukhov.
Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" - 7.63x25mm Mauser.
Ibraghim (D. Gerami) aim his Mauser C96 on Sukhov.
Sukhov knock out Ibraghim's Mauser.
Sukhov with captured Mauser.
A close view of Abdullah's Mauser.
Abdullah's Mauser and dagger on the floor.
Abdullah fires his Mauser. A spent cartridge is seen in air.
Vereshchagin (
Pavel Luspekaev) with Mauser during the shootout on the boat.
Mortally wounded Abdullah fires his Mauser in the final scene.
Flintlock Pistol
A number of Flintlock Pistols are seen in a pile of antique firearms.
British Heavy Dragoon Pistol - .62 caliber
A
Lewis Gun in a pile of antique pistols and muskets.
Sukhov uses an antique pistol as a hammer when repairing a disk magazine of
Lewis Gun.
Percussion Cap Pistol
A number of Percussion Cap Pistols are seen in a pile of antique firearms.
Italian (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) Percussion cap pistol, converted from flintlock, circa mid-19th century - .69 caliber (17.7mm)
A
Lewis Gun in a pile of antique pistols and muskets.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle
Young soldier Petrukha (Nikolai Godovikov) carries a Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifle with bayonet. His rifle is in poor condition and often misfires.
Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry - 7.62x54mm R
Sukhov tries to fire but the rifle misfires.
Sukhov holds Petrukha's rifle in anger.
Mosin Nagant M1938 Carbine
Various characters carry anachronistic Mosin Nagant M1938 carbines, notably Sayid (Spartak Mishulin).
Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine - 7.62x54mmR
A Red Army soldier holds an M38 carbine in the opening scene.
Several Red Army soldiers with M38 carbines in the opening scene.
One of Abdullah's men (Ali) with M38 carbine in ambush.
Sayid takes a carbine from a killed brigand. Note a broken front sight. Later Said is seen with a different piece.
Sayid fires M38 Carbine from under his horse.
A close view of Sayid's M38 Carbine. Note the notches next to bolt handle. They indicate that this carbine was sometime fitted with a sniper scope.
Two brigands carry M38 carbines in the climactical scene.
A brigands tries to climd on board of the boat. Due to the notches next to bolt handle, his carbine is the same movie prop that is used by Sayid.
Marlin Model 1889
One of the Abdullah's men is armed with a Marlin Model 1889.
Marlin Model 1889 - .44-40 WCF
Oriental Musket
Several Oriental-style muskets are seen in a pile of antique firearms.
Machine Guns
Lewis Machine Gun
Lewis light machine gun is seen in Sukhov's (Anatoly Kuznetsov) hands. In firing scenes it is substituted with a visually modified Degtyaryov DP-27. A museum plate, attached to the machine gun, tells: "English machine gun, Lewis system, Pattern 1909".
A Lewis in a pile of antique pistols and muskets.
Sukhov uses an antique pistol as a hammer when repairing a disk magazine of the Lewis.
Sukhov readies the Lewis.
Degtyaryov DP-27 (visually modified to resemble Lewis machine gun)
In firing scenes Lewis Gun is substituted with a visually modified Degtyaryov DP-27.
DP-27 machine gun, 7.62x54mm R
Sukhov fires a DP-27 (mocked up to resemble Lewis) from the top of oil tank.
Vereshchagin, go away from the longboat!
Hotchkiss Light Machine Gun
A Hotchkiss LMG is seen in the house of retired custom officer Pavel Vereshchagin (Pavel Luspekaev). It never fired during the movie and wound up being dumped into the sea by Vereshchagin's wife who wanted to keep her husband at home.
Hotchkiss Model 1922. Strip-fed version
A close up of the machine gun.
The business end is seen.
No, lads, I'll not give you the machine gun.... Drunken Vereshchagin with his machine gun. Note the flexible belt which wasn't used on the real Hotchkiss and appears to be taken from the
PK MG.
These grenades, these guns, these bullets... plague on them!. Vereshchagin's wife Nastasya throws her husband's weapon overboard.
Grenades
RG-14/30 Hand Grenade
A basket of RG-14/30 hand grenades is seen when Nastasya Vereshchagina throws her husband's weapons overboard.
RG-14/30 Soviet hand grenade
Trivia
Abdullah's gang with various weapon (The man at the first row, center with a Reichsrevolver played by Pasha Abdulragimov). A very picturesque spectacle!
Original cinema poster for
White Sun of the Desert (1970)