HELL IS FOR HEROES is the second of two war movies that Steve McQueen made in 1962, the other being THE WAR LOVER, in which he played basically the same character: bright, taciturn, impetuous with a James Dean-style streak of rebellion. This one's a black-and-white effort by the great Don Siegel which follows the usual '50s template of joining a platoon of American soldiers as they battle against overwhelming odds in occupied territory. The budget effectively brings the chaos of battle to life, although like many this is essentially a character drama spearheaded by McQueen's larger-than-life performance. Good support comes from familiar faces including James Coburn and Bobby Darin, and it finishes on a dramatic high.
Review of Hell Is for Heroes
