– Hired to Die (1961) … Tom ‘Whispering’ Smith The Texican (1966), his lone attempt at a new, European form of inexpensive horse opera, to be known as the Spaghetti Western, was unsuccessful. That cheap Westerns on the big screen were becoming a thing of the past bode no good for Murphy, either. For theatrical productions, it dropped its roster of contract players and hired actors on a per-picture basis only. Universal’s new owners, MCA, dumped its “International” tag in 1962 and turned the studio’s focus toward the more lucrative television industry. Meanwhile, the studio system that Murphy grew into as an actor crumbled. He worked for Huston again on The Unforgiven (1960). One of his better pictures was Night Passage (1957), a Western in which he played the kid brother of James Stewart. He starred in the film version of his autobiography, To Hell and Back (1955), which was a huge hit, setting a box-office record for Universal that wasn’t broken for 20 years it was finally surpassed by Jaws (1975)). Murphy, however, had already signed with Universal-International Pictures, which was putting him in a string of modestly budgeted Westerns, a genre that suited his easygoing image and Texas drawl. Murphy proved adequate as an actor, but the film, with virtually no female presence (or appeal), bombed badly at the box office. While this film is now considered a minor classic, the politics behind the production sparked an irreparable fissure within the ranks of the studio’s upper management. He finally got a lead role in Bad Boy (1949), and starred in the trouble-plagued production of MGM’s The Red Badge of Courage (1951), directed by John Huston.ĬLICK ON THE PHOTO TO GO TO Audie Murphy Western Movies to watch Free VIDEOS. For the next several years he struggled to make it as an actor, but jobs were few, specifically just two bit parts, in Beyond Glory (1948) and Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven (1948). Cagney Productions paid for acting and dancing lessons but was reluctantly forced to admit that Murphy–at least at that point in his career–didn’t have what it took to become a movie star. His story caught the interest of superstar James Cagney, who invited Murphy to Hollywood.

In September 1945 Murphy was released from active duty and assigned to inactive status. Soldiers and wounding and capturing many more. In addition, he was also decorated for bravery by the governments of France and Belgium, and was credited with killing over 240 German Among his 33 awards was the Medal of Honor, the highest award for bravery that a soldier can receive. The son of poor Texas sharecroppers, Audie Murphy became a national hero during World War II as the most decorated combat soldier of the war. Audie Murphy Western Movies to watch Free.

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