Probably the same reason Hans Gruber used a P7M13. Or the getaway driver in Bullitt drove a black 68’ Dodge Charger R/T.

They’re sleek, sexy, businesslike tools for a professional villain.

 

I wouldn't call the USP sleek. Businesslike tool yes, but sleek? More like a doorstop. Love mine by the way, so I'm not throwing shade on your comment.

 

Maybe he wanted to one up Jack Bauer's USP compact.

 

Because he was compensating

 

As far as USP vs 1911, the club scene showed he needed more than 7+1 just in case security got trigger happy. That does drag in the .45 vs 9mm argument though.

 

There's also a chance it was money ponied up for product placement...

 

From older posts way way back, someone with knowledge and connections to Hollywood, said that the main person giving weapon's advice in the movies back in the 80's and 90's had a strong affinity for HKs.

 

Negative, Beretta rode that wave hardcore and then Glock also capitalized on it after them.

...at least in terms of pistols. A lot of MP5 use for a while (some using the same guns over and over and over)

 

...because Michael Mann in addition to always having some of the most realistic gun play on film, Mann has always historically had a decent understanding of how weapons are used/employed in reality as well as what achieves an effect on film. Look at the IMFDB for most of his works.

In terms of story:
Vincent is a pro or to use his words from the movie "guy with a lot of trigger time" so he's probably able to exploit performance differences.
However, Vincent is having the weapon(s) dropped for him, so likely he's not going to spec some fancy BS unobtainium.
The USP is a good mix of atypical but utilitarian to achieve what a dialed-in dude might choose for a COTS handgun.

In terms of visuals, compacts/short barrels always look kinda sad on film. Look at Dirty Harry's 29, Wick's comp'd P30, Leon's comp'd 92s, Robocops 93r monstrosity, Caan's .45 Longslide in Thief and so on...

 

Short answer: because Vincent knew what’s up.

 

Why? Director or prop weapons director, said so.


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Why? Director or prop weapons director, said so.


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I read that in the original script, Mann wrote that Vincent's gun was a "HK45".

 

I know you said you didn't want to hear about Tom Cruise, the actor, but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that full-size USP45's are official issue to Scientologists. John Travolta insisted on a Mark23, because he is a bigger dude.

 

You are kidding, right?

 

...because the USP is butch.

 

Because HK.

 

They probably shot some test scenes with different handguns, and determined that one had the best look. Also, HK may have paid for product placement, and either insisted on the USP, or let them pick from several HK models.

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They probably shot some test scenes with different handguns, and determined that one had the best look.

LOL... nobody in Hollywood cares THAT much about guns to burn that kind of time. And anyone who cares that much wouldn't need to.

 

Because his USP came with a special briefcase in 2004.

 

My thought is Vicent wants something that is tough, reliable, and with something with high quality. Don’t know much about his briefcase or suit, so not sure if they are expensive. Nonetheless he needed something to be reliable and pack a punch with .45 ACP in case he ran into some drug dealers trying to rob him

 

I think it's just all about preference and strong affinity for HK.

 

Short Answer: Michael Mann likes the .45 ACP (the script SPECIFICALLY called for Vincent's gun to be a .45) and the USP fit the bill for a weapon that could realistically be concealed under a jacket yet still have the capacity that someone like Vincent would want.

Again, Michael Mann knows firearms and the characters in his films actually have limited ammo and they have to actually reload when their weapon is empty.

 

Short Answer: Michael Mann likes the .45 ACP (the script SPECIFICALLY called for Vincent's gun to be a .45) and the USP fit the bill for a weapon that could realistically be concealed under a jacket yet still have the capacity that someone like Vincent would want.

Again, Michael Mann knows firearms and the characters in his films actually have limited ammo and they have to actually reload when their weapon is empty.

Someone else here gets it.

 

USP 45 is an iconic pistol that looks very menacing and sexy on film!

 

Having provided quite a bit of gear to the armorers of two successful and extremely popular movie franchises, and a few other successful one-off movies where my equipment was featured, I can tell you that the armorers generally present a variety of weapons for review by the art staff, directors, and even the talent, all of whom generally have some say in the final selection. Obviously the look of the specific weapon and its place in the script has a substantial impact on whether a particular item is used and how it is presented.

So, generally these decisions are by committee.

That’s in general. In some cases everything is driven by one or two individuals tied to the production.

In one specific case, the lead actress had a lot of say in what was used (by the time of the second successful film in the series) and I delivered according to her specific preferences, right down to a custom grip.

In another case a standard version of a product I provided (10 units, actually) was adapted by the armory for the specific needs of the production. Some were real working versions, some stunt versions, and some designed to work with CGI.

As for how these deals are made- in no case I’ve been involved in did any money change hands- the products were provided in exchange for the possibility of screen time and/or end credits. In one specific case the sales of the product shown on-screen jumped about 10X over normal forecasts. In other cases we knew the exposure of the specific sport would “raise the tide” for the industry, even though no branding was visible. And it certainly did!

That was the real payoff for the cost of the items provided.

 

Other than Michael Mann knowing sidearms, I think the USP45 was very suitable for the character of Vincent. Although Vincent's background is mysterious, it's heavily implied that he's a former CIA/SAD paramilitary officer or Army special ops which explains why his mannerisms and demeanor are very efficient and economical. As a result, Vincent is able to control his environment with extreme violence of action. I see the USP45 as an extension of Vincent because outwardly and functionally, it's a no-nonsense and brutal firearm.

A former SAS operative and an LA SWAT weapons instructor both trained cruise in the arts of using and shooting the USP45 in combat if I recall.

And here's another factoid. In the "Yo-homey alley gunfight" between Vincent and two muggers, Vincent kills these guys with his USP45 in 1.25 seconds. Cruise trained 2 months for that very scene until it was second nature. Larry Vickers tried besting Cruise's time, and the best Vicker's could do was 1.4 seconds. There's a youtube video of all this. Check it out.

 

And here's another factoid. In the "Yo-homey alley gunfight" between Vincent and two muggers, Vincent kills these guys with his USP45 in 1.25 seconds. Cruise trained 2 months for that very scene until it was second nature. Larry Vickers tried besting Cruise's time, and the best Vicker's could do was 1.4 seconds. There's a youtube video of all this. Check it out.

Love that scene. I watched Vicker's recreation of it and it's amazing how much training and effort must have gone in to it. Two months!

 

HK represents modern- Innovative- The movie was that- it was now-ahead of its time- Anything else would have been weird- 1911's? someone mentioned, Nah- HK fit this movie- Raw, techno, powerful, final. HK is no joke. Good Choice.

 

One wonders if the difference between the scene and reality might be the power of the round?

 

I think you hit it right on the head. Larry Vickers was shooting live .45 ACP rounds, and Tom Cruise was shooting a USP that probably was chambered in 9 mm. The majority of film firearms are actually chambered in 9 mm as the round produces higher pressures and makes the pistol more reliable. They usually have a second pistol with the .45 ACP barrel in it for close ups.

One film that this is really apparent in is the Nick Nolte file Extreme Prejudice. He plays a Texas Ranger carrying a Commander size 1911. In one seen at a Border bar, they show a frontal scene of Nolte firing his pistol, and it's obvious that it is 9 mm.

 

It's a great film, and the USP 45 is consistent with Vincent's character. He is a ruthless assassin probably prepared for hits, not sustained fire fights. The .45acp is capable of delivering devastating wounds to unsuspecting unarmed unarmored civilians. We might debate the marginal differences in size or capacity of calibers or different pistols but in the end, it's an excellent firearm and a logical choice.

From Vincent's mysterious background, we glean he's high paid and professional. Professionals would gravitate to one of only a few different platforms, especially if their training was in some military service - Beretta, Glock, HK, and Sig mostly.

The Beretta is just as large/bulky, and not offered in .45acp, and it's frankly not as novel having been used abundantly in Lethal Weapon and Die Hard and other films. It's "worn out" in action films, and it's more "working class." I'd say the Glock is also "worn out" and more "working class." That leaves Sig and HK.

And some people are simply loyal to a caliber. If you're a .45acp guy, in 2004 when the film was shot there were really not many other options for a reliable .45acp with large capacity. Thinking about the gun lineup options in 2004, the options were limited. The other options are the Glock 21 (just as bulky), or the Sig P220 (lower capacity, just as heavy).

This is probably far too much analysis for the choice, but I like the choice. The HK tends to be chosen by experts. The .45acp is generally considered a caliber chosen by very experienced shooters (as akin to a novice who might lean toward 9x19).

The HK USP .45 is a smaller character in the film and reflects on Vincent's personality more than a bland 9mm Glock or Beretta might have. To me it says this guy is a professional. I've owned and carried Glocks and Berettas. They were made huge by Hollywood films. I'm not casting aspersion on any gun or caliber above, I like them all. It's just my decoding the choices made in the film.

And, the casting of the USP worked. We're talking about it 17 years later...

 

And, the casting of the USP worked. We're talking about it 17 years later...

Indeed, we're still talking about it and H&K is still making the USP45. Great write up, thanks.

 

Maybe HK paid him to use it in the movie for advertising?