Hero (1992/I)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Laura Ziskin (story) &
Alvin Sargent (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

One selfless act of courage can really mess up your whole day.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Reluctant Hero | Mistaken Identity | Illinois | Lost Shoe

Cast

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)
Don Yesso	...	Elliott
Don Pugsley	...	Jury Foreman
Lee Wilkof	...	Prosecutor
Steven Elkins	...	First Bailiff
Leslie Jordan	...	Court Official
Raymond Fitzpatrick	...	Second Bailiff
Bobby C. Collins	...	Mendoza
Richard Montoya	...	Vargas
Ric Salinas	...	Mendoza's Friend (as Ricardo Salinas)
Herbert Siguenza	...	Espinosa
Don S. Davis	...	Probation Officer
Darrell Larson	...	Flight Attendant Freddy
Harry Northup	...	Mr. Fletcher
Jordan Bond	...	Richie Fletcher
Eric Poppick	...	Mr. Smith
Julia Barry	...	Kelly
Marnie Mosiman	...	Susan
William Duff-Griffin	...	Mr. Brown (as William Duff Griffin)
Peggy Roeder	...	Bag Lady on TV
Kate Butler	...	Makeup Artist (as Katrina Cerio)
Kevin Jackson	...	Inspector Dayton
Don Gazzaniga	...	Fire Captain
Lance Kinsey	...	Paramedic
Michael Talbott	...	State Police Officer
John Ackerman	...	Bag Man
Paul Hewitt	...	Parker
Marita Geraghty	...	Joan
Shirley Pierce	...	Anchorwoman - Channel 4
Sam Derence	...	Reporter - Channel-8
Rick Plastina	...	Reporter - Channel 13
Martin Starr	...	Allen in Coma (as Martin Schienle)
Jeff Garlin	...	News Vendor
John M. Watson Sr.	...	African American Wannabee
John Mohrlein	...	Fighter Wannabee
Tony Fitzpatrick	...	Fighter Wannabee
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Another Wannabee
Jay Leggett	...	Mud Face Wannabee
Dev Kennedy	...	Tall Wannabee
Darryl Davis	...	Tough Prisoner
Turk Muller	...	Tough Prisoner (as Terry Muller)
James Alfred Whitaker	...	Tough Prisoner
Collins Williams Daniels	...	Rasta Prisoner
I.M. Hobson	...	Waiter / Captain
William Newman	...	Millionaire
Clea Lewis	...	Sylvia
Jeff Kline	...	Street Kid (as Jeff Kline)
C. John Merrill	...	Street Kid (as John Merrill)
Lynn Oddo	...	Buxom Woman
Milton L. Cobb	...	Vietnam Vet
Robert Pabst	...	Vietnam Vet
Tom Milanovich	...	Guard at Jail
Cordis Heard	...	Nurse Roberts
Mandy Duncan	...	Teen in Hospital
Gerardo Murillo-Carr	...	Teen in Hospital
Henry Brown	...	Hospital Guard
Robert Munns	...	Doctor
Tamar Teufenkjian	...	Child in Hospital
José Reyes	...	Child in Hospital (as Jose Reyes)
Michael Mullen	...	Child in Hospital
D'Angelo Fereri	...	Child in Hospital (as D'Angelo Ferreri)
Kody Cullum	...	Child in Hospital
Heidi McNeal	...	Teenage Girl at Hospital
Michael O'Dwyer	...	Cop at Hospital
Ed Scheibner	...	Donna's Boyfriend
James T. Callahan	...	Police Chief (as James Callahan)
D. David Morin	...	Fireman on Ledge
Daniel T. Healy	...	George Bush Look A-Like (as Dan Healy)
Margery Ross	...	Barbara Bush Look A-Like (as Margery Jane Ross)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Akrawi	...	Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Suzy Brack	...	Crying Woman (uncredited)
John Brennan	...	Channel 4 News Assistant (uncredited)
Ernest Capponi	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Chevy Chase	...	Deke - Channel 4 News Director (uncredited)
Brian Reed Garvin	...	Angry Passenger (uncredited)
Edward Herrmann	...	Mr. Broadman - Man Committing Suicide (uncredited)
Zachary Keats	...	Student (uncredited)
Barney Martin	...	Court Official (uncredited)
Larry Nazimek	...	Reporter (uncredited)
John Nesci	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Fisher Stevens	...	Director of Channel 4 Crash Feature (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Frears

Writing credits (WGA)
Laura Ziskin		(story) &
Alvin Sargent		(story) and
David Webb Peoples		(story)
David Webb Peoples		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	executive producer
Sandy Isaac	....	associate producer
Laura Ziskin	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mick Audsley

Casting by
Howard Feuer
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Leslie McDonald

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Richard Hornung

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	hair stylist (as Judith Alexander-Cory)
Christina Smith	....	makeup artist
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bonnie Arnold	....	production supervisor
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis D'Esposito	....	first assistant director
Nunzio Fazio	....	dga trainee
David Hallinan	....	second second assistant director
Nina Kostroff-Noble	....	second assistant director
Karyn McCarthy	....	second second assistant director: Chicago

Art Department
Troy Borisy	....	lead man: Chicago
Mike Carrillo	....	assistant property master (as Miguel Carrillo)
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer (as Gina B. Cranhan)
Robert Greenfield	....	lead person
Lawrence A. Hubbs	....	set designer
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	set dresser (as Tinker Linville)
Amie McCarthy	....	assistant property master: Chicago
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Paul S. Power	....	production illustrator (as Paul Power)
Chris L. Spellman	....	set dresser (as Chris Spellman)
Rick Young	....	property master
Paige Augustine	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Mark Sparks	....	propmaker foreman (uncredited)
Tom von Badinski	....	welder (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Benson	....	adr editor
Bill W. Benton	....	re-recording mixer (as Bill Benton)
Carolina Beroza	....	assistant sound editor
Gordon Brown	....	assistant sound editor: UK
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
Susan Dudeck	....	supervising adr editor
Mary Finlay	....	second assistant sound editor: UK
Alison Fisher	....	sound editor
Allen Hartz	....	adr editor
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator
Peter Joly	....	sound editor: UK
Ron Judkins	....	production sound mixer (as Ronald Judkins)
Doug Kent	....	assistant sound editor
Dave Kulczycki	....	sound editor (as David Kulczycki)
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
John A. Larsen	....	sound effects editor (as John Larsen)
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Morris	....	sound effects editor
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor
Lauren Palmer	....	adr editor
Mark Pappas	....	foley supervisor
Rodger Pardee	....	sound effects editor
Michelle Pleis	....	assistant sound editor
Steve Richardson	....	foley editor
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Hamilton Sterling	....	sound effects editor
John Joseph Thomas	....	sound effects editor
Hugo Weng	....	sound editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sam Barkan	....	special effects: Chicago
Arthur Brewer	....	special effects coordinator (as Art Brewer)
Greg Curtis	....	special effects crew
Michael Meinardus	....	special effects crew (as Mike Meinardus)
Andrew Miller	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ron Anderson	....	film processing technician: DQI
Scott Beattie	....	VistaVision technician: DQI
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: DQI
Shawn Broes	....	production assistant: DQI
Howard Burdick	....	digital compositing: DQI
Jeff Burks	....	animation supervisor: DQI
Anjelica Casillas	....	animation coordinator: DQI
Douglas A. Degrazzio	....	video assist & technical director: Video Image (as Douglas Degrazzio)
James Fred Donelson	....	crew: Video Image
Rick Dungan	....	crew: Video Image
Rhonda C. Gunner	....	video image: Video Image
David Hofflich	....	video supervisor: Video Image (as David M. Hofflich)
Dennis Hoffman	....	visual effects producer: DQI
Richard E. Hollander	....	video image: Video Image
Thomas Hollister	....	special mechanical design: DQI (as Tom Hollister)
Stephen G. Howard	....	video technical supervisor: Video Image (as Steve Howard)
Georgie Huntington	....	optical line-up: DQI
Rick Johnson	....	bluescreen technician: DQI
Mike Keeler	....	crew: Video Image
Greg Kozikowski	....	crew: Video Image
Louis Lindwall	....	special mechanical design: DQI
Daniel J. Lombardo	....	production coordinator: DQI
Ned Martin	....	VistaVision assistant: DQI
Jeff Matakovich	....	optical supervisor: DQI
Gregory L. McMurry	....	video image: Video Image
Victor Nelli Jr.	....	crew: Video Image
Joe Palazzola	....	production assistant: DQI
Larry Potoker	....	crew: Video Image
Keith Shartle	....	executive producer: DQI
Chuck Shuman	....	VistaVision camera operator: DQI (as Chuck Schuman)
Michael Talarico	....	VistaVision assistant: DQI (as Mike Talarico)
Jim Unsinn	....	crew: Video Image
James Valentine	....	rotoscope artist: DQI
John C. Wash	....	video image: Video Image
Derrick Mitchell	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Billy Bates	....	stunts (as Bill Bates)
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (as Ken Bates)
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunts
Pamela Bebermeyer	....	stunts
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts (as Simone Boissuerree)
Jim Burk	....	stunts (as Jimmy H. Burk)
Hank Calia	....	stunts
Michael Carr	....	stunts
Anthony Cecere	....	stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.	....	stunts (as George Colucci)
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Donna Garrett	....	stunts
Lance Gilbert	....	stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts
Troy Gilbert	....	stunts
John Gillespie	....	stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Ben Jensen	....	stunts
Chloe Jensen	....	stunts
Ethan Jensen	....	stunts
Gary Jensen	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Jensen	....	stunts
Kim Robert Koscki	....	stunts (as Kim Koscki)
James C. Lewis	....	stunts (as Jimmy Lewis)
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts
David Powledge	....	stunts (as Dave Powledge)
Chere Rae	....	stunts
Ray Saniger	....	stunts
Keith Tellez	....	stunts
Dianne L. Wilson	....	stunts (as Dianne Wilson)
Kim Robert Koscki	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Burnett	....	best boy electric (as Dave Burnett)
Katherine M. Butler	....	second assistant camera (as Kate Butler)
Camilla Calamandrei	....	second assistant camera
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Mike Connors	....	dolly grip
Gary Dagg	....	key grip
Peter J. Donoghue	....	best boy electric: Chicago
Gordon Hayes	....	electrician
Dustin A. Huber	....	electrician
Joe Kelly	....	second grip
Ronald Kline	....	rigging gaffer
George Kohut	....	camera operator
Randy Lewis	....	electrician
Steven Matthys	....	best boy grip: Chicago (as Steven Cyril Matthys)
Donny Miller	....	key grip rigging: Chicago
Patrick Mills	....	grip
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician
Edward R. Nedin	....	electrician
Paul A. Rychlec	....	grip
Rob Sweeney	....	first assistant camera
Jeffrey Wright	....	grip
Jenna Abrahamson-Minardi	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Nico Bally	....	grip (uncredited)
Paolo Cascio	....	first assistant camera: additional camera (uncredited)
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Michael Earl Menlow	....	grip (uncredited)
Hope A. Nielsen	....	film loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Bill Dance	....	extras casting
Tammy L. Smith	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Bridges	....	assistant costume designer
Christopher Lawrence	....	costume supervisor
Marjorie McCown	....	assistant costume designer
Kaye Nottbusch	....	costumer: Chicago
Nancy Takehara	....	costumer: Chicago
Marsha Bozeman	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Michelle Kurpaska	....	key costumer (uncredited)
Kelly Porter	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Ellen Ryba	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Fran Kaplan	....	apprentice editor
Olof Källström	....	second assistant editor
Ray Martin	....	color timer
Denise Murray	....	apprentice editor
Brian Ufberg	....	first assistant editor
Scot Deer	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrations
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Daniel Gaber	....	assistant music editor
Jeffrey Pollack	....	music consultant
John Richards	....	scoring mixer
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael P. Deal	....	transportation co-captain: Chicago
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation coordinator: Chicago (as George A. DiLeonardi)
Tim Hill	....	transportation co-captain
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation captain: Chicago
Larry Shephard	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor (as Pam Alch)
Stephen Andrzejewski	....	location manager: Chicago (as Stephen Andrzejewsk)
Cindy Becker	....	production assistant
Matt Billet	....	production assistant
Irene Brafstein	....	studio teacher
Laurie Brandt	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman (as Laurie Becker Brandt)
Jan A. Campbell	....	production accountant
Katie Cerio	....	production secretary
Joe Drago	....	assistant: Mr. Garcia
Julia Ganis	....	production assistant
David Garden	....	production assistant
Tg Glazer	....	assistant location manager: Chicago (as T.G. Glazer)
David J. Grant	....	assistant: Mr. Caracciolo
Aimee Huyser	....	office production assistant: Chicago
Saul Kahan	....	unit publicist
Tony Kerum	....	caterer
Shari Leibowitz	....	production coordinator
Ellen Morse	....	assistant: Ms. Ziskin
Amy Ness	....	location manager
Pat Newcomb	....	public relations
Margaret J. Orlando	....	assistant production coordinator: Chicago
Pablo Prietto	....	production assistant
Julian Rothenstein	....	title designer
Stacey Sillins	....	production assistant (as Stacy Sillins)
Ted Yonenaka	....	craft service
Joyce Heftel	....	second unit supervisor (uncredited)
Steve Kraus	....	dailies projectionist (uncredited)
Tom Lent	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Jordan Stone	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Fox Network (1995) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Filmayer (Spain)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Television International (????) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• California Film Commission  special thanks
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals (as Cinema Research Corporation)
• Columbia Pictures  author of this film (motion picture) for the purpose of copyright and other laws
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutter
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Drake Hotel  special thanks
• Epic Records  soundtrack available on
• Hansard  process compositing
• Illinois Film Commission  special thanks
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Riverside Community College Marching Band  special thanks
• USA Today  special thanks (as U.S.A. Today)
• Video Image  24 frame video & graphic displays

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for uses of strong language

Runtime:

117 min | Canada:75 min (Family Channel)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The word "fuck" and its derivatives are said 11 times, highly unusual for a non-R-rated theatrical release, post-1984.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Bernie and John are driving in stop and go traffic the car they are in doesn't move. All the cars around it inch up and move in reverse through the entire conversation.

Quotes:

Bernie LaPlante:You're a god damn saint, John. Pardon the vulgarity.

Movie Connections:

Features Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Soundtrack:

Hoping That Someday You'd Care

Fun, feel-good movie

I saw "Hero" when it first opened in theaters, and tonight was the first time I saw it in 10 years. It's one of those amiable films that is virtually impossible to dislike. It's not the funniest comedy, nor are there any "big" laughs, yet I can't find anything lousy about this movie. And as a big plus, Dustin Hoffman is the star! He's one of my favorite actors, and I'm eager to see him in anything. He gives a fine, underrated performance that's both funny and touching, in an unpretentious way. His character of Bernie Laplante is no angel. He's rude, cranky and selfish. But he loves his son very much, and simply has trouble expressing his true emotions. It's always fun to see a serious actor in a comic role. And the advantage of it is serious actors approach comic roles in the same way they do any other roles. Like Gene Wilder said, "I approach the role of Leo Bloom in 'The Producers' the same way Olivier would approach 'Hamlet.'" Hoffman doesn't act goofy or ham it up, but simply plays it straight and lets the laughs come to him with his natural delivery. Andy Garcia delivers an endearing performance, and Joan Cusack is amusing as Hoffman's ex-wife. The plot is predictable and some of the characters are cliched, but overall the film is entertaining and at times moving. Though it is basically a comedy, it has its human elements that add an earthy quality to the film.

My score: 7 (out of 10)