Heroes for Sale (1933)

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Robert Lord (screen play) &
Wilson Mizner (screen play)

Release Date:

17 June 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The saga of Tom Holmes - a man of principles - from the Great War to the Great Depression. Will he ever get a break...

Plot Keywords:

Invention | Great Depression | Poverty | Tear Gas | Washing Machine

Cast

Richard Barthelmess	...	Tom
Aline MacMahon	...	Mary
Loretta Young	...	Ruth
Gordon Westcott	...	Roger
Robert Barrat	...	Max (as Robert Barratt)
Berton Churchill	...	Mr. Winston
Grant Mitchell	...	George Gibson
Charley Grapewin	...	Pa Dennis (as Charles Grapewin)
Robert McWade	...	Dr. Briggs
G. Pat Collins	...	Leader of Agitators (as George Pat Collins)
James Murray	...	Blind Soldier
Edwin Maxwell	...	Laundry Company President
Margaret Seddon	...	Jeanette Holmes
Arthur Vinton	...	Captain Joyce
Robert Elliott	...	'Red' Squad Policeman #1
John Marston	...	The Judge (voice)
Willard Robertson	...	The Sheriff (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ward Bond	...	Red (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Henderson - Soldier (uncredited)
Ronnie Cosby	...	Young Bill Holmes (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Announcer at Roger's Reception (uncredited)
James Donlan	...	Laundry Cashier (uncredited)
Mike Donlin	...	Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Jim - Chief Engineer (uncredited)
Hans Fuerberg	...	Lefner - German Prisoner (uncredited)
Eddie Graham	...	Man Attending Roger's Reception (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Policeman with Constable (uncredited)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Gibson's Secretary (uncredited)
George Irving	...	Gibson's Lawyer (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Harry - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Larry McGrath	...	Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
Henry Otho	...	Policeman Phoning for Riot Squad (uncredited)
Inez Palange	...	Mrs. Bonicelli (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Ed Brady - Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
Lorin Raker	...	Bank Employee (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Arguer (uncredited)
Landers Stevens	...	Laundry Executive (uncredited)
Guy Usher	...	Constable (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	'Red' Squad Policeman #2 (uncredited)
Tammany Young	...	Drug Peddler (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Wellman

Writing credits
Robert Lord		(screen play) &
Wilson Mizner		(screen play)

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
James Van Trees		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Howard Bretherton

Art Direction by
Jack Okey

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Jennings	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
James Van Trees Jr.	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra

Production Companies

• First National Pictures (controlled by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)

Distributors

• First National Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vitaphone Corporation, The (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (as The Vitaphone Corp.)
• Warner Bros (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (uncredited)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

76 min (copyright length) | USA:71 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2611-R, 3 September 1936 for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Director William A. Wellman used real hoboes for the fight scene and real laundry workers for the laundry scenes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ruth arrives by taxicab at the scene of the riot, the camera moves toward the cab and she is seen letting herself out from the back seat of the passenger side. However, after a jump cut, the driver is reaching around from the front seat of the cab and opening the door for her.

Quotes:

Thomas 'Tom' Holmes:You used to hate the capitalists.
Max Brinker:Naturally. That was before I had money.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "American Masters: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (#22.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Girl I Left Behind Me

A Yank Jean Valjean-- worth searching-for

HEROES FOR SALE is available on videotape as part of the "Forbidden Hollywood" series of pre-Hayes Code films. Since it is not salacious, unlike most of this line, its inclusion is a bit of a stretch-- its hero's morphine addiction is honestly come-by. Still, it is a grabber-- I have shown it to three acquaintances, and each has been as surprised as I. Why isn't this film better known? If you trouble yourself to find a copy, what you will get is a furiously compacted plot line that resembles an Americanized LES MISERABLES. Won't spoil the surprises, which are frequent. But the plot is hardly more surprising than the film's anger-- watch for the series of quick scenes late in the film documenting a Red-scare vendetta by Chicago police. What really seems "forbidden" here are the politics.