Buzz
No matter your opinion on gun ownership, it's undeniable that some of Hollywood's most iconic moments feature firearms, from Clint Eastwood's intense showdowns to thrilling spy shootouts. Here are 10 intriguing facts about guns in pop culture, spanning from Oz to the farthest reaches of space.
10. The Reason Rappers Tilt Their Guns Sideways
In gangster films and rap music videos, you’ve likely observed the trend of holding guns at a tilted, sideways angle. This practice dates back decades, with early 1960s movies like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly showcasing characters in this manner. The primary reason was to ensure both the firearm and the actor’s face were visible in the frame at the same time.
This trend experienced a revival in the 1993 film Menace II Society, a gripping tale about life in South Central Los Angeles. Directors Allen and Albert Hughes revealed they drew inspiration from a robbery they witnessed in Detroit back in 1987. Following the release of Menace, the sideways gun grip became a cultural staple, both in cinema and real life. However, this style offers no tactical advantage and severely compromises accuracy. Interestingly, given the inherent inaccuracy of handguns beyond short distances, you might prefer an opponent shooting sideways rather than adopting a proper stance.
9. The Scarecrow Was Secretly Armed in The Wizard of Oz
If you grew up watching movies, chances are you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz multiple times. The 1939 masterpiece is packed with hidden details, and each viewing reveals something new. One detail you might have missed is that the Scarecrow carried a pistol. The clearest glimpse of it can be seen in the video above, as the group ventures into the Haunted Forest.
Despite the countless dangers the group encounters, the Scarecrow never fires his weapon, even when torn apart by flying monkeys, set ablaze by the Wicked Witch, or rescuing Dorothy from the Winkie guards.
8. Firearms Can Function in Space
Movies and TV shows have repeatedly shown us that space is a perilous environment, teeming with hostile creatures like acid-blooded monsters. Sadly, the lack of oxygen in space would leave us with limited means to protect ourselves from threats like Aliens, Predators, and Klingons.
Most firearms function on a basic principle—a firing pin strikes gunpowder in the bullet's base, generating gas pressure that propels the bullet at high speed. In the vacuum of space, where oxygen is absent, it might seem guns wouldn’t work. However, modern gunpowder includes its own oxidizing agent, enabling space travelers to fire weapons anywhere in the universe. If not pulled by gravity, a bullet could theoretically travel endlessly through space.
Historically, Russian cosmonauts carried guns into space, though not for alien encounters. Their spacecraft often landed in remote areas, and the weapons were intended for protection against wolves or unfriendly locals until rescue arrived.
7. Daisy BB Guns
Daisy is synonymous with BB guns, dominating this niche market with a range of toy firearms. The brand gained legendary status with the 1983 film A Christmas Story, a timeless holiday favorite featuring Ralphie, a boy obsessed with owning a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. Despite his enthusiasm, adults repeatedly warned him, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”
While Daisy is famous for its BB guns, its origins were far from firearms. Founded in 1888, Daisy Outdoor Products initially sold windmills. The BB guns were introduced as a promotional item for windmill buyers. Surprisingly, the guns became more popular than the windmills, prompting Daisy to pivot its focus entirely to BB guns.
6. James Bond
No other cinematic character is as closely associated with firearms as James Bond. In most films, his introduction is famously shot through a gun barrel, achieved using a pinhole camera. Bond appears to be hunted by an adversary, only to spin around and fire at the last moment, eliminating his foe.
In the first five Bond novels, Ian Fleming equipped his protagonist with a .25 Beretta automatic as his main weapon. In 1956, Geoffrey Boothroyd, a fan and firearms expert, wrote to Fleming, criticizing the Beretta as inadequate for a spy of Bond’s caliber. He remarked, “A .25 Beretta is more suited to a lady, and not a particularly respectable one at that.”
Fleming heeded the advice and upgraded Bond to a Walther PPK in later stories. As a nod to Boothroyd, he renamed Bond’s armorer “Major Boothroyd.” Interestingly, the Walther PPK is also believed to be the weapon Hitler used to end his life.
5. Sean Connery
While Sean Connery was the original James Bond, he didn’t appear in the iconic gun barrel opening sequence. Instead, a stuntman was used, and Connery’s scene was filmed in silhouette. However, Connery did face real-life danger during the filming of the 1958 movie Another Time, Another Place, where he narrowly escaped an attempt on his life.
While filming, rumors spread that Lana Turner, the film’s star, was romantically involved with Connery. Enraged, Turner’s gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, confronted Connery on set and drew a gun on him. Connery, a former bodybuilder and Mr. Universe contestant, disarmed Stompanato with a swift punch, forcing him to retreat.
Connery later revealed he went into hiding after receiving death threats from Stompanato’s boss, Mickey Cohen. Stompanato met a grim end when he was stabbed by Turner’s 14-year-old daughter, who claimed she was defending her mother during a heated argument. The incident was deemed justifiable homicide.
4. Dirty Harry
The 1971 film Dirty Harry features one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments: Harry dispatches two bank robbers and aims his revolver at a third, who is inches away from a shotgun. He delivers the legendary line: “I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Honestly, in all this chaos, I’ve lost count. But considering this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, capable of blowing your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do you, punk?”
Harry’s weapon of choice was a Smith & Wesson Model 29, loaded with .44 Magnum rounds. While calling it the world’s most powerful handgun was slightly hyperbolic, it wasn’t far from the truth. At the time, more powerful pistols existed, but they were mostly custom-made. In the years since, firearms like the Desert Eagle and Smith & Wesson 500, which fire .50 caliber rounds, have been produced. However, their bulk and intense recoil make them unsuitable for anything beyond hunting large game or target shooting.
3. The Most Interesting Man In The World
While Jonathan Goldsmith may not be widely recognized by name, his face is unmistakable as the star of Dos Equis beer ads, famous for the line: “I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.” Goldsmith has appeared in numerous small roles in film and TV, but his most notable performance was an uncredited part alongside John Wayne in the 1976 movie The Shootist.
True to the film’s title, John Wayne’s character shoots Goldsmith’s character. However, the technology of the time wasn’t advanced enough to create realistic effects using CGI. As a result, Goldsmith had to endure seven takes of being shot in the face with blood pellets. The next day, director Don Siegel, who also helmed Dirty Harry, doubled Goldsmith’s payment for his efforts.
2. Lord Of War
The 2005 film Lord of War stands out as one of Nicolas Cage’s more grounded projects in recent years. It’s a crime drama chronicling the rise and fall of a Russian arms dealer. Cage’s character was inspired by Viktor Bout, the infamous “Merchant of Death,” a Soviet officer who capitalized on the collapse of the USSR to become a global arms trafficker, supplying groups like the Taliban and African warlords. Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. in 2010, receiving a 25-year prison sentence for his extensive criminal activities.
Director Andrew Niccol revealed that he hired real arms dealers to source props for Lord of War. The Soviet T-72 tanks featured in the film were owned by a Czech dealer, who later sold them to Libya.
1. The Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is renowned for making the dreams of critically ill children come true, whether it’s a trip to Disney World or a backstage pass to a Justin Bieber concert. One of their most remarkable endeavors occurred in November 2013, when hundreds of volunteers transformed San Francisco into Gotham City, allowing 5-year-old leukemia patient Miles Scott to live as Batman for a day.
Make-A-Wish has also fulfilled some unconventional wishes. Surprisingly, the foundation once provided firearms and organized hunting trips for children. However, inspired by Batman’s no-guns policy, Make-A-Wish discontinued this practice in 1996, citing safety concerns for the children. The decision sparked significant backlash, including bomb threats against their California chapter. Despite maintaining their stance, other organizations like Hunt of a Lifetime now step in to grant hunting and fishing trips to children with life-threatening illnesses.
