Audie Murphy Stars as Himself in WWII Epic ‘To Hell and Back’

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  • Murphy as Himself on Screen in ‘To Hell and Back’

Surprisingly, the movie industry in Hollywood has been churning out action films for over seven decades! Although the early ones might not match up to their modern, high-budget counterparts, they are still undeniably part of the genre. It’s a delight when you come across lesser-known films that offer something fresh and unique, like the 1955 film “To Hell and Back”.

The film is based on the autobiography of the same name, written by World War II soldier Audie Murphy, not Eddie Murphy. What makes this remarkable is that the movie features Audie Murphy as the main character, himself. Despite having acted before during his post-WWII career, playing himself was an unusual decision for the star and isn’t something you often see nowadays.

It might be that this movie isn’t widely recognized due to the lack of prominent ’50s actors in its cast or perhaps because it got buried amidst numerous early experimental films. Nevertheless, To Hell and Back undoubtedly warrants a revisit. Let’s delve into the plot and see how Audie Murphy breathes life into his personal narrative.

‘To Hell and Back’s Plot and How Murphy Launched a Hollywood Career

The movie titled “To Hell and Back” is based on the autobiography of Murphy, written in 1949, detailing his experiences as a World War II soldier. Here’s what happens in the film: It starts by portraying Murphy’s upbringing during the Great Depression, where he was raised by relatives after his father left and mother passed away. The news of Pearl Harbor motivated him to join the military. Despite being rejected from the Marines and Navy due to his small stature, he eventually became an Army infantryman. Murphy’s division was sent to Italy in 1943. Throughout the film, we see Murphy advancing through the ranks, becoming a corporal, platoon leader, and ultimately reaching the rank of sergeant. Spoilers are ahead.

In the heart of the battlefield during World War II, Murphy and his comrades remained active in significant assaults. The climax came when German troops launched an attack on their company in France, in January 1945. However, Murphy successfully thwarted the attack and rescued his fellow soldiers, a deed that earned him the prestigious Medal of Honor for his valiance. As a result, he became the most honored U.S. infantry soldier during the Second World War. The movie, loosely based on his life, follows his autobiography quite closely, although it does take some creative liberties with real-life events. Interestingly, while Murphy was the author of the autobiography, he primarily dictated the actual writing to his friend David McClure.

The remarkable recognition as the “most decorated soldier,” earned by Murphy, sparked interest from Hollywood. Post-war, he was extended an invitation to Los Angeles for acting and dance training. His film debut occurred in 1948 with a brief appearance in “Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven.” A year later, his first leading role materialized through the movie “Bad Boy” of 1949. Murphy’s final on-screen appearance was a cameo in the 1969 Western film “A Time for Dying.” Tragically, he passed away at the age of 45 following a private plane crash in 1971, two years after his last movie role.

Murphy as Himself on Screen in ‘To Hell and Back’

In the movie “To Hell and Back,” it was initially Murphy who didn’t feel right about playing himself when Universal decided to adapt his autobiography. He proposed other celebrities, but the film’s producer and director managed to persuade him to accept the main role. Interestingly, this was even though Murphy was already 30 years old at that time, while the movie would focus on his life during his late teens and early twenties. Eventually, Murphy’s portrayal garnered positive reviews from both critics and viewers.

They concluded that his actual life events lent an authenticity to the movie that might have been lacking otherwise. Yet, opinions on the film were divided; some critics considered it typical war cinema. Certain scenes, like Murphy single-handedly halting the final German assault, were criticized as contrived and excessive. Nevertheless, the film’s widespread acclaim and box office success provided a substantial boost to Murphy’s acting career. However, his attempt to create a sequel focusing on his post-war life never came to fruition.

Despite the fact that Murphy delivered a remarkable performance, working on set wasn’t always trouble-free. In one particular scene, he caused alarm among the cast and crew by bringing real firearms loaded with ammunition instead of using the designated prop weapons. It’s speculated that reenacting war battles for the film may have triggered Murphy’s PTSD. This incident underscores the challenges of having military service members portray themselves, even if they are exceptionally talented actors like Murphy.

In a different take: But it’s been attempted once more, notably by Clint Eastwood in 2018’s “The 15:17 to Paris”. This movie recounted a real-life thwarted terror attack on a train in Paris, 2015. As the assailant started shooting, he was overpowered by three brave passengers. These heroes – Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and Alex Skarlatos – later penned their story in a 2016 memoir. Eastwood based his film on this true tale and chose to cast Stone, Sadler, and Skarlatos as themselves. However, unlike Audie Murphy, these three had no acting background, which affected the movie’s quality. “To Hell and Back” is worth watching for its authentic portrayal of a WWII hero’s story, and fans of war films or classic cinema should consider adding it to their watchlist. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, “To Hell and Back” is not available for streaming.

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2025-02-02 18:32