Movie Monday Review: To Hell and Back

To Hell and Back (1955)

Starring: Audie Murphy, Jack Kelly, Paul Picerni, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake, Gregg Palmer, Denver Pyle, Richard Castle, Susan Kohner, Mary Field, and Gordon Gebert.

Review

I believe that Audie Murphy is the only one who could have played himself in this his biographical movie. He didn’t originally want to play the part, and I don’t blame him – having to bring up all those memories for which, many of them, he suffered. Nevertheless, the fact that he plays himself, brings the story closer to home. It’s as if we are literally on the journey with him…feeling his sorrows, his fights, his cares, more than in any other movie.

A very young Audie when he was awarded

Audie Murphy won every medal possible from the US by the time he was nineteen and, for the most part, sent his pay back to support his siblings who were parentless. What a heavy burden to place on someone of that age, but he rose to the occasion and did it. If they had done a sequel, as he had thought about, we would be able to see a picture of what he had to go through after the war – suffering from the memory of it all. It should be noted, that the last scene does not do justice to Audie. He was on the tank fighting Nazis for an hour, not a few minutes, despite being wounded.

Overall, the movie is an excellent one, with lots of care taken to make it realistic. The conversations about missing home, the reality of war and what it did to people, the cockiness of Audie’s friends and the picture of the American Soldier. It also shows the different forms of grief and how each man took it.

Jack Kelly and Paul Picerni make a great duo, always cocky and ready for some fun – even in the midst of war. Nevertheless, they are determined to watch Audie’s back no matter what and that makes for a great bond between them. The funny thing about it, is that both Jack Kelly and Paul Picerni were in the US Army Air Corps during WWII. Paul Picerni was heavily involved in major attacks against the enemy. Despite this, Jack Kelly’s character teases the Air Corps men heavily in a funny scene in the middle of the movie.

The music for the movie (mostly the song “Dogface Soldier”) makes for an energetic and even patriotic theme for the movie. The driving song for them. It became popularized after this movie and the term Dogface for soldiers became more popular as well.

Summary

12-year old Audie Murphy (Gordon Gebert) is one of many children who live in rural Texas during the 1930s. Audie feels for his mother (Mary Field), who has been waiting forever to hear back from her husband, Audie’s father. Trying to avoid the reality that he won’t be coming back and he won’t be sending anything to help, either. Audie knows they need money and is willing to work for it, finally convincing his mother that his father won’t be doing anything.

Now sixteen, Audie (Audie Murphy) has worked tirelessly to support his family, even as a boy. But then, reality strikes again: his mother is ill and not expected to recover. Now taking care of his siblings and working hard for his neighbor, he finds out that war is breaking out. Soon after, his mother dies. At the advice of their pastor and older sister, Audie is forced to let his younger siblings stay at the church orphanage. Audie can’t stand this, but is underage and can’t do a thing about it.

Audie decides to join up and serve his country, using a written permission slip from his older sister. Nevertheless, the Marines and Navy won’t accept him, so finally he makes his way into the Army. At least this way, he can send back his money to help the family. Getting sick on the way over to Africa from inoculations, seasickness, and cigar smoke, Audie finally makes it. A small teenager, he is thrust into a unit of battle-hardened men who can’t believe this little guy is worth anything.

Kerrigan (Jack Kelly) thinks this is a joke and tries to cause trouble for him, only to realize that Audie is better than his size makes him look. Heading for his first duty, Audie again gets sick aboard ship. Kerrigan, Valentino (Paul Picerni), and Brandon (Charles Drake) warn him not to strap his helmet on, because it might blow his head off if a shell goes off nearby. Audie sees that there is a lot to learn and his new “friends” determine that they should stay close to the little fella to protect him.

Arriving in Italy, all seems safe and easy…until it’s not. They are attacked by hidden Nazi soldiers and Audie gets first-hand experience of what war is really like. Kerrigan and Brandon realize that the little fella doesn’t need as much protection as they thought and soon are beginning to see him as the tough guy.

When his superior officers try to transfer him to an easier unit, Audie insists that he stay there. Reluctantly, they agree. Soon, Audie proves himself to everyone and is promoted, much to his own dismay. But he’s told it wasn’t his decision and to carry out orders, knowing full well that Kerrigan and Valentino had put in a good word for him.

The 3rd Division gets moved around from danger zone to danger zone, always pulling through, but always getting hit hard themselves. They finally get leave, while in Italy. Looking to see the local atmosphere, Sergeant Audie Murphy is only saddened at the children who are begging and the destroyed homes. Kerrigan is hoping to find the ladies, insisting that he can help Audie find a date. Finding a café, they are momentarily dismayed (I say momentarily) when they discover that the Air Corps has “a corner on the livestock”. Kerrigan moves to change this and leads the “Dogfaces” in a song to tease the Flyboys. Soon, a fight breaks out, and Audie does his best to stay out of it.

Audie leaves there and finds himself with a group of children, small and filthy. He tries to hand out chocolate to each of them, but is only stopped by a very proud Italian girl, Maria (Susan Kohner). She finally agrees to let the children have the chocolate, only if Audie will stay for dinner. He joins them, but gets a feel for the sadness in the hearts of the Italians who have lost their own loved ones and are living in the middle of war.

Each man brings home a different story from their experiences: Kerrigan has been taken (meaning he lost his good GI shoes, which Val says are worth its weight in gold in Italy), Johnson (Marshall Thompson) has lost his voice (from talking too much, something he’s known for doing), and Val is happy just to have seen some of his Italian family members. Audie is close to Brandon and appreciates the wisdom that comes from him, the quiet familiarity. They both want what’s best for each other after the war and stay close together.

Audie and his men are asked to take a farmhouse that is a good defense holding against the Nazis. Trying and trying again, they finally make it in, but only after losing several good men. Disabling a Nazi tank and stopping the advancing enemy, Audie proves himself once more by again destroying the Nazi tank that was being repaired. The commanding Lieutenant suggests to Audie that he accept a commission for Lieutenant, as they desperately need one. Audie refuses, because he knows he’d have to leave his troops and he can’t do that. Besides that, he doesn’t feel he’s qualified, as he quit studying in grammar school. Kerrigan is glad Audie refused, because he claims he would give it to Audie “you know where” if he had.

Johnson's death over a farmhouse

Trying to take a hill, Audie gets that experience that mars many a soldier, when Brandon is killed. One of his closest friends, Audie doesn’t know what to do with himself, sitting in a heap next to his chance-taking friend.

Needing to fall back out of the farm house, they lose Johnson. Kerrigan can’t understand and Audie hopes it was worth it. The command is still in desperate need of new officers, so they waive the rule saying you have to leave your troop and promote Audie to Second Lieutenant – not even old enough to shave yet. He is also informed that he has been chosen to be sent to West Point upon his return, due to the amount of extra courses he took in the army and the initiative taken during his duty. A dream come true!

Kerrigan and Val are surprised and excited to see their new commanding officer. Audie tells them he appreciates all the good words put in for him and tells them he’s now in a position to repay them. Appointing Kerrigan as Sergeant and Val as Corporal, he gets plenty of complaining from the two closest friends he has!

Attacking a Nazi tank and infantry group, Kerrigan gets wounded. Just getting used to his new rank, he complains all the way to the hospital. Audie is told his men must hold off the Nazis long enough for another group to do the real attack. When the Nazis move earlier than expected and the Americans aren’t ready, Audie orders his men back and begins calling in for artillery.

Audie is able to keep off the men and tanks alone, with the help of the called-in artillery. However, they are getting closer and closer. Soon, Audie realizes he must do something in order to help the American plan succeed. Jumping on an abandoned American tank that’s on fire, he begins using the machine gun on what’s left of the Nazis advancing toward them. Audie keeps it up, even sustaining a serious hip wound. Finally, finding a rest, he returns to a very concerned Val, who is only more concerned when Audie collapses. Audie insists that Val must go on and that he can’t forget that he owes Audie a spaghetti dinner.

Recovering from his wounds in an army hospital, Audie is paid a visit from Kerrigan. When asked where he got wounded, Audie tries to avoid Kerrigan, but it is true that Audie got it “you know where” and the two have a good laugh over this. Nevertheless, Audie is saddened that this wound will keep him out of the army and, ultimately, West Point. Kerrigan tells him that Audie will be big news when he gets back and shouldn’t have to worry.

Barely nineteen, Audie Murphy has been awarded every possible medal from the United States, as well as several from France and Belgium. A small fella, but full of guts and determination.

Ellen Nolan