ActorAudie Murphywas a beloved figure in America, both for his military service and his acting abilities,starring in many Westernsand war-themed productions. He would go on to various notable roles throughout his career before his untimely death in a plane crash in 1971, shortly before his 46th birthday. Out of all his various performances, one stands out as his best. It was awarfilm that has withstood the test of time and resonated with audiences decades after its release in 1951.
We will look at the making ofThe Red Badge of Courage, why the film has withstood the test of time and is still discussed to this day, and highlight why the 1951 war movie is Audie Murphy’s best.
The Red Badge of Courage Plot and Cast
Based on Stephen Crane’s 1986 novel of the same name, the John Huston filmThe Red Badge of Couragefollows a young Union soldier named Henry Fleming (Audie Murphy) during the American Civil War. Initially, Henry struggles with finding the courage to fight in battle and, in his first conflict, deserts his regiment when he is overcome with fear. This shameful act and the ridicule that comes with fleeing war push Fleming to be wounded in battle, obtaining his “red badge of courage,” to make up for his cowardice. He heads back to the battlefield in an attempt to prove his merits but struggles with thehorror of war.
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The cast ofThe Red Badge of Courageincluded Audie Murphy, Bill Mauldin, Douglas Dick, Royal Dano, John Dierkes, Arthur Hunnicutt, and Tim Durant. Audie Murphy, who played Henry Flemming, was a WW2 veteran and one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, gaining 33 awards for his service. This included the Medal of Honor, which was the highest award for bravery that a soldier could receive. Murphy was also an accomplished actor who would star in other notable films, such asTo Hell and Back,where he played himself recounting his time in the war, and the WesternNo Name on the Bullet, where he played the lead role, John Grant.
Bill Mauldin, who played Tom Wilson, was an artist hired as an illustrator for the military (creating the iconic Willie and Joecharacters), andThe Red Badge of Courageis his most notable role. Royal Dano was an accomplished character actor with over 150 credits to his name across various genres; he is loosely related tobeloved actor Paul Dano(Paul Dano is the grandson of Royal Dano’s brother, making them first cousins once removed). Arthur Hunnicutt became a Western genre staple, appearing in classics likeEl DoradoandCat Ballou.
The Making of The Red Badge of Courage
Actor/director John Huston had already established himself as a powerhouse in Hollywood, having completed work onThe Maltese Falcon(1941) andThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre(1948). In addition, Huston was coming off the success ofThe Asphalt Jungle(1950) in the lead-up to 1951’sThe Red Badge of Courage. Despite this, the film faced problems throughout its production due to the strain of Cold War politics, a shift at MGM, and John Huston’s uncompromising vision for the film.
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The most notable delay came from Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, who was against the film, questioning its success during the Korean War, current American sentiments, and Audie Murphy’s star power to carry the film. Huston failed to budge on Murphy, seeing his potential in the role and looking for authenticity as he explored the experience of soldiers.
The Red Badge of Couragewould fail at the box office but received praisefor the performances of Murphy and Mauldin. However, the importance of the film would resonate long past its initial box office shortcomings, becoming a staple of film studies due to its nuanced portrayal of the realities of war and its overall impact on the genre. This was because the film distinguished itself by focusing on the psychological and emotional toll of war, while still highlighting themes of bravery, duty, and heroism.
Why The Red Badge of Courage Is Still Considered Audie Murphy’s Best Movie
The Red Badge of Courageis Audie Murphy’s best role due to its impact on war films, especially considering the film required him to lean into the emotional aspects of combat’s effect on the psyche.It’s especially notable for exploring the perception of war from someone who has gone through it from the less glorified/propaganda war-focused movies of the past, which still dominated, even though films likeAll Quiet on the Western Fronthad already challenged the notion of glorifying war when released in 1930. Murphy was, and is, the perfect protagonist forThe Red Badge of Courageand director John Huston’s push to keep him in the lead was incredible insight when looking at the final result.
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This familiarity with war and the surrounding mentality came out in Audie’s performance, while also marking a change from the Westerns that Murphy had previously done leading up to the movie. Audie Murphy was able to tap into his own wartime experience to give a riveting and believable performance as Henry Flemming; showcasing the real-life courage he had torely on to survive WWII. And, as a sentiment that rings true to his performance in the movie, Audie Murphy was infamously quoted saying:
“No soldier ever really survives a war.”
The movie certainly highlighted Murphy as a soldier and an actor and would distinguish him as a talent in Hollywood, despite the film’s initial box-office troubles. Comparatively,To Hell and Back, which was a hit in its theatrical run, saw more acclaim for Murphy, but the landmark movie retelling his experiences in the war may not have come to fruition without him proving his acting abilities inThe Red Badge of Courage.
Audie Murphy was an American hero and a true talent on the screen. While he had many memorable roles throughout his career,The Red Badge of Courageis still considered by many to be his best movie. For those who want to discover or revisit the1951 war movie classic, you canbuy or rentThe Red Badge of Couragethrough Apple TV+, Prime, or YouTube.
