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

This was the first movie that Harrison Ford was seen in after the sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) though the picture was actually filmed before that.

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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: I was against the war. I protested it!
Jack Dunne: And I fought it.

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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

"Lay your weary head to rest/Don't you cry no more"

Henry Winkler is a bit awkward playing a mixed-up Vietnam vet with repressed memories of combat who breaks out of a mental hospital in search of a war-buddy who shares his dream of starting a worm farm (!). After causing a ruckus in a diner--which gets runaway bride Sally Field into big trouble (playing virtually the same character she did in "Smokey And The Bandit")--Winkler becomes involved in rabbit-hutch building (with vacant friend Harrison Ford) and race-car driving before falling in love with Sally, his new traveling companion. She tearfully ends her impending marriage over the phone while he comes to a dramatic resolution of Reality after getting a painful dose of the Truth. "Heroes" isn't much better than the average TV movie of the seventies, one with a built-in campy kick (say, Fonzie meets Gidget--with the addition of Han Solo!). However, despite some ludicrous dialogue, there are several strong scenes. Sally Field is her usual sassy self, and the emotional ending (with the Kansas song) is surprisingly sensitive and well-done. ** from ****