To Hell and Back
by Jesse Hibbs
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Actor: Audie Murphy, Charles Drake, Gregg Palmer, Jack Kelly, Marshall ThompsonDirector: Jesse Hibbs
Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
Writer: Audie Murphy
Cinematographer: Maury Gertsman
Editor: Edward Curtiss
Producer: Aaron Rosenberg
Writer: Gil Doud
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 106 minutes
Published: 2004-05-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-05-25
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Reviews of To Hell and Back
DVD Review: A True American Hero
Summary: 3 Stars
TO HELL AND BACK is a true rags-to-warrior story. The wide-screen release presents this film the way it was meant to be screened. TO HELL AND BACK is the film version of warrior-turned-actor Audie Murphy's best selling autobiography. Murphy, the most highly decorated combat soldier in World War Two, was originally turned down by the US Marines and Navy. Underage, Murphy needed special permission to enlist in the Army.
Murphy soon proved his mettle in combat. He distinguished himself in combat time and time again through campaigns in Sicily, mainland Italy, and France. It was not until the final months of the European Campaign that a severe wound took the fearless Murphy out of the line and into a field hospital.
A discussion about the film deserves a few comments on the original best selling book. His autobiography almost did not make it to book store shelves. Murphy was presented with a generous advance for his autobiographical war exploits. Unfortunately, he found it very difficult to capture his experiences on paper. Some have since speculated that Murphy was suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Who could blame him? After recovering from his war wounds, Murphy was decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor. As a hero he toured the United States as part of a war bond drive. He turned down an opportunity to attend West Point and left active duty. Screen legend James Cagney took an interest in Audie Murphy and sponsored Murphy's theatrical training.
Murphy soon found himself in, what were then known as, B-movies. Most of the movies were westerns. Still, he achieved fame that was very far removed from his impoverished days in Texas.
The book, TO HELL AND BACK, was still little more than a few poorly written pages when Murphy's publisher became impatient. With a friend's help -- and reportedly the friend ghost authored the book for Murphy -- TO HELL AND BACK was completed, published, and became a best seller.
The transition to film was a bit more difficult. Universal studios bought the rights to the film and opted to use one of its stars, Audie Murphy, to play himself in the title role. The Department of the Army solidly backed this production. Fort Lewis, Washington was basically put at Universal's disposal. Any worries that Murphy might have difficulties reenacting -- and reliving -- the heroic moments of his life were dispelled on the first days of location shooting. Murphy handled the film as both a fine actor and veteran.
The film itself is a bit dated. The movie's introduction and occasional narration sometimes make it seem as though it is an Army training film. What separates this undertaking from US Army Pictorial Center films is that it is in color, wide screen, and is one of the first World War Two movies to involve large scale infantry and tank attacks. Some of the combat scenes in TO HELL AND BACK would not be matched until the war films of the mid 1960's such as TOBRUK, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, and so on. TO HELL AND BACK is strong enough to stand on its own without an introduction, animated maps, and narration.
You might even see this film as sort of a western. Indeed, the movie soundtrack sounds as if it was meant for a cowboy film. The soldiers are generally clean cut. With the exception of a few muddy scenes, the uniforms always appear too clean and starched to have been worn by real soldiers in continuous combat. The grit that you will find in movies like BATTLEGROUND and ATTACK is absent from this film. The screenplay is only disappointing in the non-tactical scenes. Murphy's token romance with a beautiful Italian girl has no place in this movie. The bar room brawl is also a bit cheesy.
The soldier in Murphy shows through in this movie. He salutes sharply, handles weapons like a veteran, and barks out commands as a real soldier. In fact, in the beginning of the movie it is difficult to believe that Murphy is a green recruit. His handsome youthful looks served him well in TO HELL AND BACK. Though the film followed almost ten years after Murphy charged his last machinegun nest, he is believeable as a young soldier.
The wide screen version of this film was long overdue. The battle scenes are great. The label on the disk itself has a sort of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN design to it. Unfortunately, the only special feature on the DVD is the movie trailer.
My recommendation: buy the DVD, the book, and Charles Whiting's biography of Audie Murphy, HERO.
Description of To Hell and Back
THE MOST DECORATED U.S. SOLDIER OF WORLD WAR II PORTRAYSHIMSELF IN HIS LIFE STORY.Bestsellers in DVD
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