Blu ray review: To Hell and Back (1955)

Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier in WW2. He managed to parlay that fame into a movie career, with the help of James Cagney, and his career is perhaps best noted for westerns. However, Murphy also notably played himself in To Hell and Back, a movie version of his war heroism, which has been released on blu ray by Kino Lorber.

Based on his own book, Murphy at first did not want to play himself when Universal picked up the movie rights. Even though he had been in movies for about seven years by this point, he felt that Tony Curtis should play him. But Murphy was convinced to play himself much younger, and despite the challenge of reliving some pretty harrowing events, he is quite good in the role.

Because his exploits are so amazing and unbelievable, some critics took issue with Murphy’s remarkable accomplishments, but To Hell and Back is a reasonably accurate account, despite the sort of Hollywood treatment that biographies would receive at the time. But the critical response was overall favorable, and moviegoers were very positive in their response. To Hell and Back was a huge hit at the box office, further advancing Audie Murphy’s growing movie career.

Kino Lorber’s blu ray does a good job of presenting the sharp Technicolor and early Cinemascope visuals. Director Jesse Hibbs worked frequently with Audie Murphy, and his direction of To Hell and Back shows that he clearly admires his star.

The blu ray features commentary by by filmmaker/historian Steve Mitchell and author Steven Jay Rubin (Combat Films: American Realism). It is informative, interesting, and enlightening; a good added feature to the blu ray release.

Audie Murphy didn’t have a particularly positive experience in movies, despite being a competent actor who starred in many strong western films. When he died tragically in a private plane crash, his funeral was attended by scores of army veterans. Nobody from Hollywood was there.

To Hell and Back is highly recommended and can be purchased at this link: MURPHY