Hero at Large (1980)

Director:

Martin Davidson

Writer:

AJ Carothers

Release Date:

5 June 1980 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

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...

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Robbery | Actor | Costume | Election

Cast

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)
Gerald Castillo	...	2nd Hero at Fire
Natalie Cilona	...	Woman in Fire
Tony Crupi	...	Policeman
Heidi Gold	...	Secretary
Garry Goodrow	...	TV Reporter
Michael Gorrin	...	Mr. Rothberg
Rod Haase	...	Captain Avenger
Henrietta Jacobson	...	Mrs. Rothberg
Gary Howard Klar	...	Cameraman (as Gary Klar)
Michael Leon	...	Wilson
Andrew Masset	...	Jerry
Bryan O'Byrne	...	Scientist
James O'Connell	...	Stage Manager
Church Ortiz	...	Grocery Store Punk
William Robertson	...	Bum
Robin Sherwood	...	Lab. Assistant
Marley Sims	...	Denise
Joseph Stern	...	Assistant Director
Kenneth Tobey	...	Firechief
Larry Attebery	...	TV Commentator
Kevin Bacon	...	2nd Teenager
Vanda Barra	...	Woman in Crowd
Neill Barry	...	1st Teenager
Chris Borgen	...	TV Commentator
AJ Carothers	...	Stage Director
David James Carroll	...	Actor on Bus
Gary Combs	...	Holdup Man
Rita Crafts	...	Woman in Crowd
Carol Martin	...	TV Newscaster
Lionel Pina	...	3rd Teenager
Michael Prince	...	Dignitary
John Roland	...	Reporter
Marilyn Salenger	...	Reporter
Jack Somack	...	Waiter
Rolland Smith	...	TV Newscaster
Willy Stern	...	Johnny
Nancy Bleier	...	Commercial Star
Robert Carricart	...	Reporter
Frank Casey	...	Reporter
Tracey Cohn	...	Young Girl
Kenneth Cory	...	Man at Rally
Penny Crone	...	Reporter
Alberto Ferrara	...	Young Boy
Leonard P. Geer	...	1st Thug (as Lenny Geer)
Tyler Horn	...	Commercial Star
Peter Iacangelo	...	Man at Rally
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matteo Cafiso	...	Boy at Party: Boy in Crowd (uncredited)
David Carroll	...	(uncredited)
Gene Palma	...	Street drummer (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Davidson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
AJ Carothers

Produced by
Stephen J. Friedman	....	producer (as Stephen Friedman)
Roger M. Rothstein	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Patrick Williams

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh

Film Editing by
David Garfield

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
Norm Baron
Robert Gundlach

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Sandy Davidson

Makeup Department
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist (as Lee Harmen)

Production Management
Roger M. Rothstein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Roe	....	assistant director

Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master
Arthur Gelb	....	graphic artist
Bill MacSems	....	property master

Sound Department
Jay M. Harding	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Overton	....	sound
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don S. Walden	....	sound editor
Jory A. Beckert	....	sound crew chief (uncredited)
Robert Davenport	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Norman Buck	....	key grip
Robert Edesa	....	camera operator
Bill Gerardo	....	second assistant camera
Vinnie Gerardo	....	first assistant camera
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer
Norman Harris	....	gaffer
Richard C. Kratina	....	director of photography: New York
Richard Moran	....	key grip
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Warren Rothenberger	....	camera operator
Johnny Walker	....	assistant camera
William Ward	....	gaffer
Robert D. McBride	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Julie Hughes	....	casting: New York
Barry Moss	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Butler	....	wardrobe
Clifford Capone	....	wardrobe: New York
C.J. Donnelly	....	wardrobe: New York
Jennifer L. Parsons	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Margaret Adachi	....	assistant editor
Sara Freeland	....	assistant editor
Sidney Levin	....	supervising editor
William Jacobs	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Randy Peters	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Martin Danzig	....	location manager
Arlene Gelb	....	assistant: Martin Davidson
Lillian O. MacNeill	....	script supervisor (as L.O. MacNeill)
Don Morgan	....	unit publicist
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	assistant: Roger Rothstein (as Michele Panelli)

Production Companies

• Kings Road Entertainment
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Germany:98 min | USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

26 Grove Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Kings Road Entertainment

Trivia:

The fictitious actor playing Captain Avenger in the movie in the movie was Ryan McGraw.

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.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Steve Nichols:[as Captain Avenger] It doesn't matter who I am!

Movie Connections:

References Dracula (1979)

A small film with a heroic message.

You might want to compare this film with a film called Hero, staring Dustin Hoffman. Both films are about ordinary people who perform extraordinary actions, thereby becoming "heroes". In Hoffman's film the main character is a sleaze who's philosophy is do unto other before they get a chance to do unto you. Ritter, on the other hand is a nice guy who is seduced by the glory of being heroic. Hoffman spends most of the movie trying to avoid recognition for his heroic acts while Ritter becomes caught up in a scheme to capitalize on people's need for heroes. Both men's lives are held up as evidence that all of us have the capacity to be a hero under the right circumstances. Both films are inspiring with important things to say. Hero At Large however is a small film while Hero is a big budget film with major actors. I thoroughly enjoyed both but by comparison, Hero beats you over the head with its message. I can't help liking Hero At Large just a little better.