One Man's Hero (1999)

"One Man's Hero" tells the little-known story of the "St. Patrick's Battalion" or "San Patricios," a group of mostly Irish and other immigrants of the Catholic faith who deserted to Mexico ... See full summary »

Director:

Lance Hool

Writer:

Milton S. Gelman

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Joaquim de Almeida, Daniela Romo

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Sgt. / Lt. / Capt. John Riley
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Cortina
Daniela Romo	...	Marta
Mark Moses	...	Col. Benton Lacy
Stuart Graham	...	Cpl. Kenneally
Gregg Fitzgerald	...	Paddy Noonan
Don Wycherley	...	Brian Athlone
Wolf Muser	...	Cpl. Schultz
Luke Hayden	...	Seamus McDougherty
Ilia Volok	...	Daniel Grzbalski
Patrick Bergin	...	Gen. Winfield Scott
James Gammon	...	Gen. Zachary Taylor
Carlos Carrasco	...	Dominguez
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Capt. Gaine
Dermot Martin	...	Seamus Fitzgerald

Storyline

"One Man's Hero" tells the little-known story of the "St. Patrick's Battalion" or "San Patricios," a group of mostly Irish and other immigrants of the Catholic faith who deserted to Mexico after encountering religious and ethnic prejudice in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. The plot centers around the personal story of John Riley, an Irishman who had been a sergeant in the American Army who is commissioned as a captain in the Mexican army and commands the battalion, as he leads his men in battle and struggles with authorities on both sides of the border.

---

Plot Keywords:

tied to a wagon wheel | bare chested male | zachary taylor | irish american | branding iron | 

---

Taglines:

One man's hero is another man's traitor.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War | Western

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Country:

Spain USA Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Egy bátor ember

Filming Locations:

Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$11,350,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$108,567 (USA) (24 September 1999)

Gross:

$229,311 (USA) (22 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arco Films S.L., Filmax, Hool/Macdonald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is rated as unacceptable by the American Humane Society. The films makers refused to produce evidence that no animals were harmed during production. The end titles disclaimer that no animals were harmed is not endorsed by the AHA.

---

Goofs

General Winfield Scott, commanding general of the American forces, is shown wearing three stars on his epaulets signifying the rank of a Lieutenant General. At the time of the Mexican War (1846-1848) he wore the two stars of a Major General which was the highest rank in the United States Army at the time. He wouldn't wear three stars until 1856 when he was promoted to Lieutenant General, becoming the first American since George Washington to hold that rank.

User Reviews

Superbly told story.

I was fortunate to attend the premiere. Now I am trying to find out when OMH will be released to the SF Bay Area so that I can tell my friends to be sure to see it.

I am very familiar with writer Michael Hogan's work in both his The Irish Soldiers of Mexico and Molly Malone and the San Patricios. Michael is a superb poet too. I happen to know too that he served as a consultant on the troop movements, the uniforms, the flags etc. when the Hools were filming in Durango.

The film depicts a little known episode in the U.S.'s quest to dominate the northern hemisphere. We know that this quest was successful, but we also know that the price in blood was much higher than any of the proponents of Manifest Destiny ever dreamed.

The acting is superb. I especially liked Joaquim Alameda for his portrayal of a renegade patriot. I think there is another great story there that perhaps the Hools should do. What did happen to him? Did he spawn Zapata?

Finally, the score, the scenery, and the battle scenes were really well done. Pity the poor lads who had to pay even more than the price named in the Military Code of Justice. That was a shame, but we must remember their memory will live on forever. Even more so now that Lance and Conrad Hool have immortalized them on film.