The story of a real-life hero
‘Shane, Shane! Come back Shane!” Do you recall those words? The heart-wrenching, final scene of one of the greatest western movies ever made.
For many of us western films were favourites, especially in the days when cinemas like the regal Shah Jehan would show blockbuster double features.
The storylines were predictable, the men were men, the women were feminine and the horses were magnificent. The definite “shoot-em-up” actor was one Marion Morrison who starred in over 200 cowboy movies and fortunately changed his name to John Wayne, also known as “The Duke”.
Wayne and other western genre actors like Kirk Douglas, Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster became our heroes. Alas, but it was all just screen acting. Yet it was so convincingly done that we hailed them as role models.
However, some walked the talk as it were: Ronald Reagan went on to make a second career out of politics and became the president of the US.
I want to tell you the story of a real-life hero who became a western film actor. A close friend of mine, who passed on years ago, was a western movie buff. Romesh Lachman’s favourite western actor was Audie Murphy.
My past few Sundays have been spent digging up old Audie Murphy westerns on the internet. Subsequently, I have become a huge fan.
He was small in build, but large in screen presence. He had a unique acting style that saw him play a variety of different roles. He could play a cold-blooded killer such as he did in No Name on the Bullet or in most of his roles as a law officer or a fast-draw hero. Films like Gunsmoke, Forty Guns to Apache Pass and The Texican cemented his place in Hollywood history.
However, it was in real-life that he accomplished more.
Murphy was born in Texas in 1925 as the seventh in a family of 12 children. His father deserted his young family and Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade and got into a variety of menial jobs to support the family. It was also then that he acquired the skill with a rifle as he hunted rabbit and other small game to help feed his mom and 11 siblings. Their mom died soon thereafter and the family split with the younger ones being placed in an orphanage.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Murphy made an unsuccessful bid to enlist in the army and navy, as he was said to be underage and underweight.
His elder sister falsified his birthdate via an affidavit and Murphy was accepted by the US Army in 1942. That was the start of a remarkable, heroic military career that saw the diminutive Murphy awarded 33 US military medals, including three Purple Hearts and one Medal of Honor.
His rise up the ranks was rapid and violent.
From a platoon messenger in the army at Algeria, he was promoted to private first class, then to staff sergeant, and ended his military career as a first lieutenant.
In one incident, Murphy’s platoon was in southeast France, making its way through a vineyard when they were attacked by German soldiers. He retrieved a machine gun that had been detached from the squad and returned fire at the German soldiers, killing two and wounding one. Then two Germans exited a house about 100m away and appeared to surrender. When Murphy’s best friend responded, they shot and killed him. Murphy advanced alone on the house under direct fire. He killed six, wounded two and took 11 prisoners.
Despite suffering two bouts of malaria and a severe heel wound from a mortar attack during combat, the pint-sized hero served his country with distinction. Murphy received every US military combat award for valour available from the US army for his World War II service.
When he made the cover of Life magazine as “the most decorated soldier”, legendary actor James Cagney invited him to Hollywood.
After a slow start, Murphy made it big in a difficult industry, once again showing amazing tenacity.
In 1949, he wrote his war memoirs in a book he entitled To Hell and Back, which became a bestseller. After much soul searching, in 1955 he was persuaded to play himself in the movie production of the book. The movie went on to become the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time.
Sadly, the latter part of his life was not as positive. One divorce later, he married again and had two children. Gambling and bad business deals saw him almost bankrupt.
Despite severe financial problems, Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes, aware of the influence he would have on the young ones.
In 1971, at the age of 45, Murphy died in a plane crash in the mountains near Colorado. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honours.
So, there you have it. The story of a hero, on and off the silver screen. Catch his movies if you can and enjoy the immense talent of Audie Murphy.
So long “pardner!”