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Hero at Large (1980)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
AJ Carothers (writer)
Release Date:
5 June 1980 (West Germany)
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Tagline:
Help is on the way!
Plot:
An idealistic but struggling actor finds his life unexpectedly complicated when he stops a robbery while wearing the costume of Captain Avenger...
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NewsDesk:
Defendor Trailer: Woody Harrelson Is Canada’s Dark Knight
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 3 September 2009, 7:14 AM, PDT)
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 3 September 2009, 7:14 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Hero With Heart
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | John Ritter | ... | Steve Nichols |
 | Anne Archer | ... | J. Marsh |
 | Bert Convy | ... | Walter Reeves |
| Kevin McCarthy | ... | Calvin Donnelly |
| Harry Bellaver | ... | Eddie |
| Anita Dangler | ... | Mrs. Havacheck |
| Jane Hallaren | ... | Gloria Preston |
| Leonard Harris | ... | Mayor |
| Rick Podell | ... | Milo |
 | Allan Rich | ... | Marty Fields |
| Kurt Andon | ... | Fireman |
| Gerry Black | ... | Hero at Fire |
| Tony Cacciotti | ... | Anthony Casselli |
| William Bogert | ... | TV Moderator |
| Joyce Brothers | ... | Herself (as Dr. Joyce Brothers) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
Germany:98 min | USA:98 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The fictitious actor playing Captain Avenger in the movie in the movie was Ryan McGraw.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: As Steve sits in his cab listening to a portable police scanner, he is still moving the tuner (showing needle movement) while the dispatcher can be clearly heard giving the information about the fleeing criminals.
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Quotes:
Steve Nichols:
Mind if I drop in?
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (12 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Hero at Large (1980)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Hero At Lare / Captain Avenger action figure | Gemil |
| $3 at Big Lots | LordHumungus |
| We need more movies like this. | Dave182 |
| Is this available on DVD? | spock2285 |
Recommendations
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There's a lot going on with "Hero At Large." Notably, this is a film that was, for the bulk of it, made on location in NYC, circa 1979. That fact alone would be enough to recommend it, because it gives you a glimpse into what the city was about at that time, how it looked, what was playing at local movie houses and on Broadway, and what was important to its residents.
But this film goes well beyond the basics of the setting. And that's due to a meaningful script by A.J. Carothers and a truly remarkable performance by John Ritter.
In some ways, Ritter's character here is in a similar situation to Dustin Hoffman's character in 1982's "Tootsie." He plays an out of work actor who is desperate to get a part in a play, or even a commercial just to make the rent. When he books the role of Captain Avenger, a comic book hero who is the star of a cheesy live action film, he's not the motion picture actor, he's the stooge signing 8 x 10s outside of the theater dressed in the character's costume, one of dozens of actors playing the part all over town! But on the way home from his gig, when his local grocer gets held up at knife-point, he uses that costume to thwart the street toughs and saves the day! His interest in his next door neighbor, J. (Anne Archer) helps to fuel his heroics, and he finds himself starting to take chances to help people and win her attention and affection, and to make a statement about what's really important.
A surprise is Bert Convy, who was known for his "nice guy" image, here goes against type as the sleazy PR manager, who was in charge of both the Captain Avenger film and the Mayoral Campaign of the incumbent, who sees a way of tying the two together, based on the genuine heroics of the actor, that regular guy trying to make people think about a bigger idea(l).
This is a New York movie, through and through, but it's the heart of the film that makes it special and that's due to John Ritter. His performance is always genuine, never hits a wrong note and is a tribute to the actor himself. It's those elements that take this film to soaring heights! Plus there are cameos by some of the city's longtime television reporters: Who knew that Penny Crone had brown hair at one time?
Hero At Large may not be the greatest superhero film ever, but it's better than many that are longer on special effects and much shorter on story.