
Hell Is for Heroes
Seen it?1962 | 90 min | War
Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Longest Day or The Guns of Navarone, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 30 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1962: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
World War II drama where the action centers around a single maneuver by a squad of GIs in retaliation against the force of the German Siegfried line. Reese joins a group of weary GIs unexpectedly ordered back into the line when on their way to a rest area. While most of the men withdraw from their positions facing a German pillbox at the far side of a mine-field, half a dozen men are left to protect a wide front. By various ruses, they manage to convince the Germans that a large force is still holding the position. Then Reese leads two of the men in an unauthorized and unsuccessful attack on the pillbox, in which the other two are killed; and when the main platoon returns, he is threatened with court-martial. Rather that face the disgrace, and in an attempt to show he was right, he makes a one-man attack on the pillbox.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 34K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Longest DayFriday Night FlickAnother war story, and a Friday Night Flick.
The Guns of NavaroneSaturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
All Quiet on the Western FrontSunday Safe BetAnother war story, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
DunkirkFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story.
Battle of the BulgeWeeknight WatchAnother war story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Don Siegel
- Steve McQueenPvt. John Reese
- Bobby DarinPvt. Dave 'J.J.' Corby
- Fess ParkerSgt. Bill Pike
- Harry GuardinoSgt. Jim Larkin
- James CoburnCpl. Frank Henshaw
- Mike KellinPvt. Stan Kolinsky
- Joseph HooverCapt. Roger Loomis
- Bill MullikinPvt. Joe Cumberly
- L.Q. JonesSupply Sgt. Frazer
- Michele MontauMonique Ouidel