"To Hell and Back" is a World War 2 movie starring Audie Murphy. The movie is based on Murphy's experiences as a sodier in the U.S. army. There is also a book written by Murphy's firiend about Murphy's experience. I really enjoyed this movie, as it was not too war gory and had a lot of meaning behind it.
Murphy grows up in a large farming family and his mother raises them, because their father left them. Murphy knows they don't have much money, so he quits school to work and becomes the head of the house. When his mother dies, Murphy knows he won't be able to support all his siblings. He wants to enlist when World War 2 breaks out, but he is rejected by the Marines, Navy, and Army paratroopers since he is so small and young looking. Finally he is accepted as an ordinary infantryman. After training, he is shippped out to the Third Infantry Division. He endures many jokes because of his youthful looks.
Murphy shows he is not so childish in battle, though, and soon is given many promotions. He goes from Corporal, to Sergeant, and finally lieutenant, where he finds himself commanding his friends. But slowly, Murphy watches them die in combat, one by one. These parts were very hard to watch, as Murphy finally fits in and he loses his best friends. I almost cried :( poor Audie. He talks to new replacements and tells them not to talk to the veterans, as they don't want anymore friends. It's too hard to watch them die.
The part of the movie where Audie earns his Medal of Honor is near the end of the film. Murphy is directing his company by field telephone, but then his company is forced to retreat. But Murphy stays behind to direct artillery fire on the advancing enemy. As the Germans get closer, Murphy jumps onto an abandoned tank and uses the gun to hold the enemy back. The tank could explode at any second, as it is on fire but Murphy stays on, althought wounded, and single handly turns back the German attack. He saves his company, earning his Medal of Honor, but must be hospitalized and away from his beloved army. The movie ends with Murphy's Medal of Honor ceremony.I really really enjoyed this movie. I loved the significance behind the title and how I could actually watch the movie!!! The only downfall of the movie was that the gun fire was very unrealistic. When a bomb exploded, they screen would just shake. But overall this movie was great and I reccomend it for anyone who likes war movies.Cora
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