Audie Murphy.

Audie Murphy was a war hero and a movie star. He was a poor kid from Texas who became the most decorated GI of WWII, cited time and again for heroism in battle, ultimately receiving this country’s highest award for action above and beyond the call of duty: the Congressional Medal of Honor. After the war he went to Hollywood and starred in dozens of motion pictures and several television shows. He died in a plane crash in 1971 at the age of 46.

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Audie Murphy 2nd row 2nd left

I'm putting a link because there is too much information about Audie murphy for me to do it justice.

http://www.audiemurphy.com/

 

I think he played himself in one of the war films. His War record is unbelievable and much respect goes his way... :thumb:

 

Yes, his War Record goes without speaking, undoubtedly but it makes you wonder if he played himself, how 'true to form' it was as opposed to the odd 'slight embelishment', shall we say, on His part. I doubt this happened but playing yourself, you've only your own testimony to go by.

 

Aye a truly amazing soldier. I have never seen any of his films but it looks like "To Hell And Back " is a good place to start:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048729/

 

Aye thats the one Dave... :thumb:

 

I remember my father years ago talking about this chap, not sure what to believe thou as he is American written about by Americans, if you get my meaning.

 

I've been watching "To Hell And Back" and it's a good solid movie. I am enjoying it more than I did "Flags of our Fathers".
Still I can't help but wonder WTF he was doing agreeing to play himself in heroic roles when so many other heroes found it impossible to even talk about.


(Kelly I am forwarding this film on VHS as soon as I've finished it :thumb: )

 

Who better to play the "Hero" than the man himself... :thumb: I think the movie moguls really wanted this to happen and Murphy was only to happy to oblige.. :silly:

 

:thumb: You are indeed a gentleman and a scholar of the highest order :yeah:
And as for his ability to act when others found it almost impossible to talk, you mentioned it earlier.....HOLLYWOOD, or as I like to think of it, BULLSH1TVILLE.

 

I agree... and I really should rent one of his movies soon because I have a
feeling I'd enjoy it. As a bit of trivia here, Audie is buried at Arlington and
I've seen his resting place. It's near the stage/amphitheater and if I'm
not mistaken, not too far from the Challenger astronauts' memorial. Audie
was given full honors when he was buried (of course!)

 

Many of his films are very worth watching. To Hell and Back, The Red Badge of Courage (though the studios horribly chopped that film to pieces leaving us with about 1/2 the movie which is on DvD) No Name on the Bullet (a VERY thoughtful Western) Bad Boy--which was his first starring role in which he played a youngster gone wrong, and just too many other good to great movies with him to list. He also was the star of a 1 seasoned lived TV series by the name of Whispering Smith. The series itself was a knock-off on the movie of the same name which starred: Alan Ladd. The TV series COULD have worked had they kept the Smith character in the role he was in in the movie of the same name. In the movie he was a Railroad Detective, in the TV series, he was a Detective in a Police Station which I think was in Colorado?? cant recall? Also, the series COULD have worked had that given Audie Murphy something to work with--like talented actors for one. Instead of having Sam Buffington as the police chief--they SHOULD have used someone like: Glenn Strange. In the role of Murphy's detective partner--they SHOULD have used someone with talent like: Jeff York--who could be a clown and was a good singer to boot.

Sorry about going off topic a bit.

 

To Hell and Back is as truthful as they get-which is a certified fact.

I DO get the drift however, the book he wrote is as truthful as they get. However, Audie Murphy was a very modest man and he left out many things attesting to his bravery-such as being a stalker of German snipers having many duels with them and winning every duel. Murphy is credited with personally killing at least 200 enemy soldiers in WWII. The first two "unlucky" soldiers killed were Italians. Murphy also saved Lt. Colonel Ware and the patrol he was leading by simply keeping distance but "attaching" himself to the patrol. Murphy single-handedly attacked and wiped out two hidden German MG-nests who were in the process of ambushing Ware's patrol. Ware also became a Medal of Honor Recipient in WWII. Please check the Audie Murphy website for the facts on him.

 

He was a great actor and war hero.

I read a couple of pages about him on wiki and a couple of other sites.He was one of a kind.

 

I am another who has not read or seen a film about this guy. Hope to come a cross one of his films next time i am in a HMV shop. :thumb:

 

What Price Glory?

In November 1942 the 3rd Infantry Division went ashore in North Africa. Over the next thirty months the division fought in Tunisia, Sicily, central Italy, Anzio, southern France, Alsace, and Germany. This experience made the 3rd one of the five hardest hit U.S. divisions (3rd, 4th, 9th, 36th, and 45th) in the war, which collectively ran through an average of 176 percent of their personnel during the European campaign. As a result, by the end of January 1945 one company in the division had just 2 men left of the 235 who had come ashore at Casablanca. One of them was Audie Murphy, who had risen from private to lieutenant while accumulating twenty-four decorations, including a Medal of Honour. The other man was a supply sergeant.

 

Audie truly was one of a kind. I also like the fact that he was born and raised not too far from where I live. Also, proud that he is a fellow Texan ;-)) :thumb:

 

Give the movie a watching--it is a masterpiece and you will regret not watching it. Also, while im thinking of it--The Story of G.I. Joe which starred: Burgess Merideth and Robert Mitchum--is on DvD and if you like movies that are VERY truthful to the books they are based on--this one is a must. The Story of G.I. Joe is from Ernie Pyle's excellent book: Brave Men. Ive read it and seen the movie numerous times and the movie is a live action of the book.

Anyway, most any movie that Audie Murphy made--was very good to great. I like most of his Westerns too. No Name on the bullet is a fine example of one of his great movies.

 

I have a long and detailed post I made on Audie Murphy on a site I can no longer access. Im going to see if I can get someone to go there for me and bring it here. Most of the info in my posting on him is NOT mine--but some is. Anyway, it would be an excellent piece for this site--not that im trying to sound bullish on it--but you will enjoy reading it.