The Guns of Miller's Crossing

[P. Plainsman]

Watched Miller's Crossing again on DVD this weekend. The Coens' film is my #2 all time favorite gangster flick after the first two Godfather movies, which I think of as one film. Just as The Godfather is also a political flick about authority, Miller's Crossing is also a film about duty and loyalty -- almost like a samurai film.

No one wants to glorify gangland violence (and I don't think the film does), but the firearm props were hopefully chosen with the same care as the rest of the movie. Let's try to ID the guns.

* The "Danny Boy" scene. Johnny Caspar's goons use Thompson SMGs, of course (one of which Leo appropriates, turning the tables: "The old man's still an artist with a Thompson."). But what is the big double action revolver on Leo's nightstand? Cylinder latch looked like a Colt to me -- I think it's a Colt New Service.

* Eddie Dane's big revolver ("You know what, yegg? I believe you."). This is a big-bore, long-barreled, break-open double action revolver; you can see the hinge clearly in a couple of shots. Did S&W make large break-open DAs in the Prohibition era? Or could the Dane's gun be a Webley?

* Caspar's pistol ("Like I tell my boys -- always put one in the brain." Yeesh.). A nickel plated Colt Pocket automatic -- looks like a Model 1903.

* Verna's snubby ("I don't understand; I don't care"; she pulls it on Tom in one of the film's last, sad scenes). It looks like a Colt. Did they make snubnosed Police Positives in that era?

* Bernie's pistol ("If you don't mind keeping the gun that killed Johnny Caspar. And Mink."). It's a Browning-pattern pistol, but looks more like a 9mm than a .45. And it just wouldn't fit Bernie's character (a slim, cold-blooded grifter) for him to pack a 1911. However, a BHP (1935) wouldn't be period correct for a film set in Prohibition. Any suggestions? I remember reading a claim that the pistol is a 9mm Largo of some stripe.

Corrections, emendations, and additions are welcomed.

[Moonclip]

I saw the movie years ago and while not perfect, I always remembered the "Danny Boy" scene. I think the skillful use of that big revolver against an assaliant armed with a Thompson started my love of big bore S&W and Colt revolvers! I do believe it was a New Service. The mag on that Thompson though a drum seemed to have fired many hundreds of rounds though w/o being reloaded.

[P. Plainsman]

Originally Posted by Moonclip

The mag on that Thompson though a drum seemed to have fired many hundreds of rounds though w/o being reloaded.

Yep! Thanks, I meant to note that but forgot it. Even if it was a hundred-round "C" drum mag, Leo must have expended most of it on the second gunman alone. (I also think the cyclic speed was too slow for a 1921 Thompson, but maybe Caspar's guys were using Model 1928s.) Gruesome, dramatic, not so realistic.

[conwic]

Miller's Crossing is one of my all times favorites as well. After going over the DVD again, I'de have to say,

1. Yes, it is a Colt new Service by Leo's bed.

2. The Dane's guns is a .455 Webley Mark VI. Very distinctive. ( You have got to love his demonstration of the difference between cover and concealment in Verna's bedroom. )

3. Casper's gun is either a Colt 1903 or it's 380 acp version the 1908. They are virtually identical.

4. Yes, they were building both short barrel police positives and Police positive specials in this period. You could special order a short barrel or just have a gun smith cut one down. After 1926 you could buy a 2 inch factory PP as the banker's special or a 38 special PPS as the Detective special. I've got a 3 inch PPS made sometime between 1913 and 1928 ( serial number filed off, police evidence markings, and replacement ATF serial number- it apparently led an interesting life). I think you are correct about it being a postive, not a special , based on the cylinder length. In the earlier scene when the Dane breaks in on her, she pulled a different gun, a small breaktop gun, what looked like a S&W lemon squeezer ( Safety hamerless) which he takes away from her.

5. It is probably a Star model B that Bernie brings to the party. Apparently a 45 acp 1911 is hard to get to work with blanks while a 9mm like the Star will work reliably. ( Higher pressure, I suppose) So, lots of Stars are used to fill in for 1911's since they are after all 1911 clones. I don't have a problem about Bernie chosing a 1911. As he said earlier in the woods, he wasn't into bumping off guys, so he might just have taken whatever came to hand.

I'm surprised that you did not mention the Astra 9mm whatever ( largo probably ) that Tom is given to use on Bernie. I think that is the one and only Astra I've ever seen in an American movie.

Incidently, did you notice that it was the director Sam Ramie ( Spiderman) who played the " slack jawed gangster" with the big revolvers - two Colt New services, I thnk- when the Police and Casper's men attack Leo's social club.

Great post

Regards-conwic

[BozemanMT]

i love that movie. Look at how it's filmed sometime. The colors, the whole background, it's an amazing movie. Not nearly as well appreciated as it should be.