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Hell Is For Heroes

Hell Is For Heroes

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bobby Darin Really Shines in "Hell Is For Heroes"
Review: One of the grittiest and effective war films ever produced, "Hell is for Heroes" centers around a small band of WWII infantrymen who are ordered to hold their ground against hundreds of German soldiers despite the odds. While the movie centers around Steve McQueen and his patented off his rocker characterization, the real gem here is the legendary Bobby Darin, who handles drama, comedy, and pathos with the best of them. Darin later went on to win French Film Festival and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in the psychological drama "Pressure Point," and he garnered an Academy Award nomination for "Captain Newman, M.D." The whole cast is great, but Darin---as great an actor as he was a singer---really stands out. A great film---one of the best war movies ever made. God only knows how great Bobby Darin would have become had he lived beyond his thirty-seven years.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bobby Darin Really Shines in "Hell Is For Heroes"
Review: One of the grittiest and effective war films ever produced, "Hell is for Heroes" centers around a small band of WWII infantrymen who are ordered to hold their ground against hundreds of German soldiers despite the odds. While the movie centers around Steve McQueen and his patented off his rocker characterization, the real gem here is the legendary Bobby Darin, who handles drama, comedy, and pathos with the best of them. Darin later went on to win French Film Festival and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in the psychological drama "Pressure Point," and he garnered an Academy Award nomination for "Captain Newman, M.D." The whole cast is great, but Darin---as great an actor as he was a singer---really stands out. A great film---one of the best war movies ever made. God only knows how great Bobby Darin would have become had he lived beyond his thirty-seven years.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: DVD Prices are Hell Too!
Review: These prices are getting out of hand. Their are no extras on this dvd and it retails for almost $30! This is a $15 release, and that's being generous. I will hold out to find it on sale or  used. Yes this is a terrific movie and it introduced me to Bob Newhart's style. For now, I'll watch my vhs copy.

Please understand I want the most for my money. For under $30 I've bought; The Abyss, T2, Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. And these were ALL 2 disc releases! Last month I bought The Magnificent 7 for $13, it has a 1 hour documentry, 2 trailers, stills and a very enjoyable commentary with Eli Wallach, James Coburn plus others.

Well, I'm done venting.

Brian

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not memorable
Review: This is one of those movies that belongs on at three in the morning. Some of the acting is embarassing (such as the Captian and most of the opening shot). The plot and story are good, but it never-the-less seems thrown together. McQueen was good but overall it just wasn't worth spending money on. I wonder if I can get my money back...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant Character Study by STEVE McQUEEN
Review: Was there ever a man more misunderstood? Steve McQueen plays a soldier who lives only for the thrill of combat. His character is cold and frightening and borders on the psychotic. He's a sociopath who carves up German soldiers with a butcher knife. After the war there is no going back for him. I saw this when I was a kid. I saw a lot of war movies in the theatre back then but this was the first one that really scared me. It gave me a sick feeling inside of how real war must be like. The scene with the bayonets and landmines left an impact on me for a long time after. Everyone in this film gave realistic performances but I remember how Steve McQueen's character seemed really demented. Yet despite the obvious psychological makeup of McQueen is there still a human being hidden deep within him. What is a hero? Don Siegel directed this tough and mean film and asks this profound question. Cinematographer Harold Lipstein's photography brings stark realism to this film. Composer Leonard Rosenman's score is very reminiscent of his brilliant work for the very popular W.W.II television series "Combat!" which ran for 5 years. This film also boasted a brilliant cast. Bobby Darin, James Coburn, Fess Parker, L.Q. Jones, Nick Adams, Harry Guardino, Mike Kellin and Bob Newhart are all featured. This is an underrated classic.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: interesting footnote
Review: Without wishing to spoil the ending I once heard Bob Newhart give an interview saying that they ran out of film and the studio wouldn't give them any more. Whether this is the case or not, it surely is a good spin in demonstrating the story of a war doesn't end at a convenient moment.


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