Hell Is for Heroes **** (1962, Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, Bob Newhart, Mike Kellin, Nick Adams) – Classic Movie Review 3460

The youngish Steve McQueen, already aged 32 after 10 years in the business, heads a powerful cast under Don Siegel’s snappy direction for this exciting, realistic 1962 World War Two war movie. It also stars Bobby Darin as Private Corby and Fess Parker as Sergeant Pike.

The then rising star McQueen plays Private John Reese, who leads the reluctant American heroes into taking a well-defended, machine-gun-packed Nazi stronghold by pretending that they are superior in strength. There are no heroics; the lads just want to finish the job and stay alive.

McQueen’s first-rate performance as the cynical private John Reese helped his steady climb to the top in Hollywood, following his role as Vin Tanner in The Magnificent Seven (1960). In a rich cast, Harry Guardino as Sergeant Larkin, James Coburn as Corporal Henshaw, Bob Newhart as Private Driscoll, Mike Kellin as Private Kolinsky and Nick Adams as Homer Janeczek also make their mark.

Michele Montau is the sole woman in the movie, which also has Stephen Ferry, Simon Prescott, Robert Phillips, Joseph Hoover, Bill Mullikin, L Q Jones as Supply Sergeant Frazer, Don Haggerty and Chuck Hicks in the cast.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3460

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