Metrograph

Months after D-Day but still a long way from the fall of Berlin, in autumn of 1944, a squad of US troops from the 95th Infantry Division—including sullen, submachine gun-toting supersoldier Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, James Coburn, and Bob Newhart—face a trial by fire when tasked with holding off a company of Germans for 48 hours, until crucial reinforcements can be mustered. Siegel and McQueen were far from becoming fast friends during the sweltering summertime shoot of Hell Is For Heroes, but the rancid off-camera vibes were here turned to good use, and ultimately McQueen’s kill-crazy Pvt. John Reese fits in quite nicely with the gallery of antisocial odd men out who populate Siegel’s work.

Distributor: Paramount