Heroes (1977)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Jeremy Kagan

Writers:

James Carabatsos (writer)
David Freeman (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 1978 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Finding the one you love... is finding yourself.

Plot:

A Vietnam veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder breaks out of a VA hospital and goes on a road trip with a sympathetic traveler to find out what became of the other men in his unit.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Road | Worm Farm | Vietnam Veteran | Road Trip

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Henry Winkler	...	Jack Dunne
Sally Field	...	Carol Bell
Harrison Ford	...	Ken Boyd
Val Avery	...	Bus Driver
Olivia Cole	...	Jane Adcox
Hector Elias	...	Dr. Elias
Dennis Burkley	...	Gus
Tony Burton	...	Chef
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Peanuts
Helen Craig	...	Bus Depot Manager
John P. Finnegan	...	Mr. Munro
Betty McGuire	...	Mrs. Munro
John O'Leary	...	Ticket Clerk
Tom Rosqui	...	Patrolman #2
Fred Stuthman	...	Nathan

Runtime:

112 min | Germany:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Inverness, California, USA

Company:

David Foster Productions

Trivia:

The scenes where Jack and Carol are hitchhiking on a road alongside giant redwood trees was shot within feet of the future location of George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch.

Quotes:

Carol Bell: [cheers wildly, as Jack's race ends]
Ken Boyd: He didn't win.
Carol Bell: I know, but at least he didn't get killed!

Soundtrack:

CARRY ON WAYWARD SON

"Lay your weary head to rest/Don't you cry no more"

Henry Winkler is a bit awkward playing a mixed-up Vietnam vet with repressed memories of combat who breaks out of a mental hospital in search of a war-buddy who shares his dream of starting a worm farm (!). After causing a ruckus in a diner which gets runaway bride Sally Field in big trouble (playing virtually the same character she did in "Smokey And The Bandit"), Winkler becomes involved in rabbit-hutch building and race-car driving before falling in love with his new traveling companion (who tearfully ends her impending marriage over the phone), coming to a dramatic resolution of Reality after getting a painful dose of the Truth. "Heroes" isn't much better than the average TV movie of the seventies, and with a built-in campy kick (say, Fonzie meets Gidget--with the addition of Han Solo!). However, despite some ludicrous dialogue, there are several strong scenes. Sally Field is her usual sassy self, and the emotional ending (with the Kansas song) is surprisingly sensitive and well-done. **1/2 from ****