To Hell and Back (1955)

Director:

Jesse Hibbs

Writers:

Gil Doud (written by)
Audie Murphy (autobiography "To Hell And Back")

Release Date:

18 October 1955 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

The Exciting True-Life Story Of America's Most Decorated Hero

Plot:

The true WWII story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. history. Based on the autobiography of Audie Murphy who stars as himself in the film.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | WWII | Steel Helmet | WWII In Italy | Dead Soldier

Cast

Audie Murphy	...	Audie Murphy
Marshall Thompson	...	Johnson
Charles Drake	...	Brandon
Jack Kelly	...	Kerrigan
Gregg Palmer	...	Lt. Manning
Paul Picerni	...	Valentino
David Janssen	...	Lt. Lee
Richard Castle	...	Kovak
Bruce Cowling	...	Caplt. Marks
Paul Langton	...	Col. Howe
Art Aragon	...	Sanchez
Felix Noriego	...	Swope
Denver Pyle	...	Thompson
Brett Halsey	...	Saunders
Susan Kohner	...	Maria
Anabel Shaw	...	Helen
Mary Field	...	Mrs. Murphy
Julian Upton	...	Steiner
Gordon Gebert	...	Audie as a boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Bedell Smith	...	Himself- in introduction (as General Walter Bedell Smith U S A {Ret.})
Jimmy Baird	...	Preston Murphy (older) (uncredited)
Nan Boardman	...	Maria's mother (uncredited)
Rand Brooks	...	Lt. Harris (uncredited)
John Bryant	...	Jim Houston (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell	...	Rector (uncredited)
Joey Costaretta	...	Vincenzo (uncredited)
Maria Costi	...	Julia (uncredited)
Ashley Cowan	...	Scottish soldier (uncredited)
Hugh E. Davis	...	British soldier (uncredited)
Gine De Bard	...	French girl (uncredited)
Bobby Diamond	...	Gene Murphy, age 10 (uncredited)
Bruce Frichtl	...	Richard Murphy, age 11 (uncredited)
Anthony Garcen	...	Lt. Burns (uncredited)
Patty Ann Gerrity	...	Beatrice Murphy, age 6 (uncredited)
Karen Green	...	Beatrice Murphy (older) (uncredited)
Harold 'Tommy' Hart	...	Sgt. Klasky (uncredited)
Dale Hartleben	...	Gene Murphy (older) (uncredited)
Edna Holland	...	Mrs. Edna Houston (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	...	Jennings (uncredited)
Vito Jacobellis	...	Urchin (uncredited)
Barbara James	...	Exotic singer / dancer Cleopatra (uncredited)
Gayle Kellogg	...	Air Force sergeant (uncredited)
Don Kennedy	...	Marine recruiting sergeant (uncredited)
Henry Kulky	...	Sgt. Stack (uncredited)
Andrea Lee	...	Nadine Murphy, age 8 (uncredited)
Rankin Mansfield	...	Dr. Snyder (uncredited)
William Marks	...	Bit part (uncredited)
John McIntire	...	Narrator (uncredited)
James McLaughlin	...	MP (uncredited)
Madge Meredith	...	Corinne (uncredited)
Mort Mills	...	Soldier in bunk (uncredited)
Terry Murphy	...	Preston Murphy, age 4 (uncredited)
John Pickard	...	MP (uncredited)
Tao Porchon	...	French girl (uncredited)
Howard Price	...	Truck driver (uncredited)
Didi Ramati	...	Carla (uncredited)
Otto Reichow	...	German soldier (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
Gisele Verlaine	...	French girl (uncredited)
Joan Vie	...	Nadine Murphy (older) (uncredited)
Lee Warren	...	MP (uncredited)
Howard Wright	...	Mr. Ben Houston (uncredited)
Lloyd L. Wyatt	...	Pierce (tank commander) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jesse Hibbs

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gil Doud		written by
Audie Murphy		autobiography "To Hell And Back"

Produced by
Aaron Rosenberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Irving Gertz		(uncredited)
William Lava		(uncredited)
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)
Lou Maury		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Maury Gertsman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edward Curtiss

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin
Russell A. Gausman

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Shaw	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John A. Bolger Jr.	....	sound
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Monty Phillips	....	digital artist (digital restoration) (uncredited)
Jerry Pooler	....	digital restoration supervisor (uncredited)
Brad Reinke	....	digital restoration producer (restored version) (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Other crew
William Fritzsche	....	technicolor color consultant
Leonard E. Murray	....	technical advisor (as Major Leonard J. Murray, Infantry, U.S.A.)
Colonel Michael Paulick	....	technical advisor (as Colonel Michael Paulick, Infantry, U.S.A.)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal - International)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (Canada) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Department of Defense, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of
• Department of the Army  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of (as The Department of the Army)
• Officers and Men of Fort Lewis, Washington, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) (Western Electric Recording) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #17377) | UK:PG | Iceland:12 | West Germany:18 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Fort Lewis, Washington, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Audie Murphy is known as the most decorated US soldier of World War II. Among his twenty-seven American decorations were the Medal of Honor, the US's highest award for military conduct "above and beyond the call of duty," plus five decorations awarded by France and Belgium.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor ceremony at the end of the movie, the narrator makes two mistakes as he describes the other decorations for valor that Murphy received: he mentions "a Bronze Star Medal" (Murphy actually received two BSM's); and "a Bronze Star Medal with bronze service arrowhead" (the correct award is the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead). The narrator also omits two significant awards that Murphy earned: two Presidential Unit Citations and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Quotes:

Lt. Manning: At 0500 we'll open up with small arms fire. The 7th will move across at the same time. I'm sure the Jerries will throw some entertainment our way.
Audie Murphy: I think you can count on it, Lieutenant.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1955-07-03)" (1955)

Soundtrack:

Dogface Soldier

A classic and unique movie

To Hell And Back rates as one of the truly classic and unique movies of our time. To have Audie Murphy himself have to remember and "relive" his war experiences, having been removed from them for only ten years, is unprecedented.The movie is the forerunner of such movies as We Were Soldiers Once...and Black Hawk Down. Although Col. Tom Moore was only an on scene adviser he also relived some of the scenes(his own admission) that were depicted in "..Soldiers..." Black Hawk Down depicted actual footage of the battle. The historical and personal accuracy of these movies is tremendous. Audie, however paid a bitter price. His war experiences tormented him the rest of his life with constant insomnia, depression and anxiety. I was lucky enough to meet him at Suffolk Downs Race Track in 1959 or 1960. I always wondered what became of his siblings and sister. Audie Murphy is a true hero of the twentieth century. Everyone should take note of what true character, integrity and loyalty Audie gave us. Thank you Audie.