Heroes (1977)

A Vietnam veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder breaks out of a VA hospital and goes on a road trip with a sympathetic traveler to find out what became of the other men in his unit.

Director:

Jeremy Kagan (as Jeremy Paul Kagan)

Writer:

James Carabatsos

Stars:

Henry Winkler, Sally Field, Harrison Ford

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Henry Winkler	...	Jack Dunne
Sally Field	...	Carol Bell
Harrison Ford	...	Ken Boyd
Val Avery	...	Bus Driver
Olivia Cole	...	Jane Adcox
Hector Elias	...	Dr. Elias
Dennis Burkley	...	Gus
Tony Burton	...	Chef
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Peanuts
Helen Craig	...	Bus Depot Manager
John Finnegan	...	Mr. Munro
Betty McGuire	...	Mrs. Munro
John O'Leary	...	Ticket Clerk
Tom Rosqui	...	Patrolman #2
Fred Stuthman	...	Nathan

Storyline

It's 4 years since Jack is back from Vietnam, but he still has nightmares. In a bus on his way to California he meets Carol, who just left her fiancée - only 4 days before their wedding, allegedly just for a few days of vacation. Jack happily tells her about his plans to set up a worm farm for fishing baits together with four of his Vietnam ex-comrades. Although he gets on her nerves at the beginning, she starts to care. When one after the other of his friends steps out and Jack looses his optimism, Carol remains as the last support that keeps him from despair.

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Plot Keywords:

beer | diner | pool table | poker game | vietnam | 

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Taglines:

Finding the one you love... is finding yourself.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bohaterowie

Filming Locations:

Petaluma, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$33,500,000, 17 November 1977

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Foster Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes where Jack and Carol are hitchhiking on a road alongside giant redwood trees was shot within feet of the future location of George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch.

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Goofs

When the car driven by Harrison Ford is first shown, it has no front license plate. During the trip to the farm, a front license plate suddenly appears.

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Quotes

Carol Bell: [cheers wildly, as Jack's race ends]
Ken Boyd: He didn't win.
Carol Bell: I know, but at least he didn't get killed!

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Alternate Versions

MCA/Universal Home Video version does not contain Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son" in the end credits.

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Connections

References Brothers (1977)

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Soundtracks

CARRY ON WAYWARD SON
Written by Kerry Livgren
Performed by Kansas
Courtesy of Kirshner Records/CBS

User Reviews

A strong, simple story...

"Heroes" is not as much about Vietnam vets as it is friendship, the human spirit, loss and dreams.

Winkler plays the vet whose simple dream of starting a worm farm sends him off to find four other vets (including Ford). Fields is the girl he meets on a bus trip and who goes along with him on his journey.

I can't say too much about the movie; this is one film best left to experience on one's own. But if you can find it, watch it till the very end - and if you can honestly not watch the final scene then hear Kansas' "Carry On My Wayward Son" and be moved, something is definitely wrong.

The message may not be earth-moving and the way it reaches it may not be original but "Heroes" still stands by one simple truth - nothing is stronger than the human spirit, nor more fragile.

Nine stars. Watch "Heroes" - be moved.