To Hell and Back

1955, Reissued 2009

Universal

Second Sight Films

R2 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

Audie Murphy was America’s highest-decorated soldier of World War 2. Director Jesse Hibbs made this film based on Murphy’s autobiography for Universal and until Jaws was released it was their highest grossing film. Murphy starred as himself in the film. He also appeared in The Red Badge of Courage, a highly grossing American Civil War film, but by the time of To Hell And Back he was moving to Westerns. He did not want the part originally, suggesting it be given to Tony Curtis, but finally gave in. His youthful looks were still there and he played himself convincingly.

The film itself follows his early career from a young lad off a poor farm in Texas to the end of the War, by which time he was a well decorated hero. He volunteered for the Navy, Air Force and Paratroops in turn but was rejected either because of his age or his short stature. Only the Army finally took him (reluctantly) and he completed his training in time to take part in the amphibious landings in North Africa. From here his unit took part in the invasion of Sicily, then on to Italy. Here he first displayed the courage that was to get him his first promotion to Corporal.

The landing in the south of France followed, then the long grinding battles through France and into Germany itself. In the course of these actions Murphy distinguished himself and was field-commissioned as a Lieutenant. He intended to stay in the Army after the war and was marked for training at West Point but a single gunshot wound in a critical place put an end to his military career. The film ends with Murphy being presented with the Congressional Medal of Honour.

The film is presented as a series of short battle scenes, following the oft-quoted comment that war is long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. This is probably how many of the combatants remembered it, with only the brief moments of action sticking in their memory. Each battle is beautifully recreated. The entire film shows just how good the Technicolor and CinemaScope processes could be, even allowing for the enhancement for this DVD edition. For a film that is more than fifty years old it is as fresh and clear as it must have been when first issued. Even the sound is perfect, although mono only (frankly I didn’t even notice this until I read the notes).

I haven’t seen To Hell And Back for many years and I had mostly forgotten what it was like. I expected a bit of a flag-waver but I was pleasantly surprised. I have seen nothing to suggest that Murphy’s career was anything but what is shown here, and he comes across as less of a hero as a young lad who thinks quickly and reacts even faster. He is not shown as overly gung-ho but just as an ordinary soldier doing his job well enough to stay alive. The friendships of men in constant combat and the loss of those friends is not glossed over. The political side is played down and the comment is made a couple of times that the soldiers generally don’t know the wider picture – their focus is on the next battle or the next leave. Indeed the film could probably have benefited from being a little longer and filling in the soldier’s life a little better, but at 107 minutes already Universal was reluctant to let it go longer..

I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I can see why it has become the classic that it is. Technically it is an excellent remastering job, and if you are into war films I am certain you will enjoy this release. Since mine was a review DVD, I don’t know what if any extras will be included on the production DVD.

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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.6 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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