Hell Is for Heroes is a 1962 World War II film directed by Don Siegel and stars Steve McQueen as Pvt. John Reese, a disillusioned US soldier who joins a rifle squad that finds itself short-handed while they are surprised by advancing German forces. The cast included James Coburn, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker and Bob Newhart in his feature film debut. Hell Is for Heroes was co-written by Robert Pirosh, who served in in World War II as an infantryman with the 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division and saw combat during the Alsace-Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. Following the war, Pirosh would also write the 1949 war film Battleground, for which he received the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay and subsequently created the WWII television series Combat!.
The following weapons were used in the film Hell Is for Heroes:
Pvt. John Reese (Steve McQueen) uses the M3 "Grease Gun" throughout the film. He tapes three of his magazines together "jungle style" for faster reloading. Interestingly, Reese only has M1 Garand ammunition pouches, and not any box magazine pouches.
Note: As is common in firing blank ammunition, many weapons used in the film experienced malfunctions. The M3 submachine gun Steve McQueen uses in the film appears to have to be cleared constantly of jams by the actor, notably in the final battle.
The M1 Carbine is seen carried by the mortar crews. The M1 carbines are fitted with the anachronistic bayonet lug.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingKorean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine. Most of the World War II variations of the M1 Carbine were sent back to the Military Arsenals and retrofitted with the Bayonet Lug and adjustable rear sight. This is the version seen after late 1945 and all the way until the 1960s. This version is seen most often in World War II movies, despite being anachronistic for most World War II battlesError creating thumbnail: File missingMortar crew with M1 carbines slung.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe M1 carbines are fitted with the anachronistic bayonet lug.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother shot of the M1 carbines carried by the mortar crew.
The Karabiner 98k is used by opposing German forces. After killing a charging German, Reese picks up the dead soldier's Karabiner 98k rifle and disables it by removing the bolt.
The M2 Flamethrower is used notably by Cpl. Henshaw (James Coburn) and Pvt. Corby (Bobby Darin). When the flamethrower is seen being used, the igniter appears to be the one used with an M1A1 Flamethrower (no pistol grips), yet the fuel tanks are that of the M2 flamethrower. Although a pair of typical M2 Flamethrowers are seen, they are not actually used in the movie.
