Hell Is for Heroes

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Matthew D Steve Mcqueen gives a hardened performance as a worn out soldier on the frontlines of WWII. Director Don Siegel always delivers gritty characters and bloody violence and his war drama Hell Is for Heroes (1962) is no different. Siegel’s direction is gripping and keeps things moving all the way to the exciting finale. Siegel introduces us to a group of weary soldiers in 1944 of World War II, who are sent back to the front line to hold this frontline with just six men. Don Siegel delivers a slower opening, then engrosses you with these intriguing characters and intense suspense, all for a riveting finale that’s worth the wait. It feels nihilistic, hopeless, and bleak. Steve McQueen and James Coburn are excellent and feel like real movie stars. The rest of the cast are amusing, like a young Bob Newhart, but their parts come across too much like a goofy MASH episode. There is a surprising amount of humor from writers Robert Pirosh and Richard Carr. The grimdark ending shows how violent and pointless war really is, especially when everyone is getting blown apart. It’s a quick 90 minutes, so Siegel does not waste your time. Editor Howard A. Smith’s smooth cuts keep us with this small group for an intimate feel. We never really see too much of the Germans or other platoons, so we get to know these guys pretty well. Cinematographer Harold Lipstein gives us mostly close-up and medium shots, so that it’s like we’re right there with this platoon. The few wide shots are of the frontline and attacking German side. The huge explosions by special effects artist Richard Parker are great. Composer Leonard Rosenman opts for a big score that feels tension rising. Sound designers Philip Mitchell and John Wilkinson keep the front quiet, so as to make the bombardments even louder by comparison. Overall, Don Siegel delivers a solidly bleak war film with Hell Is for Heroes. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/07/25 Full Review Daniel C. M A more quirky, fast-paced and gritty war film that often threads in dark comedy territory, a genuinely funny one at that, and features very well written characters and are also very well acted, alongside a great and masterful direction that successfully utilizes and disguises it's low budget and limited scenery. Though the movie starts to derail towards the end of the last act with genericity and a unsatisfying end full of loosen threads. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/03/25 Full Review Fred P A "B" picture with "A" list stars. McQueen's finest performance? Could be. Bob Newhart's first movie and all around significant war film that also stars James Coburn and Nick Adams, not to mention Fess Parker. Viewed it many times. The tension that McQueen gives is important and many actors could not have given this sort of performance. McQueen was a much better actor than some have given him credit for. Everyone involved seemed to have issues with this one and the fact that the film ended the way it did was really a stroke of luck as the Director and actors and producers were not good with each other. That ending is as good as it gets in a war film. Highly recommended. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Mike W There are a lot of accomplished actors here. Bobby Darin stood his ground with all of them Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review Audience Member Very average WW2 film. Steve McQueen is completely wooden as a soldier, lots of stock war footage, its just not a good film. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review camille l Aussi âpre et sans espoir qu'il peut être "L'Enfer est pour les Héros" de Don Siegel est aussi une nouvelle preuve que Steve McQueen est un acteur formidable, Dans le rôle du soldat revenu de tout qui peut aider tout un bataillon à surmonter une attaque allemande, McQueen est absolument formidable. Et Don Siegel sait qui le filmer. Il n'est pas de tous les plans mais c'est tout comme. C'est de loin l'acteur le plus important de ce film choral, dans un noir et blanc formidable. Malheureusement, "L'Enfer est pour les Héros" souffre du mal des années 60, le film se termine trop vite, une fois son intrigue principale expédiée. Il n'empêche que pendant 90 minutes, le film de Don Siegel est un bon film de guerre, plutôt sauvage pour l'époque. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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