Accidental Hero (I) (1992)
"Hero" (original title)

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

In her acceptance speech of the Silver Microphone, Gale Gayley takes out an onion and starts peeling it off. This is a direct reference to Henrik Ibsen's play "Peer Gynt".

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Goofs

After the plane crash the brake lights on Bernie's car stay on after he has gotten out of the car

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Quotes

Deke, Channel 4 News Director: Have you ever heard more bullshit or drivel coming from somebody who is not even the president?

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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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

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Soundtracks

"The Marine's Hymn"
(©1919) (uncredited)
Music based on a melody by Jacques Offenbach from his opera "Genevieve de Brabant" (1859)
Played by a band outside the children's hospital

User Reviews

Under-rated movie

Dustin H is at his brilliant best. Listen carefully to his closing speech to his son(delivered with passion in the zoo). Words of wisdom about the state of the human zoo we live in. The movie has humour, pathos and some great lines. One of my favourites.