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Audie Murphy
1924-1971
Updated 3/28/2008 with more films available on DVD and more books available.
biography
Born in Kingston, Texas, to cotton sharecroppers in June 1924, Audie Murphy was devastated when his father abandoned the large family in the late 1930s. To make matters worse, his mother passed away only a few years later. After the death of his mother, Murphy enlisted in the Army in 1942 and emerged from World War II as the nation's most decorated soldier and appeared on the cover of several magazines. War wounds aside, his boyish looks and popularity as a war hero made him a natural for films. Not long after his release from the service, Murphy made his way to Hollywood at the invitation of actor James Cagney. His first screen appearance came in the Paramount drama Beyond Glory (1948; with Alan Ladd and Donna Reed), in which Murphy portrayed a soldier. He landed a starring role in the juvenile-delinquent drama Bad Boy (1949; with Lloyd Nolan and Jane Wyatt). In 1949, while acting in a remake of Forbidden Valley titled Sierra (1950; with Burl Ives and Wanda Hendrix), Murphy met and married starlet Wanda Hendrix. The same year he published his now-famous autobiography, To Hell and Back, which is still in print. Murphy's marriage to Wanda Hendrix suffered under the strain of their careers and ended in 1950. The following year, Murphy married his second wife, Pamela Archer, a flight attendant.
the films of audie murphy
Kansas Raiders (1950)
From the Universal-International western Kansas Raiders. LEFT: With James Best, Dewey Martin, Brian Donlevy, Richard Long, and Tony Curtis. RIGHT: With Marguerite Chapman
The Kid from Texas (1950)
From the Universal-International western The Kid from Texas. LEFT: With Gale Storm. RIGHT: With Gale Storm and Albert Dekker
Gunsmoke (1953)
Stills from the Universal western Gunsmoke with Susan Cabot
Tumbleweed (1953)
Drums Across the River (1954)
With Hugh O'Brian in Drums Across the River
Walk the Proud Land (1956)
From the Universal-International western Walk the Proud Land. LEFT: With Charles Drake and Anne Bancroft. RIGHT: With Charles Drake and Pat Crowley
World in My Corner (1956)
From World in My Corner. The extreme right photo includes Barbara Rush
40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967)
From Murphy's penultimate film, 40 Guns to Apache Pass
later years
Audie Murphy's film career had been a successful one, but in the 1960s he put Hollywood on the back burner, focusing instead on his business interests. Unfortunately, he faced a reversal of fortune and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1968. Following this, he hit the comeback trail, starring in and producing Budd Boetticher's A Time for Dying (1971). Tragically, Murphy died before the film's release in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia, in May 1971 at age 46.
Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 1 [DVD] DVD
One-time desperadoes Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie go straight and join "The Texas Rangers" (1936) in their fight to uphold the law in Lone Star territory. When one of their former partners continues his outlaw ways, MacMurray and Oakie are called on to catch him. Lloyd Nolan, Jean Peter co-star. Next, the Oregon Territory of the 1850s is the setting for a bitter rivalry between scout-turned-general store owner Dana Andrews and crooked banker Brian Donlevy--a rivalry that intensifies when beautiful Susan Hayward comes between them--in "Canyon Passage" (1946). Audie Murphy stars as a young Jesse James, who becomes the protege of notorious outlaw William Quantrill (Donlevy) before making history as leader of his own gang, in "Kansas Raiders" (1950). With Marguerite Chapman, Tony Curtis. And, in his fir st starring role, Rock Hudson plays famed frontier badman John Wesley Hardin in director Raoul Walsh's well-crafted Western biodrama "The Lawless Breed" (1953). Julia Adams, John McIntyre and Lee Van Cleef also star. 6 hrs. total on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French; theatrical trailers.
The Red Badge Of Courage [DVD](1951) DVD
Based on Stephen Crane's classic novel of a young boy's coming of age as a Union Army recruit during the Civil War. Audie Murphy is excellent as Henry Fleming, who matures from a timid youth into a self-assured man and, finally, a hero. Also stars Bill Mauldin and Arthur Hunnicutt. 70 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
The Duel At Silver Creek [DVD](1952) DVD
A murderous gang of claim-jumpers have marshal Stephen McNally in their pocket, thanks to beautiful leader Faith Domergue, so it falls on deputy Audie Murphy, whose family was killed by the outlaws, to bring them to justice in this frontier drama directed by Don Siegel. 77 min.
Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 2 [DVD] DVD
Prairie fires, snowstorms, hostile Indians, and a gun-smuggling Joan Bennett are just some of the problems trail boss Randolph Scott has to cope with on a 10,000-head cattle drive to Kansas, in "The Texans" (1938). With May Robson, Robert Cummings, Walter Brennan. Barbara Stanwyck is a gambling queen with a shady past who joins forces with an Army deserter and an old-time miner to face off against a powerful land baron, in "California" (1946). Ray Milland, Barry Fitzgerald also star. Then, Audie Murphy is a gunman who is wrongly accused of helping the Dalton gang in a train robbery--then joins them for real, in "The Cimarron Kid" (1952). With Beverly Tyler, James Best. Finally, Glenn Ford stars as "The Man from the Alamo" (1953). Branded a coward for his actions at the doomed fortress, Ford must fight to prove himself during the Mexican War. Julia Adams, Victor Jory, Hugh O'Brian co-star. 6 hrs. total on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French; theatrical trailers.
To Hell And Back [DVD](1955) DVD
The most decorated soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, stars as himself in this gritty, unflinching film biography. Follow the exploits of a reluctant, unlikely hero who left his life as a Texas sharecropper to enlist in the army where he would serve in Africa, Italy, France, Austria, and Germany. David Janssen, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake, Denver Pyle co-star. 106 min.
Night Passage [DVD](1957) DVD
When Grant McLaine (Jimmy Stewart) is entrusted with taking the railroad's payroll to the end of the line, he must face off against his fearsome train-robbing brother The Utica Kid. But when he is forced to choose between duty and family, can Grant bring his unlawful sibling to justice? Thrilling western yarn co-stars Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea. 90 min. Soundtrack: English.
The Quiet American [DVD](1958) DVD
Inspired by the Graham Greene novel, this intriguing drama stars Audie Murphy as a naive American attempting to help the South Vietnamese in their struggles against French colonialism and Communists from the North. After encountering a cynical British journalist, Murphy becomes swept up in a maze of politics and jealousy that results in tragedy. With Michael Redgrave, Claude Dauphin. 122 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
No Name On The Bullet [DVD](1959) DVD
When notorious gunman-for-hire Audie Murphy arrives in a small frontier town, the locals know he's not there for a vacation. Who Murphy's target is, and the reason behind his mission of death, makes for a compelling western drama. With Joan Evans, Charles Drake, Edgar Stehli. 77 min.
The Unforgiven [DVD](1960) DVD
Sprawling, star-laden saga of two families in 1850's Texas in conflict with the neighboring Indians over suspected half-breed Audrey Hepburn. John Huston directs an impressive cast that features Burt Lancaster, Audie Murphy, Lillian Gish, Charles Bickford and Doug McClure. 125 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
The Texican [DVD](1966) DVD
Action-packed sagebrusher starring Audie Murphy as a former lawman, on the run after being framed, who returns from Mexico to search for the person responsible for the death of his newspaperman brother. Before long, Murphy discovers that a crooked saloon keeper is behind both deeds. With Broderick Crawford, Diana Lorys. 88 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Japanese.
A Time For Dying(1970) VHS
A young man is eager to make a name for himself in the Old West as a bounty hunter, and along the way he has some eye-opening encounters for the heroes and outlaws of the time. Dramatic look at western heroes stars Richard Lapp, Victor Jory as Judge Roy Bean, and, in his last role, Audie Murphy as Jesse James. 87 min.
filmography
A Time for Dying (1969) with Victor Jory, Peter Brocco, Ron Masak, Burt Mustin, Anne Randall, and Robert Random
40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) with Kenneth Tobey, Michael Burns, Laraine Stephens, and Michael Blodgett
The Texican (1966) with Broderick Crawford
Trunk to Cairo (1966) with George Sanders and Marianne Koch
Gunpoint (1965) with Warren Stevens, Robert Pine, Joan Staley, Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, Royal Dano, John Hoyt, and Ford Rainey
Arizona Raiders (1965) with Buster Crabbe, Gloria Talbott, and Ben Cooper
Apache Rifles (1964) with Michael Dante and John Archer
Bullet for a Badman (1964) with Darren McGavin, Ruta Lee, Edward Platt, Beverley Owen, George Tobias, and Alan Hale Jr.
The Quick Gun (1964) with Merry Anders, Gregg Palmer, and James Best
Gunfight at Comanche Creek (1963) with Colleen Miller, DeForest Kelley, Ben Cooper, and Susan Seaforth Hayes
Showdown (1963) with Charles Drake and Kathleen Crowley
Six Black Horses (1962) with Dan Duryea and Joan O'Brien
Battle at Bloody Beach (1961) with Gary Crosby, Alejandro Rey, Lillian Bronson, Ivan Dixon, and Kevin Brodie
Posse from Hell (1961) with John Saxon, Vic Morrow, and Lee Van Cleef
Seven Ways from Sundown (1960) with Barry Sullivan, Venetia Stevenson, John McIntire, and Kenneth Tobey
The Unforgiven (1960) with Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Doug McClure, and John Saxon
Hell Bent for Leather (1960) with Felicia Farr, Stephen McNally, and Allan 'Rocky' Lane
Cast a Long Shadow (1959) with Terry Moore, James Best, John Dehner, Denver Pyle, Ann Doran, and Stacy Harris
The Wild and the Innocent (1959) with Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland, Sandra Dee, Peter Breck, Jim Backus, Strother Martin, and Edson Stroll
No Name on the Bullet (1959) with Charles Drake, Warren Stevens, Joan Evans, and Virginia Grey
The Gun Runners (1958) with Eddie Albert and Jack Elam
Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) with Walter Matthau, Gia Scala, Henry Silva, and Joanna Moore
The Quiet American (1958) with Giorgia Moll and Michael Redgrave
Joe Butterfly (1957) with George Nader, John Agar, Keenan Wynn, and Fred Clark
Night Passage (1957) with James Stewart, Dan Duryea, Elaine Stewart, Hugh Beaumont, and Jack Elam
The Guns of Fort Petticoat (1957) with Kathryn Grant, Hope Emerson, and Jeff Donnell
Walk the Proud Land (1956) with Charles Drake, Anne Bancroft, Jay Silverheels, and Morris Ankrum
World in My Corner (1956) with Barbara Rush and Jeff Morrow
To Hell and Back (1955) with Marshall Thompson, Jack Kelly, Charles Drake, David Janssen, and Brett Halsey
Destry (1954) with Mari Blanchard, Lori Nelson, Lyle Bettger, and Mary Wickes
Drums Across the River (1954) with Lyle Bettger, Hugh O'Brian, and Mara Corday
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) with Susan Cabot, Russell Johnson, and Dan Duryea
Tumbleweed (1953) with Lori Nelson, Russell Johnson, Chill Wills, and Lee Van Cleef
Column South (1953) with Joan Evans, Russell Johnson, Robert Sterling, Jack Kelly, and James Best
Gunsmoke (1953) with Susan Cabot, Charles Drake, and Jack Kelly
The Duel at Silver Creek (1952) with Faith Domergue, Susan Cabot, and Gerald Mohr
The Cimarron Kid (1951) with Hugh O'Brian, John Bromfield, and James Best
The Red Badge of Courage (1951) with Andy Devine and Royal Dano
Kansas Raiders (1950) with Brian Donlevy, Scott Brady, Tony Curtis, Richard Long, Richard Egan, Richard Arlen, James Best, and Dewey Martin
Sierra (1950) with Wanda Hendrix, Burl Ives, Dean Jagger, and Tony Curtis
The Kid from Texas (1950) with Albert Dekker, Gale Storm, Will Geer, and William Talman
Bad Boy (1949) with Lloyd Nolan, Martha Vickers, Jane Wyatt, James Gleason, Selena Royle, Dickie Moore, and Tommy Cook
Beyond Glory (1948) with Alan Ladd, Donna Reed, Tom Neal, George Macready, Conrad Janis, and Margaret Field
Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven (1948) with Guy Madison, Irene Ryan, Lionel Stander, Margaret Hamilton, William Frawley, and Roscoe Karns; directed by William Castle
TELEVISION SERIES
Whispering Smith, 1961 NBC TV series. Murphy portrayed Detective Tom 'Whispering' Smith
TELEVISION GUEST SHOTS
Ford Startime, episode The Man, originally aired January 5, 1960
audie murphy links
The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Web Site offers a biography, film clips, a photo gallery, and more.
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This page premiered February 27, 2003.
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