Auction Date:2015 Dec 11 @ 09:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:230 KINGS MALL CT #256, KINGSTON, New York, 12401, United States
A Sands Of Iwo Jima Stunt M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle Prop - "The Sands Of Iwo Jima" (1949) is one of the most acclaimed WW II movie ever made. So accurate a portray of the famous Battle of Iwo Jima, culminating in the famous "Raising of the Flag" over Mount Sunibachi, that the Marine Corps allowed the production to not only use the actual flag that was raised on that fateful February 23rd, 1945, but utilized three of the actual Marines who originally held the flag up in the scene that recreated that monumental event. The film was also required viewing for all Marine Recruits in boot camp for the next 40 years. It was also one of John Wayne's most complex characters, playing the iconic Sgt. John M. Stryker, a man whose personal torment is taken out on the green recruits that he is training for the battle. Everything about this production was painstakingly accurate, including the inclusion of the famous gunners who were specially trained to use the BAR weapons (Browning Automatic Rifle) The Browning Automatic Rifle was a mainstay of the Marine rifle squad and platoon. It was deployed to every campaign that Marines fought in during World War II and was essential to "give cover" during the Iwo Jima Battle. These were hand carried, and even hand-fired machine guns. So in demand where these, and so hard to use, that only a few highly experienced gunners were assigned to each squad. This is one of the extremely rare actual hero stunt M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles used in the film by PFC George Hellenopolis (Peter Coe) who was Wayne's Squad's BAR Rifle gunner. These brave soldiers were known as "BAR Men". In order to achieve the feeling of these extremely heavy weapons, Republic Studio's Prop Department, crafted this stunt non-firing version with many of the same metals and wood to give it the same weight as the original, so that the actor would look right when holding and running with it. An actual "live-fire" version of this rifle, which was one that was actually used in the Iwo Jima battle, was used during the scenes where we see Hellenopolis firing the gun. Several other BAR gunners can be seen in several battle sequences, and several of them may also have used this stunt BAR. This original stunt rifle is approx. 47" long.
Auction Location:
230 KINGS MALL CT #256, KINGSTON, New York, 12401, United States
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| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
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