Themes: Unlikely Friendships, Journey of Self-Discovery, Starting Over
Main Cast: Henry Winkler, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Val Avery, Olivia Cole
Release Year: 1977
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Heroes is an old-fashioned social problem movie concerning a troubled Vietnam veteran and the loving woman who helps him to work out his problems. Henry Winkler plays Jack Dunne, a veteran who has a history of mental problems. Jack fools the hospital doctor Elias (Hector Elias) and escapes from the hospital with the intention of starting a worm farm with money collected from his fellow inmates. Jack hops aboard a bus, where he meets up with Carol Bell (Sally Field), who, invites Jack to join up with her on a trip to California. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Hector Elias - Dr. Elias; Ken Augustine - Charles; Verna Bloom; Dennis Burkley - Gus; Billy Burton - Bar Patron 2; Tony Burton - Chef; Helen Craig - Bus Depot Manager; John Finnegan - Munro; James W. Gavin - Pilot; Betty McGuire - Mrs. Munro; Bennie Moore - Adcox; John O'Leary - Ticket Clerk; Tom Rosqui - Patrolman 2; Fred Stuthman - Nathan; Dick Ziker - Artie; Michael Cavanaugh - Peanuts; William Ackridge - Starter; Caskey Swaim - Frank; David R. Ellis - Bar Patron 1; Susan Bredhoff - Nurse; Pat Hustis - Car Driver; Alex Tinne - Bridegroom
Credit
Jon Anderson - First Assistant Director, Jeremy Kagan - Director, Patrick Kennedy - Editor, Richard Hazard - Composer (Music Score), Jack Nitzsche - Composer (Music Score), Ken Chase - Makeup, Charles Rosen - Production Designer, Frank Stanley - Cinematographer, Lawrence Turman - Producer, David Foster - Producer, James W. Payne - Set Designer, David Ronne - Sound/Sound Designer, Bill Varney - Sound/Sound Designer, Jim Carabatsos - Screenwriter, Dave Freeman - Screenwriter, Stephen A. Hope - Music Editor
Heroes is a 1977 comedy drama film directed by Jeremy Kagan and starring Henry Winkler and Sally Field. Harrison Ford (in his first post-Star Wars role) plays a stock car driver in Sedalia, Missouri who keeps a stolen machine gun in his motor home. The movie was the first film released after the conflict ended in 1975 to address Vietnam War issues.
Plot
Jack Dunne (Winkler), a Vietnam veteran, escapes a mental ward in New York City to start 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 and imminent marriage to a man she has confused feelings towards. They set off on a trip to middle America: she traveling to think things over, he to locate his three old war buddies and involve them in his scheme to raise worms.
Trivia
In the MCA video release of the film, Kansas's song "Carry On Wayward Son" was removed from the last 3-4 minutes of the movie. The footage of Winkler running down the street when he is told his best buddy died in the Vietnam War, was removed and replaced with a scene of Field embracing Winkler in a fetal position in a marshy field.
The movie was shot during the height of Henry Winkler's popularity due to his starring role as "Fonzie" on the television comedy Happy Days. During shooting, a rumor of a Winkler sighting caused a crowd of pre-teen girls to charge up Walnut Street from St. Vincent's School in hopes of a glimpse of the heartthrob.
A rain machine was utilized for a key scene that took place at the old Greyhound bus station at the corners of Kentucky and C Streets.
