To Hell and Back (film)
Encyclopedia
To Hell and Back is a CinemaScope
war film
released in 1955
. It was directed by Jesse Hibbs
and starred Audie Murphy
as himself and Kyle Sanville. It is based on the 1949 autobiography of the same name and is an account of Murphy's World War II
experiences as a soldier in the U.S. Army. The book was ghostwritten
by his friend, David "Spec" McClure, who served in the Army's Signal Corps during World War II.
) grows up in a large, poor sharecropper family in Texas. His father deserts them around 1939 - 1940, leaving his mother (Mary Field) barely able to feed her nine children. As the eldest son, Murphy works from an early age to help support his siblings, and when his mother dies in 1941 he becomes head of the family. His brothers and sisters are sent to a elder sister, Corrine; who Murphy sends his GI allottment pay.
When World War II breaks out, Murphy (Audie Murphy
) is eager to enlist, but is rejected by the Marines, the Navy, and the Army paratroopers due to his small size and youthful appearance. Finally the Army reluctantly accepts him as an ordinary infantryman. After basic and infantry training, Murphy is shipped out to the Third Infantry Division in North Africa as a replacement. Because of his youthful looks, he endures jokes about "infants" being sent into combat.
Murphy soon proves himself in battle, however, and is steadily promoted, at first against his will, eventually receiving a battlefield commission in the rank of second lieutenant. During his many battles in Sicily, Italy, and France, he gains the respect of his men and becomes especially close to fellow soldiers Johnson (Marshall Thompson
), Brandon (Charles Drake
), and Kerrigan (Jack Kelly
). Gregg Palmer
, later a western television actor, appears as Lieutenant Manning.
The action for which Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor
is depicted near the end of the film. In January 1945, near Holzwihr, France, Murphy's company is forced to retreat in the face of a fierce German attack. However, Murphy remains behind at the edge of a forest to direct artillery fire on the advancing enemy infantry and armor. As the Germans close on his position, Murphy jumps onto an abandoned M4 Sherman tank (he actually performed this action atop an M10 tank destroyer) and uses its .50-caliber machine gun to hold the enemy at bay, even though the vehicle is on fire and may explode at any moment. Although wounded and dangerously exposed to enemy fire, Murphy single-handedly turns back the German attack, thereby saving his company. While the film depicted this action taking place in balmy weather and good visibility in terrain of rolling hills, it actually took place in the bitter winter of 1945 at the edge of a forest on the flat Alsatian Plain in conditions of poor visibility. After a period of hospitalization, he is returned to duty. The film concludes with Murphy's Medal of Honor ceremony shortly after the war ends.
, with whom he had previously worked in three Westerns
, Sierra, Kansas Raiders and The Cimarron Kid. However, producer Aaron Rosenberg
and director Jesse Hibbs
convinced Audie to star in the picture.
The picture was filmed at Fort Lewis
and Yakima Training Center
, near Yakima, Washington
with actual soldiers. Murphy received 60% of the $25,000 the studio paid for the rights, as well as $100,000 and 10% of the net profits for starring and acting as a technical advisor
.
Originally, several generals who served in World War II were considered to perform the voiceover opening for the movie, among them Maxwell D. Taylor
and Omar Bradley
, until General Walter Bedell Smith
was finally chosen.
". The film included the 3rd Infantry Division song, "Dogface Soldier", written by Lieutenant Ken Hart
and Corporal Bert Gold.
Much of the battle scenes were reused in the Universal film The Young Warriors
.
CinemaScope
CinemaScope was an anamorphic lens series used for shooting wide screen movies from 1953 to 1967. Its creation in 1953, by the president of 20th Century-Fox, marked the beginning of the modern anamorphic format in both principal photography and movie projection.The anamorphic lenses theoretically...
war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
released in 1955
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
. It was directed by Jesse Hibbs
Jesse Hibbs
Jesse John Hibbs was an American film and television director and assistant director. He was previously an All-American offensive tackle for the University of Southern California football team in 1927 and 1928....
and starred Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
as himself and Kyle Sanville. It is based on the 1949 autobiography of the same name and is an account of Murphy's World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
experiences as a soldier in the U.S. Army. The book was ghostwritten
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
by his friend, David "Spec" McClure, who served in the Army's Signal Corps during World War II.
Plot
Murphy (Gordon GebertGordon Gebert
Gordon Alan Gebert was a child actor who is predominantly known for having smaller roles, in such films as Holiday Affair. He later turned away from acting and became a college professor.-Biography:...
) grows up in a large, poor sharecropper family in Texas. His father deserts them around 1939 - 1940, leaving his mother (Mary Field) barely able to feed her nine children. As the eldest son, Murphy works from an early age to help support his siblings, and when his mother dies in 1941 he becomes head of the family. His brothers and sisters are sent to a elder sister, Corrine; who Murphy sends his GI allottment pay.
When World War II breaks out, Murphy (Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
) is eager to enlist, but is rejected by the Marines, the Navy, and the Army paratroopers due to his small size and youthful appearance. Finally the Army reluctantly accepts him as an ordinary infantryman. After basic and infantry training, Murphy is shipped out to the Third Infantry Division in North Africa as a replacement. Because of his youthful looks, he endures jokes about "infants" being sent into combat.
Murphy soon proves himself in battle, however, and is steadily promoted, at first against his will, eventually receiving a battlefield commission in the rank of second lieutenant. During his many battles in Sicily, Italy, and France, he gains the respect of his men and becomes especially close to fellow soldiers Johnson (Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson was an American film and television actor.He was born James Marshall Thompson in Peoria, Illinois. In 1943 Thompson, known for his boy-next-door good looks, was signed by Universal Pictures...
), Brandon (Charles Drake
Charles Drake
Charles Drake was an American actor.-Biography:Drake was born as Charles Ruppert in New York City. He graduated from Nichols College and became a salesman. In 1939, he turned to acting and signed a contract with Warner Brothers. He wasn't immediately successful...
), and Kerrigan (Jack Kelly
Jack Kelly (actor)
Jack Kelly was an American film and television actor most noted for the role of "Bart Maverick" in the TV series Maverick, which ran on ABC from 1957 to 1962...
). Gregg Palmer
Gregg Palmer
Gregg Palmer, originally Palmer Lee is an American actor, known primarily for his prolific work in television westerns...
, later a western television actor, appears as Lieutenant Manning.
The action for which Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
is depicted near the end of the film. In January 1945, near Holzwihr, France, Murphy's company is forced to retreat in the face of a fierce German attack. However, Murphy remains behind at the edge of a forest to direct artillery fire on the advancing enemy infantry and armor. As the Germans close on his position, Murphy jumps onto an abandoned M4 Sherman tank (he actually performed this action atop an M10 tank destroyer) and uses its .50-caliber machine gun to hold the enemy at bay, even though the vehicle is on fire and may explode at any moment. Although wounded and dangerously exposed to enemy fire, Murphy single-handedly turns back the German attack, thereby saving his company. While the film depicted this action taking place in balmy weather and good visibility in terrain of rolling hills, it actually took place in the bitter winter of 1945 at the edge of a forest on the flat Alsatian Plain in conditions of poor visibility. After a period of hospitalization, he is returned to duty. The film concludes with Murphy's Medal of Honor ceremony shortly after the war ends.
Cast
- Audie MurphyAudie MurphyAudie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
.... Private/Corporal/Sergeant/Staff Sergeant/ Second Lieutenant/First Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy - Marshall ThompsonMarshall ThompsonMarshall Thompson was an American film and television actor.He was born James Marshall Thompson in Peoria, Illinois. In 1943 Thompson, known for his boy-next-door good looks, was signed by Universal Pictures...
.... Private/Corporal Johnson - Charles DrakeCharles DrakeCharles Drake was an American actor.-Biography:Drake was born as Charles Ruppert in New York City. He graduated from Nichols College and became a salesman. In 1939, he turned to acting and signed a contract with Warner Brothers. He wasn't immediately successful...
.... Private Brandon - Jack KellyJack Kelly (actor)Jack Kelly was an American film and television actor most noted for the role of "Bart Maverick" in the TV series Maverick, which ran on ABC from 1957 to 1962...
....Private/Staff Sergeant Kerrigan - Gregg PalmerGregg PalmerGregg Palmer, originally Palmer Lee is an American actor, known primarily for his prolific work in television westerns...
.... Lieutenant Manning - Paul PicerniPaul Picerni-Life and career:Picerni was born in New York City, New York. He was an Eagle Scout who joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he served as a B-24 Liberator bombardier in the China-Burma-India Theater. He flew 25 combat missions with the 493rd Bomb Squadron of the 7th...
....Private/Corporal Valentino - David JanssenDavid JanssenDavid Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive , the starring role in the 1950s hit detective series Richard Diamond, Private Detective , and as Harry Orwell on Harry O.In 1996 TV Guide...
.... Lieutenant Lee - Richard Castle .... Private Kovak
- Bruce CowlingBruce CowlingBruce Cowling was a film and television actor in the 1940s and 1950s. The Coweta, Oklahoma-born actor appeared in twenty films including Battleground and Cause for Alarm! .-External links:...
.... Captain Marks - Paul LangtonPaul LangtonPaul Langton was an American actor.He had many film roles during the 1940s and 1950s in which he played supporting parts, but achieved his greatest popular success as Leslie Harrington on Peyton Place.He died two days before his 67th birthday.-External links:...
.... Colonel Howe - Art AragonArt AragonArthur Benjamin Aragon was an Mexican-American boxer in the lightweight from New Mexico.-Early and later life:...
.... Sanchez - Felix Noriego .... Swope
- Denver PyleDenver PyleDenver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor. He is best remembered for playing Uncle Jesse in The Dukes of Hazzard .-Early life:...
.... Thompson - Brett HalseyBrett HalseyBrett Halsey , is an American film actor, sometimes credited as Montgomery Ford. He is best known as the original John Abbott on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, a role he held from May 1980 to March 1981, before being replaced by Jerry Douglas.-Career:Interested in acting since he was a...
.... Saunders - Susan KohnerSusan KohnerSusan Kohner is an American actress.-Early life and career:Born as Susanna Kohner in Los Angeles, Kohner is the daughter of Mexican actress Lupita Tovar and Jewish film producer Paul Kohner who was born in Bohemia part of Austria-Hungary...
.... Maria - Anabel Shaw .... Helen
- Mary FieldMary FieldMary Field was an American film actress who primarily appeared in supporting roles.- Early life :She was born in New York City, New York. As a child she never knew her biological parents. During her infancy she was left outside the doors of a church with a note pinned to her saying that her name...
.... Mrs. Murphy - Gordon GebertGordon GebertGordon Alan Gebert was a child actor who is predominantly known for having smaller roles, in such films as Holiday Affair. He later turned away from acting and became a college professor.-Biography:...
.... Audie as a boy - Julian Upton .... Steiner
Background
When Universal-International picked up the film rights to Audie Murphy's book, he initially declined to play himself, recommending instead Tony CurtisTony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
, with whom he had previously worked in three Westerns
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
, Sierra, Kansas Raiders and The Cimarron Kid. However, producer Aaron Rosenberg
Aaron Rosenberg
Aaron Rosenberg was a film director and producer. His film efforts included the box office hits The Glenn Miller Story and The Benny Goodman Story, as well as Mutiny on the Bounty.Born in Brooklyn, he studied at the University of Southern California and played college football...
and director Jesse Hibbs
Jesse Hibbs
Jesse John Hibbs was an American film and television director and assistant director. He was previously an All-American offensive tackle for the University of Southern California football team in 1927 and 1928....
convinced Audie to star in the picture.
The picture was filmed at Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
and Yakima Training Center
Yakima Training Center
The Yakima Training Center is a United States Army training center located in south central Washington state. It is bounded on the west by Interstate 82, on the south by the city of Yakima, on the north by the city of Ellensburg and Interstate 90, and on the east by the Columbia River...
, near Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
with actual soldiers. Murphy received 60% of the $25,000 the studio paid for the rights, as well as $100,000 and 10% of the net profits for starring and acting as a technical advisor
Technical advisor
A technical advisor is an individual who is expert in a particular field of knowledge, hired to provide detailed information and advice to people working in that field...
.
Originally, several generals who served in World War II were considered to perform the voiceover opening for the movie, among them Maxwell D. Taylor
Maxwell D. Taylor
General Maxwell Davenport "Max" Taylor was an United States Army four star general and diplomat of the mid-20th century, who served as the fifth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after having been appointed by the President of the United States John F...
and Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
, until General Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith was a senior United States Army general who served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff at Allied Forces Headquarters during the Tunisia Campaign and the Allied invasion of Italy...
was finally chosen.
Response
The film was a huge commercial and critical success, and advanced Murphy's film career. It also popularized a term for U.S. Army foot soldiers, "dogfaceDogface (military)
Dogface refers to a U.S. Army foot soldier serving in the infantry, especially in World War II.-History and usage:The origin of the term is difficult to ascertain. According to the recollections of veteran Phillip Leveque:...
". The film included the 3rd Infantry Division song, "Dogface Soldier", written by Lieutenant Ken Hart
Ken Hart
Ken Hart was an American World War II pilot, publisher, composer, actor, editor, lobbyist, writer, disc jockey and campaign manager...
and Corporal Bert Gold.
Much of the battle scenes were reused in the Universal film The Young Warriors
The Young Warriors (film)
The Young Warriors is a war film filmed in 1966 by Universal Pictures based on Richard Matheson's 1960 novel The Beardless Warriors that was the working title of the film. The novel was inspired by Matheson's own experiences as an 18 year old infantryman with the 87th Infantry Division in Germany...
.