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:

20th century | italy | heroism | north africa campaign | year 1945 | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The track of the same title from the 2014 album "Heroes" by Swedish heavy metal group Sabaton is about Audie Murphy. The video for the track also features footage from this film.

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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

Narrator: War, to the foot soldier, is a continual fight for a few yards of dirt that always seemed to lie ahead of him, to be taken from the enemy or to be held at all costs. Why? As often as not he doesn't know in regard to the overall campaign. On Sicily, all he knew was that he took the entire island in 38 days - What he had accomplished gave the Allies a giant base of operation close to the Italian mainland.

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Alternate Versions

West German theatrical version was cut by approx. 5 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in El Super (1979)

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Soundtracks

Reveille
(uncredited)

User Reviews

"To Hell and Back" one of the best war movies ever made !

In my opinion 'To Hell and Back' is one of the best war movie ever made, (right next to 'Saving Private Ryan') because it was about a true story of a kid from Texas with a run-a-way Father and a dead Mother, wanted to do something for the war effort but was turned down by every other service except the Army, and the Army had second thoughts. What makes this movie very special is the fact that the most ever to date decorated US soldier (two dozen of the highest medals) and a Congressional Medal of Honor receiver, not only lived through the war, but in fact played himself ! after being talked into it, seems he didn't want to play himself, he thought it would degrade the Medal of Honor.

I watched a run of this movie on the History Channel, it was a show called, is it 'History or Hollywood' where by at the end of the show 3 Historians discuss a movie for Historic correctness, every one said if anything this movie was under stated of what Audie Murphy truly did in Europe during WWII, one said it was down played because of Audie Murphy himself, because his Army recorded as witness by others has him doing lots more, but that was the personality of Audie Murphy, imagine watching a movie were the battle's and the deeds are true, they called out a seen where Audie's best friend gets shot, he really did go ballistic charging at the German machine gun nest that killed him, picks up a German Machine gun then proceeds to take out 2 or 3 more gun sites, by using the German gun it didn't give a warning to the Germans, he saved countless American lives coming up that mountain, a brilliant movie.

My only wish is for this movie to come out on DVD, please release 'To Hell and Back' on DVD !

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Italian

Release Date:

18 October 1955 (Japan)

Also Known As:

To Hell and Back

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