Heroes for Sale (1933)

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Robert Lord (screenplay) &
Wilson Mizner (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 June 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Missouri | Riot | Pain | Suicide | Trench Warfare

Cast

Richard Barthelmess	...	Thomas 'Tom' Holmes
Aline MacMahon	...	Mary Dennis
Loretta Young	...	Ruth Loring Holmes
Gordon Westcott	...	Roger Winston
Robert Barrat	...	Max Brinker (as Robert Barratt)
Berton Churchill	...	Mr. Winston
Grant Mitchell	...	George W. Gibson
Charley Grapewin	...	Pa Dennis (as Charles Grapewin)
Robert McWade	...	Dr. Briggs
G. Pat Collins	...	Leader of agitators (as George Pat Collins)
James Murray	...	Blind soldier
Edwin Maxwell	...	Laundry company president
Margaret Seddon	...	Jeanette Holmes
Arthur Vinton	...	Captain Joyce
Robert Elliott	...	'Red' squad policeman #1
John Marston	...	Judge (voice)
Willard Robertson	...	Sheriff (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ward Bond	...	Red (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Henderson, soldier (uncredited)
Ronnie Cosby	...	Young Bill Holmes (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Announcer at Roger's reception (uncredited)
James Donlan	...	Laundry cashier (uncredited)
Mike Donlin	...	Angry laundry worker (uncredited)
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Jim, chief engineer (uncredited)
Hans Fuerberg	...	Lefner, German prisoner (uncredited)
Eddie Graham	...	Man attending Roger's reception (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Policeman with constable (uncredited)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Gibson's secretary (uncredited)
George Irving	...	Gibson's lawyer (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Harry, bank teller (uncredited)
Larry McGrath	...	Angry laundry worker (uncredited)
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Angry laundry worker (uncredited)
Henry Otho	...	Policeman phoning for riot squad (uncredited)
Inez Palange	...	Mrs. Bonicelli (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Angry laundry worker (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Ed Brady, angry laundry worker (uncredited)
Lorin Raker	...	Bank employee (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Arguer (uncredited)
Landers Stevens	...	Laundry executive (uncredited)
Guy Usher	...	Constable (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Angry laundry worker (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	'Red' squad policeman #2 (uncredited)
Tammany Young	...	Drug peddler (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Wellman

Writing credits
Robert Lord		(screenplay) &
Wilson Mizner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
James Van Trees		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Howard Bretherton

Art Direction by
Jack Okey

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Jennings	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
James Van Trees Jr.	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra

Production Companies

• First National Pictures
• Vitaphone Corporation, The (as Vitaphone)

Distributors

• First National Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Breadline (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

76 min (copyright length) | USA:71 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2611-R, 3 September 1936 for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

Director William A. Wellman used real hoboes for the fight scene and real laundry workers for the laundry scenes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ruth arrives by taxicab at the scene of the riot, the camera moves toward the cab and she is seen letting herself out from the back seat of the passenger side. However, after a jump cut, the driver is reaching around from the front seat of the cab and opening the door for her.

Quotes:

Roger Winston: There I was, everybody making a hero of me. I accepted it because I didn't have guts enough to refuse it... It went on, and on - the honors piled up. And every one I got made it more impossible to tell the truth. I couldn't let go. I know that all my promotions and decorations belong to you. I know that I've stolen the credit from a real hero.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Who Cares About Tomorrow?

Very Strong

Heroes for Sale (1933)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

William A. Wellman directs this hard hitting look about a man (Richard Barthelmess) who stands up during a WW1 battle and becomes a hero but he doesn't get credit for what he did as it goes to someone else. He's injured in the war and soon gets hooked on morphine and this causes him to break up when he returns home but after getting himself cleaned up he eventually gets married to a woman (Loretta Young) but soon the Depression hits and he has another chance of being a hero. This is an extremely powerful film that talks about unknown heroes who never get the credit they deserve because they don't want any credit for doing the right thing. There's a lot of blood and passion running throughout the film so it's rather obvious that this was a big subject for director Wellman. Barthelmess gives a terrific performance as he commands every scene that he's in. Aline MacMahon is great as a family friend as is Robert Barrat as a German trying to cash in on an invention. Young is very good in her small role and has some great chemistry with Barthelmess. The early WW1 scenes contains some great and bloody action as does a riot during the middle of the film, which really caught me off guard with the violence and blood shown. There are countless Pre-Code elements and the look at drug addiction is very nicely done.