Audie Murphy's To Hell & Back: His Defining Role
Remembering Universal's Top Grossing Film of 1955 - A 20-Year Record
To Hell And Back, released by Universal International in October 1955, recounts the story of Audie Murphy’s battle heroics during World War II. The most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, Audie enlisted at the tender age of seventeen with the help of his sister, who lied about his age.
Audie Murphy's Combat Experience: Winning The Medal of Honor
Fighting three years in the European campaign, Audie won 33 awards and decorations for valor on the battle field, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, credited with saving his unit by killing 240 German soldiers. Wounded several times, France and Belgium also bestowed a number of honors on him.
To Hell And Back: Audie's 1949 Autobiography
Audie returned to Texas in September 1945 a national hero, famously appearing on the cover of LIFE Magazine. Though physically and psychologically scarred, Audie soon found himself in Hollywood after actor James Cagney spotted him on the magazine’s cover.
Several tough years followed, with Audie attempting to develop a film career. By 1949, Audie’s autobiography, entitled To Hell And Back, was published to resounding success.
Audie's Believability: Finding Fame In Hollywood, Particularly in Westerns
Universal International Studios soon became interested in his fledgling film career, signing him to a contract in 1950. A number of westerns quickly followed, up to three a year, soon introducing movie audiences to Audie’s quiet, unassuming, cynical, yet deadly nature.
Audie was never trained formally as an actor, and he always downplayed his acting abilities. Instead, Audie relied on instinct, yet he was almost always believable in his roles, whether in fatigues or cowboy mode, reserving a place in the hearts of many fans.
For a thorough biography of Audie on Suite101 by author Darla Sue Dollman, please click here.
To Hell And Back: The Film's Backstory
As 1954 began, Universal executives believed the time was right to film Audie’s biography. However, when Audie was asked to play himself, he repeatedly suggested other actors, including Universal star Tony Curtis.
Finally, after intense pressure from the studio, Audie was convinced to play himself in the film version. Not wanting to glorify or exploit his war experiences, since many of his close friends perished during the fighting, Audie oversaw the film’s production.
Audie did not socialize with the Hollywood crowd as was and remains the norm today, preferring to spend time with the film’s crew, ensuring the film would retain as much authenticity as could be shown on the screen in the mid 1950s.
Universal's Top Money-Maker
His efforts, along with the talents of director Jesse Hibbs and producer Aaron Rosenberg, resulted in Universal’s top grosser of all time, a record that remained unbroken until Jaws arrived from director Steven Spielberg twenty years later.
Premiering in October 1955, To Hell and Back remains the film most associated with the actor, grossing nearly ten million dollars, an unheard of sum during the 1950s, during its initial theatrical run. Audie never quite understood the film’s success, always feeling uncomfortable about putting his heroics on the screen.
Some Notable Faces, featuring Jack Kelly of Maverick Fame
Featuring Charles Drake, Marshall Thompson, and Jack Kelly as members of Audie’s unit in the 3rd Infantry Division, the film featured many of Universal’s stable of contract players during the 1950s. In one of his earliest film appearances, future The Fugitive star David Janssen appears as Lieutenant Lee in a blink or miss it appearance.
To spotlight Jack Kelly, he found his greatest fame several years later, playing Bart Maverick, Bret’s brother, on the classic, highly influential western series Maverick (1957-1962),currently airing on Encore Westerns.
To Hell And Back's Plot
Condensing Audie’s biography considerably, the film spends its first ten minutes on Audie’s humble beginnings (the Great Depression was in full force) near Celeste, Texas, when he had to drop out from the eighth grade to provide for his eleven brothers and sisters. He became a crack shot with his rifle, hunting rabbits and other small game.
Quickly moving on to Audie’s induction, the film follows Audie and his unit into France. To Hell and Back does not focus on Audie entirely; instead, it emphasizes the bravery of his fellow soldiers.
Memorable Scenes
One particularly moving scene is actor Charles Drake’s death. It happens so suddenly, and watching Audie’s blood-curdling scream and agony, the lines between acting and reality become very blurred. Audie suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), indeed sleeping with a pistol under his pillow, that reliving his past must have taken a considerable toll on him.
Light comedy moments happen every now and then, as was the norm during war films of the 1940s and 1950s. Younger generations raised on Saving Private Ryan will find the battle scenes tame, but Audie’s screen presence makes the film utterly unique compared to the various, sanitized war films of the 1950s, including 1956’s D-Day The Sixth of June.
The most famous scene occurs near the end, with Audie climbing atop a burning tank to shoot its .50 caliber machine gun, his heroic actions resulting in the Medal of Honor. There was only so much bloodshed the film could show.
Audie Murphy: The Final Word on an Amazing Individual
Interested viewers should read Audie’s book account in order to gain a better appreciation of what happened. It is amazing that he stayed on a burning tank, alone, for over one hour, single-handedly wiping out a German squad while suffering from a leg wound.
To Hell And Back, while not a great film, still offers an invaluable history lesson on the combat exploits of First Lieutenant Audie Murphy. His performance is not to be missed. Sadly, Audie would pass away in a violent plane crash in May 1971, yet his performance lives on for countless generations.
A petition to get Audie a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom is currently available. Please click here if you would like to sign it.
Further Reading
- Audie L. Murphy Memorial Web Site. http://www.audiemurphy.com/welcome.htm
- Bob Larkins and Boyd Magers. The Films of Audie Murphy. 2004. Published by McFarland & Company. ISBN-10: 0786445084 ISBN-13: 978-0786445080
DVD Cover of Audie Murphy's To Hell And Back
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Audie in June 1945 on the cover of LIFE
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The Theatrical Poster For To Hell And Back
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