Hero (1992 film)
Encyclopedia
Hero is a comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears
and starring Dustin Hoffman
, Geena Davis
, Andy García
, Chevy Chase
, and Joan Cusack
. It was released in the United States
on October 20, 1992.
, John uses the single shoe to take credit for the act. Bernie tries to tell people John is a fake, but the media has sensationalized the heroic Bubber, and everyone wants to believe in him rather than Bernie.
TV reporter Gail Gayley, one of the crash survivors, considers herself to be in John's debt and soon grooms his public image. She finds herself falling in love with him even though she has questions about his authenticity, and he finds himself in an ethical dilemma since his lies are inspirational to countless people. Meanwhile, Bernie tries to bond with his son who is enamored with John. But he is trapped by his own character, unable to convince anyone of the truth. And he feels that if his son is going to idolize anyone, perhaps John is the better choice.
Eventually the two men find themselves on the ledge of a building, where Bernie hatches a scheme to milk the media attention for all it's worth. Ultimately they agree that the world needs a hero, and John is the only one people will accept. Gail finally realizes the truth, John agrees to play the part, and Bernie stays out of the spotlight. Realizing that his son already idolizes him, Bernie decides to tell him the true story of the crash while at the zoo. After he tells him, a lady cries out that her daughter has fallen into the lion's cage. Bernie's son looks at him with expectant eyes, to which he sighs, slips off his shoes, and tells him to watch them.
(1944) is a film on a similar theme by Preston Sturges
. Many reviewers referred to the obvious similarities between Hero and Sturges' screwball comedy
works.
originally recorded her #1 hit single "Hero
" for the film but her label, Columbia Records
, did not want to give the power ballad away and she chose to drop out of the project. Instead, Luther Vandross
sang "Heart of a Hero" as the theme
.
Stephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
and starring Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
, Geena Davis
Geena Davis
Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis is an American actress, film producer, writer, former fashion model, and a women's Olympics archery team semi-finalist...
, Andy García
Andy García
Andrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
, Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, and Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Joan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
. It was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on October 20, 1992.
Plot
Bernie LaPlante is a pickpocket and petty criminal who anonymously rescues survivors of a plane crash, losing a shoe in the process. He later meets a homeless Vietnam veteran, John Bubber, and gives him his remaining shoe. The media cries out for the hero to come forward, and when Bernie can't due to incarcerationIncarceration
Incarceration is the detention of a person in prison, typically as punishment for a crime .People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictions have differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of...
, John uses the single shoe to take credit for the act. Bernie tries to tell people John is a fake, but the media has sensationalized the heroic Bubber, and everyone wants to believe in him rather than Bernie.
TV reporter Gail Gayley, one of the crash survivors, considers herself to be in John's debt and soon grooms his public image. She finds herself falling in love with him even though she has questions about his authenticity, and he finds himself in an ethical dilemma since his lies are inspirational to countless people. Meanwhile, Bernie tries to bond with his son who is enamored with John. But he is trapped by his own character, unable to convince anyone of the truth. And he feels that if his son is going to idolize anyone, perhaps John is the better choice.
Eventually the two men find themselves on the ledge of a building, where Bernie hatches a scheme to milk the media attention for all it's worth. Ultimately they agree that the world needs a hero, and John is the only one people will accept. Gail finally realizes the truth, John agrees to play the part, and Bernie stays out of the spotlight. Realizing that his son already idolizes him, Bernie decides to tell him the true story of the crash while at the zoo. After he tells him, a lady cries out that her daughter has fallen into the lion's cage. Bernie's son looks at him with expectant eyes, to which he sighs, slips off his shoes, and tells him to watch them.
Cast
- Dustin HoffmanDustin HoffmanDustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
as Bernard 'Bernie' Laplante - Geena DavisGeena DavisVirginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis is an American actress, film producer, writer, former fashion model, and a women's Olympics archery team semi-finalist...
as Gail Gayley - Andy GarcíaAndy GarcíaAndrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
as John Bubber - Joan CusackJoan CusackJoan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
as Evelyn - Kevin J. O'Connor as Chucky
- Maury ChaykinMaury ChaykinMaury Alan Chaykin was an American-born Canadian actor. Best known for his portrayal of detective Nero Wolfe, he was also known for his work as a character actor in many films and on television programs.-Personal life:...
as Winston - Stephen TobolowskyStephen TobolowskyStephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
as James Wallace - Christian ClemensonChristian ClemensonChristian Clemenson is an American film and television actor. He is well known for his portrayal of Jerry "Hands" Espenson in the television series Boston Legal, for which he won the 2006 Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series.-Early life:Clemenson spent his childhood in Humboldt,...
as Conklin - Tom ArnoldTom Arnold (actor)Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
as Chick - Cady HuffmanCady HuffmanCatherine Elizabeth “Cady” Huffman is a Tony Award-winning American actress.-Early life:Huffman was born in Santa Barbara, California to Lorayne, a pre-school assistant director turned realtor, and Clifford Huffman, an attorney...
as Flight Attendant Leslie - James MadioJames MadioJames Madio is an American actor, known for his roles in USA High and Band of Brothers.-Career:...
as Joey
Influences
Hail the Conquering HeroHail the Conquering Hero
Hail the Conquering Hero is a satirical comedy/drama written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson and Bill Edwards....
(1944) is a film on a similar theme by Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
. Many reviewers referred to the obvious similarities between Hero and Sturges' screwball comedy
Screwball Comedy
Screwball Comedy is an album by the Japanese band Soul Flower Union. The album found the band going into a simpler, harder-rocking direction, after several heavily world-music influenced albums.-Track listing:...
works.
Song
Mariah CareyMariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
originally recorded her #1 hit single "Hero
Hero (Mariah Carey song)
"Hero" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on October 19, 1993 by Columbia Records as the second single from Carey's third studio album, Music Box . Originally intended for Gloria Estefan, the song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff...
" for the film but her label, Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, did not want to give the power ballad away and she chose to drop out of the project. Instead, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
sang "Heart of a Hero" as the theme
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
.