Hero (I) (1992)

A not-so-nice man rescues passengers from a crashed airliner, only to see someone else take credit.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Laura Ziskin (story), Alvin Sargent (story),

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, Andy Garcia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Bernie Laplante
Geena Davis	...	Gale Gayley
Andy Garcia	...	John Bubber
Joan Cusack	...	Evelyn
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Chucky
Maury Chaykin	...	Winston
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Wallace
Christian Clemenson	...	Conklin
Tom Arnold	...	Chick
Warren Berlinger	...	Judge Goines
Cady Huffman	...	Flight Attendant Leslie
Susie Cusack	...	Donna O'Day
James Madio	...	Joey
Richard Riehle	...	Robinson
Daniel Baldwin	...	Fireman Denton (as Daniel Leroy Baldwin)

Storyline

Bernie LaPlante is having a rough time. He's divorced, his ex-wife hates him, and has custody of their son. The cops are setting a trap for him, then to top it all, he loses a shoe while rescuing passengers of a plane crash. Being a thief who is down on his luck, he takes advantage of the rescue, but then someone else claims credit for it.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | reluctant hero | mistaken identity | illinois | lost shoe | 

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Taglines:

We're all heroes if you catch us at the right moment. Even Bernie LaPlante.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for uses of strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein ganz normaler Held

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$19,487,173 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 75 min (Family Channel)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bernie saved 54 people

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Goofs

In one exterior shot of the plane the firefighters are seen fighting a fire at the open doorway, yet in the next (interior) shot there is no fire coming from there.

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Quotes

John Bubber: I think there's a hero in all of us.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the people of Piru and Filmore, California; the people of Cook County, Illinois.

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Connections

Features Ghostbusters (1984)

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Soundtracks

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
(uncredited)
Music by William Steffe
Arranged by George Fenton and Jeff Atmajian
In the score several times

User Reviews

interesting premise, well executed

This was one of my favorite movies. Its basic message is that no one is either 100% good or 100% sleazy, as Hoffman and Garcia's characters show. Hoffman plays a two-bit thief who rescues a bunch of people from a downed airplane (including news reporter Geena Davis), and Garcia, a seemingly noble Vietnam vet, winds up taking credit for it.

Basically, the movie shows the dangers of our need for a hero and the media's glorifying of such a need. I liked this movie a lot.

*** out of ****