History Film / HellIsForHeroes

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with [[Creator/SteveMcQueenActor Steve McQueen]], an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Creator/FessParker, Creator/HarryGuardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. Pirosh, who also wrote ''Film/Battleground1949'', would go on to write much of the series ''[[Series/Combat1962 Combat!]]'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Reese ([=McQueen=]) is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in France. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

* BadassBeard: Reese's beard is thin, but it definitely gives [=McQueen=] an unexpected hard-bitten edge that helps him disappear into the character.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Creator/FessParker, Creator/HarryGuardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. Pirosh, who also wrote ''Film/Battleground1949'', would go on to write much of the series ''[[Series/Combat1962 Combat!]]'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. Pirosh, who also wrote ''Film/Battleground1949'', would go on to write much of the series ''[[Series/Combat1962 Combat!]]'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_3271.jpeg]]

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. Pirosh, who also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'', would go on to write much of the series ''[[Series/Combat1962 Combat!]]'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. Pirosh, who also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'', would go on to write much of the series ''Series/{{Combat}}'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

* SpiritualSuccessor: In creating ''Series/{{Combat}}'', Robert Pirosh continued the tone and style of his screenplay for this film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Nick Adams, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. The writer, Robert Pirosh, also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'' and after ''Hell Is For Heroes'' would write much of the series ''Series/{{Combat}}'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart. The writer, Robert Pirosh, also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'' and after ''Hell Is For Heroes'' would write much of the series ''Series/{{Combat}}'', which is stylistically similar to this film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

* NoEnding: The film ends mid-battle, after [[spoiler:Reese's]] HeroicSacrifice.

* MidwayPlotSwitch: Starts off as a story about a colorful group of American soldiers in the French countryside, then finishes as a gritty, intense combat film.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) is a 1962 film directed by Don Siegel and co-written by Robert Pirosh. It was Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) was Don Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueenActor, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) was Don Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/JamesCoburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

* NewhartPhonecall: Done by Creator/BobNewhart himself in his earliest film role, based on his standup routines. Driscoll pretends to radio command to fool the Germans, who planted a bug in an abandoned pillbox.

During WorldWarII, Reese ([=McQueen=]) is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in France. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) was Don Siegel's only war film, and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/James Coburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) is Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision; it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Also in the cast are Music/BobbyDarin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, Creator/James Coburn, and Creator/BobNewhart.

Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision, ''Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) puts the star in the familiar role of antihero.

During WorldWarII, Reese ([=McQueen=]) is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in France. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Harry Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision, it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Reese ([=McQueen=]) is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in France. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Harry Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

* NewhartPhonecall: Done by Bob Newhart himself in his earliest film role, based on his standup routines. Driscoll pretends to radio command to fool the Germans, who planted a bug in an abandoned pillbox.

Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision, it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. Reese ([=McQueen=] is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in France. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Harry Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

* NewhartPhonecall: Done by Bob Newhart himself in his earliest film role, based on his standup routines. Driscoll pretends to radio command to fool the Germans, who planted a bug in

* NewhartCPhonecall: Done by Bob Newhart himself in his earliest film role, based on his standup routines. Driscoll pretends to radio command to fool the Germans, who planted a bug in

Don Siegel's only war film and unfortunately his only teaming with Creator/SteveMcQueen, an actor whose rebellious persona jibed well with the director's vision, it puts the star in the familiar role of antihero. His character, Reese, is an embittered G.I. who has just been sent back to join his war-weary unit holding down a position opposite a pillbox on the Siegfried Line in Belgium. Recently demoted back to private from staff sergeant for drinking, he chafes under all authority, and is a pariah to fellow grunts, despite their awareness of his extraordinary courage in battle. A natural leader, he persuades his sergeant (Harry Guardino) to implement a plan he's formulated to keep the Germans at bay by making them believe that the small outfit is larger than it is. While this is temporarily effective, Reese knows that it's only a matter of time before the enemy discovers the truth, and takes it on his own authority to lead an attack on the well-defended pillbox, although his unit has been assigned only to hold their ground.

* NewhartConversation: Done by Bob Newhart himself, based on his standup routines.