075 - Hell is for Heroes

Synopsis: A handful of US soldiers hold the line against 'the Krauts' in WWII

Director: Don Siegel

Actors: Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Bob Newhart

Date: 1962

How viewed: Rented from Lovefilm

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:
Uneven, enthralling and unique ... a genre treasure, the last of its kind, a thinking war movie.

I say:

A somewhat pointless and predictable war film about a squad of 6 soldiers left behind to face the advancing German army. The story builds via a number of scenes: a slow beginning with the battle-weary soldiers expecting to be going home, the arrival of the weird looking Steve McQueen (staring eyes, silent, and clearly shell-shocked), the move to the front, the  squad being left to hold the line whilst the rest of the company is temporarily moved elsewhere, the schemes to try and fool the enemy into thinking the full company is still present, the mis-guided attempt to attack the Germans ensconced in a pill box, the return of the company, and the final assault. There's a strange sub-plot about a young Polish guy who wants the join the squad and turns up on the front-line, it's annoying when actual footage is inserted, and whilst the likes of Fess Parker (best remembered as Davy Crockett!) and Harry Guardino look the part, the inclusion of Bobby Darin (who was a huge pop star in the 1950's and is surprisingly good in this film) and Bob Newhart (the comedian) are unexpected!  The film ends suddenly, like this blog (they ran out of money, I ran out of ideas!).