To Hell and Back (1955)

The true WWII story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. history. Based on the autobiography of Audie Murphy who stars as himself in the film.

Director:

Jesse Hibbs

Writers:

Gil Doud (written for the screen by), Audie Murphy (autobiography "To Hell And Back")

Stars:

Audie Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audie Murphy	...	Audie Murphy
Marshall Thompson	...	Johnson
Charles Drake	...	Brandon
Jack Kelly	...	Kerrigan
Gregg Palmer	...	Lt. Manning
Paul Picerni	...	Valentino
David Janssen	...	Lt. Lee
Richard Castle	...	Kovak
Bruce Cowling	...	Capt. Marks
Paul Langton	...	Col. Howe
Art Aragon	...	Sanchez
Felix Noriego	...	Swope
Denver Pyle	...	Thompson
Brett Halsey	...	Saunders
Susan Kohner	...	Maria

Storyline

True-life account of the military career of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in WWII. Native of Texas, he was placed in charge of his many younger siblings on the death of his mother and decided to join the military at the age of 18 to provide for them. His many acts of bravery and heroism during the US military advance through Italy, France and into Germany earn him increasing rank and responsibility as well as the respect of his comrades in arms. Eventually he receives two dozen of the highest medals the US and France can bestow, culminating in the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | heroism | north africa campaign | u.s. army | autobiographical | 

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Taglines:

The Exciting True-Life Story Of America's Most Decorated Hero

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Italian

Release Date:

18 October 1955 (Japan)

Also Known As:

L'enfer des hommes

Filming Locations:

Fort Lewis, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (1939 Reissue) (Western Electric Recording) (Stereo) Stereo (1939 Reissue) (Stereo)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the combat sequences in this movie centered around a fight to capture a German position in an abandoned Italian farmhouse. This included a scene where two German soldiers, manning a MG42 machine gun, are shown firing belts of ammunition at the attacking Americans. Apparently when the first takes of this action were made, using blank ammunition, it didn't look "real" enough. This perceived flaw was eventually resolved by filming two GIs from Fort Lewis, dressed as German troops, firing live ammunition from the machine gun. It was the only way that they could think of to get the impressive muzzle flash when the weapon was fired.

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Goofs

When the 3rd Division is in North Africa, it is 1942-43. All of the soldiers are carrying M-1945 field packs, cartridge belts, canteen covers and E-tool carriers. The correct field gear would be the M-1928 gear. It is similar in appearance to the M-1910 field gear in that it is a long narrow pack in a more mustard green color vs. dark olive green.

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Quotes

Kerrigan: [after a jumpy Murphy shoots at his own image in a mirror] Man, that's the first time I ever seen a Texan beat himself to the draw.

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Connections

Edited into The Young Warriors (1967)

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Soundtracks

Reveille
(uncredited)

User Reviews

An incredible story

It's a shame that more people haven't seen this movie in recent years. As much as Saving Private Ryan introduced a new generation to horrors and heroism of World War II, "To Hell and Back" introduces you to one of the men who lived through it. It doesn't attempt to glorify the War, it simply relates what happened to America's most decorated soldier based on his own story and actually staring him. While it's amazing that the baby faced Murphy still looks young enough in 1955 for the story to work 15 years after the fact, the truly amazing thing is that from most accounts, Murphy understates his own role in many of the events described in the movie. The final war scene for instance shows him holding off an entire German regiment using artilery and the machine gun of a burning tank. The fact is that he held that ground alone for well over an hour before the germans finally gave up. All the while the tank was burning and could have exploded at any time. Like many great soldiers, however, he had trouble adjusting to life after the war even with a semi-successful acting career aided by James Cagney after the war. Still, it's men like this, who risked and often gave their lives on the fields of Europe and Africa and in the waters and islands of the pacific, that we have to thank for the Freedoms we enjoy in the United States today. Too often we forget this.