A one-of-a-kind movie where the star plays himself doing what he actually did.
Ironically, because of that, the movie actually understates the level of risks and heroism that Audie Murphy truly enacted. It was the star, himself, who constantly worked with the director to tone down the risks he would portray on the screen.
Such is entirely in keeping with the values of the man, Audie Murphy. But, sadly, as much as the movie conclusively portrays the man heroically, it leaves out quite a bit of emotion and rawness.
Just one example of many is the culminating scene which earned Murphy his Medal of Honor. That battle saw the real Murphy singlehandedly hold off the German advance for over an hour. The movie condensed it down to a few minutes.
And unlike the 1950's era romantic interest scene, nothing like that actually happened.
As much as the production value of the film falters for its relatively low budget virtues, Murphy himself makes up for it with the story itself, which is beyond words in terms of what he really did. It would be hard to accept a fictional film trying to show someone performing the deeds that Murphy does. Knowing that -- if anything -- what you are seeing was toned down on Murphy's own inputs, renders the actions truly mesmerizing.
How the real Audie Murphy even survived what he did is breathtaking. How he maintained his humility despite doing it goes beyond rational comprehension. In the end, what you are left with is the truth that Murphy would have traded every medal, every promotion, and every Hollywood perk he earned in his life, if in return all of his buddies would have survived the war with him.
The fact that they didn't all survive is what psychologically harmed him for the rest of his life.
That's the measure of the actual man -- it explains what he did, why he did it, and was the reason why he toned it down in his movie. He really wanted the audience to walk out of the theater appreciating his buddies, who sacrificed their own lives, more than appreciating Murphy for everything he did to try to get them through the war alive.
Perhaps he could settle for knowing we choose to appreciate them all!
Ironically, because of that, the movie actually understates the level of risks and heroism that Audie Murphy truly enacted. It was the star, himself, who constantly worked with the director to tone down the risks he would portray on the screen.
Such is entirely in keeping with the values of the man, Audie Murphy. But, sadly, as much as the movie conclusively portrays the man heroically, it leaves out quite a bit of emotion and rawness.
Just one example of many is the culminating scene which earned Murphy his Medal of Honor. That battle saw the real Murphy singlehandedly hold off the German advance for over an hour. The movie condensed it down to a few minutes.
And unlike the 1950's era romantic interest scene, nothing like that actually happened.
As much as the production value of the film falters for its relatively low budget virtues, Murphy himself makes up for it with the story itself, which is beyond words in terms of what he really did. It would be hard to accept a fictional film trying to show someone performing the deeds that Murphy does. Knowing that -- if anything -- what you are seeing was toned down on Murphy's own inputs, renders the actions truly mesmerizing.
How the real Audie Murphy even survived what he did is breathtaking. How he maintained his humility despite doing it goes beyond rational comprehension. In the end, what you are left with is the truth that Murphy would have traded every medal, every promotion, and every Hollywood perk he earned in his life, if in return all of his buddies would have survived the war with him.
The fact that they didn't all survive is what psychologically harmed him for the rest of his life.
That's the measure of the actual man -- it explains what he did, why he did it, and was the reason why he toned it down in his movie. He really wanted the audience to walk out of the theater appreciating his buddies, who sacrificed their own lives, more than appreciating Murphy for everything he did to try to get them through the war alive.
Perhaps he could settle for knowing we choose to appreciate them all!