Heroes for Sale (1933)
Directed by William A. Wellman
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Melodrama, Message Movie |
Release Date - Jun 17, 1933 (USA - Unknown), Jun 17, 1933 (USA) |
Run Time - 71 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
What isn't Heroes for Sale about? Within its 71-minute time frame, this film (co-written by "professional cynic" Wilson Mizner) tackles such issues as disenfranchised war veterans, misguided hero worship, drug addiction, the Depression, capitalism, labor relations and communism. Richard Barthelmess plays a wounded war hero whose hospital stay has turned him into a morphine junkie. He wanders from town to town looking for work during the Depression, only to be turned away with a "we've got our own to watch out for!" Eventually, Barthelmess befriends millionaire-in-the-making Robert H. Barrat, who has invented a revolutionary washing machine. Becoming Barrat's partner, Barthelmess attempts to quell a strike by workers who've been stirred up by Red agitators. With all this going on, Barthelmess still finds time to romance Loretta Young. Heroes for Sale is very much a product of its time, though its entertainment value has remained solid for well over six decades.
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Keywords
capitalism, drug-addiction, Great-Depression, hero-worship, labor-relations, veteran [military]