Posted on 09/17/2022 1:31:23 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
A civilian military contractor, Craig Benson (Audie Murphy), returns to the Philippines during World War II to search for his wife, Ruth (Dolores Michaels), who went missing two years earlier when the Japanese invaded the country. Benson braves treachery, Japanese forces and the hellish jungle as he tries to bring his wife back alive. In his search, Benson meets Filipino rebel fighter Julio (Alejandro Rey), who knows where Ruth is. The only problem is that https://thane62.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/audie-murphy-and-dolores-michaels-in-battle-at-bloody-beach-1961-large-picture.jpg?w=1024&h=773
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
In 1949, Murphy wrote his WW2 autobiography, "To Hell and Back", that was later bought by Universal for filming in 1955. While my Dad abhorred WW2 movies, this was one that he saw and commended. As a mustang himself (enlisted to officer), he focused upon one scene in the movie that rang so very true to him. Murphy, playing himself, is the very picture of a tough platoon leader, and when a fresh-from-the-states 'chick' joins the platoon, Murphy has no kindness for him.
When this newbie asks another old timer about this, he gets the veteran's answer of "It is too soon!" WW2 infantry is a small group of expendable soldiers that die all too quickly. A too-quick friendship is a danger, especially with a newby, as they don't have the instincts to save themselves AND their platoon mates. As the leader, Murphy demonstrated that attitude, as he was protecting his long time comrades and would wait to see if this new guy could learn the rules fast enough to stay alive!
Audie Murphy Museum in Greenville, TX (on I-30 east of Dallas)
Audie Murphy Medal of Honor Museum (Tombstone, AZ)
https://audiemurphymuseum.com/
**Audie Murphy is the perfect example of man of short stature doing huge heroic deeds. Although never understood why he became an actor mostly playing himself. Anyone?**
Lots of people became actors that served in WW2. It’s those guys that him that lived through carnage, that certainly deserved to make good money somewhere.
Actors like fake hero Tom Cruise do stuff that LOOKS dangerous, but is actually well rehearsed, with hidden safety harnesses, etc.
Exception: an idiot that doesn’t check their handgun on the movie set.
I’ve always been amazed that Murphy would make a war movie. My dad saw combat in the South Pacific during WWII and would not talk of it. His stories were only about his buddies and funny stuff.
Its really quite remarkable how many of that generation of Hollywood actors served, and moreover served in combat.
PING
Check out # 3 and # 10.
One of the best obituary tributes I’ve seen yet. By Bill Mauldin in Life Magazine.
https://audiemurphy.com/articles/2021-12-04_PartingShots.pdf
“In him we all recognize the straight, raw stuff, uncut and fiery as the day it left the still.”
My father in law was a B24 waist gunner. He rarely talked about combat. But everybody is different. A good actor goes into his role as somebody else, forgetting who he really is.
Although Mr Murphy did play himself in the movie about him.
My Dad flew in WW2, Korea and Vietnam. Before he left for Vietnam, I asked him what combat was really like. He had never talked about it.
“You’re always cold. You’re always tired. But you have a job to do and you do it.”
Then he got up and left the room. Refused to say more. He died in Vietnam.
Seeing a post about Audie Murphy brings back childhood fantasies. As a young teenager, I realized that my actor-idol was a full-fledged war hero and actually older than my parents. His plane crashed within 30 miles as a crow flies of where I grew up, and … well, in the scheme of life, what I felt in those moments are nothing to anyone but me. Audie Murphy is my forever childhood hero.
Believe it or not. I was 8yrs old, all by myself, when I saw his movie To HELL AND BACK in a theater.
Dittos. From the moment I heard told about him when I was 8, he was my hero.
He died in a plane crash that is marked on the Application Trail, which can also be driven up to on the gravel road.
I stopped my southbound ATVA604 or 606) and my next southbound will take me past this site about 7 miles south. People leave all sorts of items at his memorial site.
Best guess, he was tired of warfare. He certainly did his share.
As for Cruise, he does most of his own stunts, but yes, there are always safety procedures in place. Personally, I think he is the most under-rated actor in Hollyweird. JMO.
Killing about 240 men in ground combat would have impact on one’s mind I would think.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.