Heroes (1977 film)
Heroes | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jeremy Kagan |
Produced by |
David Foster Lawrence Turman |
Written by | James Carabatsos |
Starring |
Henry Winkler Sally Field Harrison Ford Val Avery |
Music by | Jack Nitzsche |
Cinematography | Frank Stanley |
Edited by | Patrick Kennedy |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | November 4, 1977 |
Running time | 112 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $15 million[1] |
Box office | $42 million[2] |
Heroes is a 1977 American drama film directed by Jeremy Kagan[3] and starring Henry Winkler, Sally Field and Harrison Ford (in his first post-Star Wars role, but filmed before that movie's release).
Winkler plays a Vietnam War veteran with PTSD who sets about finding the men from his unit that had served in Vietnam. Field plays his at-first-reluctant girlfriend and Ford plays one of the former soldiers in his unit, now a dysfunctional stock car driver in Sedalia, Missouri who keeps a stolen M-16 in his motor home. This was the first film released after the conflict ended in 1975 to address Vietnam War issues.
Plot
Jack Dunne (Winkler), an amnesiac Vietnam veteran , escapes a mental ward in New York City intent on starting a business as a worm farmer in Eureka, California.
At the bus station, he accidentally meets Carol Bell (Field), a woman unsure of her engagement to a man towards whom she has confused feelings. Initially annoyed by Jack, Carol gradually warms to him as they set off on a trip through middle America towards Northern California: during the journey she has time to reflect on her impending nuptials as Jack tries to locate his three war buddies hoping to enlist them in his dream to start a worm farm
It becomes clear that the first two friends Jack and Carol locate are in too poor condition to do much work of any kind. When a visit to the parents of the third results in the disclosure that the friend had died in the war, Jack, who knew as much but was in denial, relives the battlefield trauma of his buddy's death. Finally, Carol's compassion and caring enable Jack to come to terms with reality.
It should be noted, that the original theater release included, as the outro theme, Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, which the band never approved. Subsequently, the VHS release omitted it.
Cast
- Henry Winkler as Jack Dunne
- Sally Field as Carol Bell
- Harrison Ford as Ken Boyd
- Val Avery as Bus Driver
- Olivia Cole as Jane Adcox
- Hector Elias as Dr. Elias
- Dennis Burkley as Gus
- Tony Burton as Chef
- Michael Cavanaugh as Peanuts
Reception
Critical Reception
The movie received a mixed reception. Roger Ebert gave the movie 3 stars out of a possible 4. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an audience score of 53%, although doesn't have a Tomatometer rating as of 2016. Despite the mixed reception, Henry Winkler's performance received acclaim, and he received a Golden Globe nomination.
Box Office
Despite the mixed critical and audience reception, the movie a box office success, grossing $42 million on a $15 million, and opened at #1 at the box office.
Awards
Henry Winkler received a Golden Globe award nomination for Best Actor in a Drama film. He also received the corresponding BAFTA nomination. It received another BAFTA nomination, for Best Musical Score. [4][5]
Awards
Henry Winkler was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama film, and also received the corresponding BAFTA nomination.
References
- ↑ Box Office Information for Heroes. The Wrap. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Heroes, Box Office Information". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Heroes". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ↑ "HEROES: Fearless Fonz". Time. November 21, 1977. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ↑ Canby, Vincent (1977-11-05). "Movie Review - Heroes - 'Heroes,' Excruciatingly Obvious Film - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
External links
- Heroes at the Internet Movie Database
- Heroes at Rotten Tomatoes
- Heroes at the TCM Movie Database