Hell Is For Heroes Reviews

A squad of six US soldiers are ordered to hold a section of The Siegfried Line alone during WWII and so come up with ever more creative ways to disguise their numbers. Hell Is For Heroes was directed by Don Siegel who went on to become one of the best directors of hard-boiled action thrillers around (Dirty Harry being the most famous example) and he shows his skill for economy and gritty violence in this unpretentious and authentic depiction of combat. Steve McQueen shows his star quality as an embittered and possibly shell-shocked ex-sergeant who takes matters into his own hands when they are discovered and his performance is fantastic. In fact the entire cast are great (especially James Coburn who would co-star with McQueen again in The Magnificent Seven), the banter and comedy of the earlier scenes really nicely balanced with some brutal battle scenes later in the film. It concentrates more on the soldier on the ground than trying to sketch out the big picture, showing that there is a thin line between heroism and mental illness and although the climax is a little lacking in closure, it's a powerful and realistic war film ranking amongst the best.

This tense, gritty World War II drama is heaven for action fans and a riveting performance by Steven McQueen. Director Don Siegel was at his riveting best, drawing the viewer into the claustrophobic, nightmarish atmosphere.
Filmed in stark black & white, Siegel's film succinctly captures the fatal brutality of war, in terms perhaps not as graphic, but every bit as effectively as Steven Spielberg would do some thirty-six years later with his monumental film Saving Private Ryan. There is good dialogue with the GI's - Bob Newhart is real funny.

Generally routine war story, notable for a good and unusual cast. I am sure it was meant to be a more significant film than it turned out to be. Steve Mc Queen is not at his best, he is too melodramatic and intense, He definitely overdoes it. All in all though, it's decent. Well filmed. I wasn't too impressed with the sets.

This has a great cast and is pretty effective for something that looks more like a jacked up television production.

Ruthless battle action glorifying the US Infantry against Nazi forces in WW2. Based on actual battle reports from the infamous "Murder Ridge" on the notorious "Sigfried Line". Director Siegel does his best with a strong cast of current and future greats even though he has to bow to studio pressures and slip in some comic relief via Superstar crooner Bobby Darin and urbane Bob Newhart. James Coburn is a standout here, showing his toothy handsomeness against "Flint" type as a low key mechanic who goes ape-nutso in the infamous flamethrower scene, and Big Fess Parker is convincing as the Top Sergeant, plus egotist actor Nick"The Rebel" Adams typically tries to steal as many scenes as he can. Mike Kellin makes the most of his doomed character, and Siegel uses the Hitchcockian "God" camera angle to it's most terrifying effect in his death scene, shockingly realistic. The final panoramic battle scene was incorporated from an actual Army training exercise, so there is the proverbial "cast of thousands" being put to use here, no phony CGI. McQueen's characterization of the stripped-of-his- stripes-Butcher-knife carrying "Reese" is compelling, as a war-lover who, as the irascible Captain haplessly describes as not being able to understand a soldier "Who cracks up when the pressure is off". Reese lives for the adrenaline rush of combat. He drinks and whores enough to be a screw up when not "on the line" killing the enemy. I saw this film as a kid with my Korean War Veteran uncle who gave it a thumbs up and I'm sure it helped shape my persona somewhat, so it remains a nostalgic favorite of mine and an overlooked McQueen performance arguably as strong or even better than in "Bullitt", 'The Great Escape" or "The Sand Pebbles", because unlike those other roles, "Reese" is 110% hardcore. His only weakness is booze & cheap broads. It's obvious Reese was a killer long before he volunteered for the Army, (probably to stay out of prison), which is why he can't keep his stripes. Although this film has it's flaws (Even "Citizen Kane" is not 100% perfect) this is still seriously worth some buttered popcorn time for movie buffs with an open mind, who can appreciate one of the better examples of the "War Is Hell" (& "Badass MoFo') genre...

A group of soldiers use several gags in an attempt to try and convince a line of Nazi's that they're a lot bigger than they really are. Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Bob Newhart in his first film all star. Obvious stock footage, bad sound voicing every time someones killed and several deaths with no spray of bullets make this film comedic which unfortunatly was not intended.

Great action and drama movie. Another great movie with Steve McQueen as well with James Coburn, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, and Bob Newhart. Producer Henry Blanke went through several report of american WWII actions on which the movie was basis on. Bob Newhart unusual comedy part was good. Bob Newhart's monodialog on the field phone was great. "Hell is for Heroes" is a great action and drama movie. It is a war movie classic.

Although featuring fairly good acting, Good action considering the time of the film and an original screenplay as well as Steve McQueen and good cinematography, the general lack of stimulis and ridiculously slow pacing as well as the thin plot refrain from letting Hell Is For Heroes hold itself together as a movie and just becomes a series of black and white shootouts.

Very interesting story. Good cast as well. Movie was too short for my liking at 89 minutes. Could have developed the story some more.

HELL IS FOR HEROES (1962)

Generally routine war story, notable for a good and unusual cast. I am sure it was meant to be a more significant film than it turned out to be. Steve Mc Queen is not at his best, he is too melodramatic and intense, He definitely overdoes it. All in all though, it's decent. Well filmed. I wasn't too impressed with the sets.