Flawed (like most combat is) But Awesome War Flick

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OK is this the perfect war movie? No, what is the perfect war movie BTW? Patton was close for sure, The Longest Day, thats probably even closer; so is Hell Is For Heroes the perfect war movie? Hell is for no! But it's definitely a 5 star flick. Why? I can watch this flick again and again and will thats why. It's McQueen the E-8 busted to private rank and sent back on the line. It's Coburn getting blown up and then whats left of him scorched by his blazing flamethrower. Its even Newhart in his weird comic relief role but isnt that how real combat always seems to happen, something always goes wrong, you improvise, his role is a great respite to totally relax your mind before the shock happens, its great. Its the Army folks, get used to it, and love this great low budget flick. It's not a chick flick either, its got guys flick written all over it. Its on TV again and again and again for a reason, guys will continue to watch it over and over and over again. For the price of this DVD I may just buy it to have that comfort that if all else of life is throwing me for a loop , I can pop in Hell Is For Heroes and realize my life ain't as bad as what those poor guys are in.

McQueen simmers just prior to serving in The Great Escape . . .

As you watch this movie, you'll appreciate the fact that Steve was very early in his feature film career and was probing the audience for the persona that he later found in "The Great Escape". His uneasy characterization of the soldier with an attitude in this release is not unlike that of the B-17 pilot he played in "The War Lover", also in 1962 (a film with probably the best B&W B-17 film footage you can buy). Flawed...yes, but a window into the process of developing the star persona we all came to appreciate. While it is true that the script was undergoing massive re-writes during filming (including Steve's insistence that the title be changed to include the word "Hell"), the film was adequately directed by Don Siegel, who would later become one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, including Eastwood's early, and arguably best works, such as "Dirty Harry".

And while Bob Newhart may not have enjoyed the filming (as most comedians find filmaking burdensome with the tediously slow shooting schedule and the lack of audience feedback hindering their rhythm), his phone gag was cleverly integrated into the story with hillarious results! Interestingly, one of Steve's best female friends (not lovers) in all of Hollywood would become none other than Suzanne Pleshette, who we all know starred as Newhart's wife in his very successful 70's TV show. While Newhart may have been an odd entry for a serious war movie, it is only Bobby Darin playing the joking GI salesman that seems totally out of place in this one (a singer in a war movie that doesn't sing and can't act?). You will, however, appreciate off-beat performances from James Coburn and Nick Adams (two of Steve's real-life party buddies) as well as Harry Guardino (who would later play Callahan's boss in "Dirty Harry"). You'll also take note that Fess Parker fits in well as the southern-speaking commanding officer in one of his few feature films, mid-way between his TV roles as Davy Crocket for Disney in the 50's and Daniel Boone for NBC in the 60's.

Another interesting note is that even though director Don Siegel had several run-ins with Steve during the making of this film, 9 years later Steve would be offered the role of Harry Callahan, long before Siegel would end up directing Eastwood in the role of "Dirty Harry". It seems that after the phenomenal success of "Bullitt" (#4 Box Office of 1968), Warner Brothers wanted Steve back, even though they were always at odds during the off-site San Francisco production of the film (after all, this was WB's first film that was shot completely on location...well beyond the watchfull eyes of the studio). As it turned out, Steve didn't want to do another cop movie, especially for Warner Brothers, so John Wayne was offered the role who turned it down due to the "rough" language (even though the Duke would bow to a similar Warner Brothers request 3 years later in the role of "McQ", which was originally titled "McQueen" with the hope of getting "McQ"ueen for this cop role in another seaside town, Seattle, driving another dark green muscle car, a Pontiac Trans Am). Before Eastwood was finally chosen for the San Francisco Detective Lieutenant (which just happened to be from the same police department and rank as Frank Bullitt), Frank Sinatra passed on the Callahan role too...maybe because this period of his carreer was already overly laden with detective parts (Tony Rome, The Detective, Lady in Cement).

By the way, Steve and Clint were both born in 1930, so Steve was 32 when he made this picture with the director that would later become Clint's mentor, Don Siegel. A year later, McQueen would become a major star as a result of his role in "The Great Escape", playing Virgil Hilts, "The Cooler King". One more tid-bit...John Sturges directed Steve in "Never So Few", "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Great Escape"...and would later direct Clint in "Joe Kidd" in 1972. As you can see, lots of top talent crossed paths during this production, so you'll find lots of pent-up energy in almost every frame, with everyone looking for that break-out performance that would transcend the early days of their careers.

Bob Newhart (the radio operator) said it all

I saw this movie one night on late night tv. could not make heads or tails of it. You would think it was a classic right, with McQueen et al? Big stars. There was this one comedy bit with Newhart on the phone trying to reach command that was funny, but very out of place.

Years later I saw Newhart on the Carson show, with Johnny, after he had made it big on two TV series. It was one of the great funny interviews as Newhart explained the worst professional experience of his life was the making of this movie, which he viewed as wretched, was a box office bomb and according to Newhart had no direction and no script!! They eventually ran out of money, spliced in some stock footage. Stopped filming and released it. so skip the movie, get the interview.