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:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, 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

This movie was a box-office hit for Universal Pictures and its record was apparently not broken until Jaws (1975).

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Goofs

During Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor ceremony at the end of the movie, the narrator makes two mistakes as he describes the other decorations for valor that Murphy received: he mentions "a Bronze Star Medal" (Murphy actually received two BSM's); and "a Bronze Star Medal with bronze service arrowhead" (the correct award is the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead). The narrator also omits two significant awards that Murphy earned: two Presidential Unit Citations and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

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Quotes

Kerrigan: [Observing the starving Italian orphans picking through garbagr cans] They picked a great time to be born, didn't they?

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Connections

Featured in Medal of Honor (1955)

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Soundtracks

Dogface Soldier
Words and Music by Bert Gold and Ken Hart

User Reviews

Liked it should know Audie's History first

I liked this movie not so much because it is a great movie ( it is an average war movie of this era) but because it made me reflect about reality versus perception and how you can be very wrong about something by taking it at face value. Let me explain. My perception, If I had to pick a platoon for battle I would never pick Audie Murphy. At 5'5", maybe 110 lbs, a high tinny voice, and hyper-kinetic motion, he seems more like someone that would get killed early and easily, or worse get you killed. The reality, he was the man you wanted in your platoon when the battle started. He was made of heroic stuff. He wasn't a tough talking braggart. He was just a soldier that would do anything to save his brothers and get home alive. He of course isn't the only example of this. He just got his own movie. It was a good thing that he was an actor because John Wayne would have played his part if he hadn't been, which would have been a real shame because you would have lost the true meaning behind the story. Hollywood prefers style over substance. It would have been a true

disservice to all of the short, underweight chirpy men in the world.

Think about Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne, who would you want in your platoon. John Wayne is your probable choice. Now compare Jimmy Stewart's military career with John Wayne's. John Wayne avoided WWII instead using it to advance his career when many of his contemporaries went to war. Jimmy Stewart on the other hand joined the Air Force 9 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He had to force the Air Force to let him in because he was under weight. He was a bomber pilot that flew 20 missions. "His wartime decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, four Air Medals, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm." Now who do you want on your side. I'll take the battle hardened, frail looking, stuttering veteran over the tough talking, strapping, strutting Hollywood pretender any day.

So when I watch the movie I think about the reality of Audie Murphy. Which leaves me with the feeling that if you put your heart into it you can do anything. So when you watch the movie think about the reality. You have a 5'5" war hero that actually became a Hollywood action hero which is improbable in itself.